THE BEST AZAADI (INDEPENDENCE) POEMS

These historical poems and poets contributed not just towards India’s independence but also filled us with sense of pride and awe at the task ahead to make India the best nation on earth.

I provide you these poems in their original language, in Hindi, their transliteration and finally their meaning in English.

#1 Poem: I start with our National Song or Geet: Saare Jahan Se Achha…

Let me begin with what is known as Taranah-e-Hind or Anthem of the People of Hindustan. Forty three years before independence, it was written by the poet Muhammad Iqbal and published in the Ittehad, a weekly journal.

The next year, it was read by him in Government College Lahore (then in India) and it soon became the manifestation of our opposition to the British rule. He was, of course, a lecturer in the same college.

There is no Indian, whose chest doesn’t swell with pride at the recitation of this poem/song.

In parades all over the country, men and women march to the tune of this song.

I am giving you the poem in all three languages: Urdu, Hindi and English and its meaning in English:

Urdu

سارے جہاں سے اچھا ہندوستاں ہمارا
ہم بلبلیں ہیں اس کی، یہ گلستاں ہمارا

غربت میں ہوں اگر ہم، رہتا ہے دل وطن میں
سمجھو وہیں ہمیں بھی دل ہو جہاں ہمارا

پربت وہ سب سے اونچا، ہمسایہ آسماں کا
وہ سنتری ہمارا، وہ پاسباں ہمارا

گودی میں کھیلتی ہیں اس کی ہزاروں ندیاں
گلشن ہے جن کے دم سے رشکِ جناں ہمارا

اے آبِ رودِ گنگا! وہ دن ہیں یاد تجھ کو؟
اترا ترے کنارے جب کارواں ہمارا

مذہب نہیں سکھاتا آپس میں بیر رکھنا
ہندی ہیں ہم، وطن ہے ہندوستاں ہمارا

یونان و مصر و روما سب مٹ گئے جہاں سے
اب تک مگر ہے باقی نام و نشاں ہمارا

کچھ بات ہے کہ ہستی مٹتی نہیں ہماری
صدیوں رہا ہے دشمن دورِ زماں ہمارا

اقبال! کوئی محرم اپنا نہيں جہاں میں
معلوم کیا کسی کو دردِ نہاں ہمارا!

Hindi

सारे जहाँ से अच्छा हिन्दोसिताँ हमारा
हम बुलबुलें हैं इसकी यह गुलसिताँ हमारा

ग़ुर्बत में हों अगर हम, रहता है दिल वतन में
समझो वहीं हमें भी दिल हो जहाँ हमारा

परबत वह सबसे ऊँचा, हम्साया आसमाँ का
वह संतरी हमारा, वह पासबाँ हमारा

गोदी में खेलती हैं इसकी हज़ारों नदियाँ
गुल्शन है जिनके दम से रश्क-ए-जनाँ हमारा

ऐ आब-ए-रूद-ए-गंगा! वह दिन हैं याद तुझको?
उतरा तिरे किनारे जब कारवाँ हमारा

मज़्हब नहीं सिखाता आपस में बैर रखना
हिन्दी हैं हम, वतन है हिन्दोसिताँ हमारा

यूनान-व-मिस्र-व-रूमा सब मिट गए जहाँ से
अब तक मगर है बाक़ी नाम-व-निशाँ हमारा

कुछ बात है कि हस्ती मिटती नहीं हमारी
सदियों रहा है दुश्मन दौर-ए-ज़माँ हमारा

इक़्बाल! कोई महरम अपना नहीं जहाँ में
मालूम क्या किसी को दर्द-ए-निहाँ हमारा!

English

Sāre jahāṉ se acchā, Hindositāṉ hamārā
Ham bulbuleṉ haiṉ is kī, yih gulsitāṉ hamārā

G̱ẖurbat meṉ hoṉ agar ham, rahtā hai dil wat̤an meṉ
Samjho wuhīṉ hameṉ bhī dil ho jahāṉ hamārā

Parbat wuh sab se ūṉcā, hamsāyah āsmāṉ kā
Wuh santarī hamārā, wuh pāsbāṉ hamārā

Godī meṉ kheltī haiṉ is kī hazāroṉ nadiyāṉ
Guls̱ẖan hai jin ke dam se ras̱ẖk-i janāṉ hamārā

