This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), a many splendoured creative personality. His contributions, not only as a poet but as a playwright, painter, educationist, musician, short story writer, student of folklore etc., made him a cultural giant of our colonial era.
Bharot Teertho
Poem by Rabindranath Tagore
Hey mor chitto, punnyo tirthe jaago re dhire
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), a many splendoured creative personality. His contributions, not only as a poet but as a playwright, painter, educationist, musician, short story writer, student of folklore etc., made him a cultural giant of our colonial era.
Bharot Teertho
Poem by Rabindranath Tagore
Hey mor chitto, punnyo tirthe jaago re dhire
Hey mor chitto, punnyo tirthe jaago re dhire
Eyi bharoter mohaa manober sagor tire.
Hethaye danraye doo bahoo badaye nomi narodebotarey,
Udaar chhande paramanande bandan kori tanre.
Dhyan gombhir eyi ye bhoodhar, nadi-japmaala-dhrita-prantar,
Hethaye nitya heyro pabitro dharitrire–
Eyi bharoter mohaa manober sagor tire.
Keho nahi jaane kaar ahobane kato manusher dharaa
Durbaar srotey elo kotha hote, samudre holo haaraa.
Hethaye arjo, hetha anarjo, hethaye dravid cheen–
Shak-hoon-dal paathan-mogal ek dehe holo leen.
Paschime aaji khuliyachhe dwaar, setha hote sabe aane uphaar,
Dibe aar nibe, milabe milibe jabe naa phire–
Eyi bharoter mohaa manober sagor tire.
Esho hey arjo, esho anarjo, hindu-musalman.
Esho esho aaj tumi ingraj, esho esho khrishtan.
Esho brahmon, shuchi kori mon dharo haath sabaakaar.
Esho hey patito, hok apneeto sab apmaanbhaar.
Maar abhishekey esho esho twara, mangal ghat hoye ni e bhora
Sobaar-paroshey-pabitro-kora tirthoneerey–
Aaji bharoter mohaa manober sagor tire.
The Pilgrimage that is India – English translation
My heart, wake up slowly to this pure pilgrimage
To the shores of the sea of this great humanity of Bharat.
I stand here with both my arms outstretched and salute this divine human
With liberal verses, with a heart full of joy I salute him
With deep concentration I salute this land of rivers,
mountain chains and vast treeless open spaces
Here witness daily the land of purity
On the shores of the sea of this great humanity of Bharat.
No one knows at whose beckoning call how many streams of humanity
Came in indomitable waves from who knows where and lost themselves in this vast ocean.
Here aryans, non-aryans, Dravidians, Chinese —
Shaka-Hun hordes, pathaans and moguls merged into one body.
Today the West has opened its doors and everyone is bringing gifts from there
They will give and receive, merge and be merged, but they will not return —
From the shores of the sea of this great humanity of Bharat.
Come Aryan, come non-aryan, Hindu and Musalmaan,
Come today you English, come Christian
Come Brahman, purify your mind and hold everyone’s hand.
Come O fallen ones, may the burden of your indignity be removed.
Come, come fast, for the offering to the Mother
For the holy pot has not yet been fi lled by the holy water
Purifi ed by every one’s touch —
Come today to the shores of the sea of this great humanity of Bharat.
Translated by Sucharita Basu Kasturi