Ai āb-i rūd-i Gangā! wuh din haiṉ yād tujh ko?
Utrā tire kināre jab kārwāṉ hamārā

Maẕhab nahīṉ sikhātā āpas meṉ bair rakhnā
Hindī haiṉ ham, wat̤an hai Hindositāṉ hamārā

Yūnān o-Miṣr o-Rūmā, sab miṭ ga’e jahāṉ se
Ab tak magar hai bāqī, nām o-nis̱ẖaṉ hamārā

Kuch bāt hai kih hastī, miṭtī nahīṉ hamārī
Ṣadiyoṉ rahā hai dus̱ẖman daur-i zamāṉ hamārā

Iqbāl! ko’ī maḥram apnā nahīṉ jahāṉ meṉ
Maʿlūm kyā kisī ko dard-i nihāṉ hamārā!

English Translation

Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan,
We are its nightingales, and it (is) our garden abode

If we are in an alien place, the heart remains in the homeland,
Know us to be only there where our heart is.

That tallest mountain, that shade-sharer of the sky,
It (is) our sentry, it (is) our watchman

In its lap frolic where thousands of ponds,
Whose vitality makes our garden the envy of Paradise.

O the flowing waters of the Ganges, do you remember that day
When our caravan first disembarked on your waterfront?

Religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves
We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan.

In a world in which ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome have all vanished without trace
Our own attributes (name and sign) live on today.

Such is our existence that it cannot be erased
Even though, for centuries, the cycle of time has been our enemy.

Iqbal! We have no confidante in this world
What does any one know of our hidden pain?

#2 Poem: Sarfroshi ki tamanna…..

An Urdu poem written by an Arya Samaji? Well, that was the strength of my Bharat or India before politicians on both sides of the border divided us along religious and casteist lines for their …vested interests.

Ram Prasad Bismil was born on 11th June 1897 in Shajahanpur. He was merely 30 when he was hanged to death by the British at Gorakhpur Jail. His crime? Well, he, along with a few others such as Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Nath Lahiri sought to break the shackles of slavery for India and let its people live in Freedom.

He was one of the founding members of Hindustan Republican Association. The association and his writings later became the inspiration for Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Bismil wrote about many poems and Ghazals (both in Hindi and Urdu) inspiring people to revolt against the British. This Urdu Ghazal (his most famous) is written in Beher-E-Ramal/Mazahif Musamman. This type of Beher in Urdu poetry was the favourite meter of Ram Prasad Bismil. He had written almost 35 ghazals in this meter.

As with Saare Jahan Se Achha, I give you the poem in Urdu, Hindi and English and then give its English translation. Let me see if your blood boils to read the poem, as it did for Bhahat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Urdu

سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے
دیکھنا ہے زور کتنا بازوئے قاتل میں ہے

کرتا نہیں کیوں دوسرا کچھ بات چیت
دیکھتا ھوں میں جسے وہ چپ تیری محفل میں ہے
اے شہید ملک و ملت میں تیرے اوپر نثار
اب تیری ہمت کا چرچہ غیر کی محفل میں ہے
سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

وقت آنے دے بتا دیں گے تجہے اے آسمان
ہم ابھی سے کیا بتائیں کیا ہمارے دل میں ہے
کھینج کر لائی ہے سب کو قتل ہونے کی امید
عاشقوں کا آج جمگھٹ کوچئہ قاتل میں ہے
سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

ہے لئے ہتھیار دشمن تاک میں بیٹھا ادھر
اور ہم تیار ھیں سینہ لئے اپنا ادھر
خون سے کھیلیں گے ہولی گر وطن مشکل میں ہے
سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

ہاتھ جن میں ہو جنون کٹتے نہیں تلوار سے
سر جو اٹھ جاتے ہیں وہ جھکتے نہیں للکا ر سے
اور بھڑکے گا جو شعلہ سا ہمارے دل میں ہے
سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

ہم جو گھر سے نکلے ہی تھے باندہ کے سر پہ کفن
جان ہتھیلی پر لئے لو، لے چلے ہیں یہ قدم
زندگی تو اپنی مہمان موت کی محفل میں ہے
سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے

یوں کھڑا مقتل میں قاتل کہہ رہا ہے بار بار
کیا تمناِ شہادت بھی کِسی کے دِل میں ہے
دل میں طوفانوں کی تولی اور نسوں میں انقلاب
ھوش دشمن کے اڑا دیں گے ھمیں روکو نہ آج
دور رہ پائے جو ہم سے دم کہاں منزل میں ہے

وہ جِسم بھی کیا جِسم ہے جس میں نہ ہو خونِ جنون
طوفانوں سے کیا لڑے جو کشتیِ ساحل میں ہے

سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے
دیکھنا ہے زور کتنا بازوئے قاتل میں ہے

Hindi

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है

(ऐ वतन,) करता नहीं क्यूँ दूसरा कुछ बातचीत,
देखता हूँ मैं जिसे वो चुप तेरी महफ़िल में है
ऐ शहीद-ए-मुल्क-ओ-मिल्लत, मैं तेरे ऊपर निसार,
अब तेरी हिम्मत का चरचः ग़ैर की महफ़िल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

वक़्त आने पर बता देंगे तुझे, ए आसमान,
हम अभी से क्या बताएँ क्या हमारे दिल में है
खेँच कर लाई है सब को क़त्ल होने की उमीद,
आशिक़ोँ का आज जमघट कूचः-ए-क़ातिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

है लिए हथियार दुशमन ताक में बैठा उधर,
और हम तय्यार हैं सीना लिये अपना इधर.
ख़ून से खेलेंगे होली गर वतन मुश्किल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हाथ, जिन में हो जुनून, कटते नही तलवार से,
सर जो उठ जाते हैं वो झुकते नहीं ललकार से.
और भड़केगा जो शोलः सा हमारे दिल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हम तो घर से ही थे निकले बाँधकर सर पर कफ़न,
जाँ हथेली पर लिये लो बढ चले हैं ये कदम.
जिन्दगी तो अपनी मॆहमाँ मौत की महफ़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

यूँ खड़ा मक़्तल में क़ातिल कह रहा है बार-बार,
क्या तमन्ना-ए-शहादत भी किसी के दिल में है?
दिल में तूफ़ानों की टोली और नसों में इन्क़िलाब,
होश दुश्मन के उड़ा देंगे हमें रोको न आज.
दूर रह पाए जो हमसे दम कहाँ मंज़िल में है,

जिस्म भी क्या जिस्म है जिसमें न हो ख़ून-ए-जुनून
क्या लढ़े तूफ़ान से जो कश्ती-ए-साहिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है

English

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai

aye watan Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet
Dekhta hun main jise woh chup teri mehfil mein hai
Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai
Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hai liye hathiyaar dushman taak mein baitha udhar
Aur hum taiyyaar hain seena liye apna idhar
Khoon se khelenge holi gar vatan muskhil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se
Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se
Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan
Jaan hatheli par liye lo barh chale hain ye qadam
Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar
Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai
Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab
Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj
Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai

Wo jism bhi kya jism hai jismein na ho khoon-e-junoon
Toofaanon se kya lade jo kashti-e-saahil mein hai

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai.
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazuay qaatil mein hai.

English Translation

The desire for revolution is in our hearts
Let us see what strength there is in the arms of our executioner

Why do you remain silent thus?
Whoever I see, is gathered quiet so…
O martyr of country, of nation, I submit myself to thee
For yet even the enemy speaks of thy courage
The desire for struggle is in our hearts…

When the time comes, we shall show thee, O heaven
For why should we tell thee now, what lurks in our hearts?
We have been dragged to service, by the hope of blood, of vengeance
Yea, by our love for nation divine, we go to the streets of the enemy
The desire for struggle is in our hearts…

Armed does the enemy sit, ready to open fire
Ready too are we, our bosoms thrust out to him
With blood we shall play Holi, if our nation need us
The desire for struggle is in our hearts…

No sword can sever hands that have the heat of battle within,
No threat can bow heads that have risen so…
Yea, for in our insides has risen a flame,
and the desire for struggle is in our hearts…

Set we out from our homes, our heads shrouded with cloth,
Taking our lives in our hands, do we march so…
In our assembly of death, life is now but a guest
The desire for struggle is in our hearts…

Stands the enemy in the gallows thus, asking,
Does anyone wish to bear testimony?…
With a host of storms in our heart, and with revolution in our breath,
We shall knock the enemy cold, and no one shall stop us…

What is that body that does not have hot blood in it,
How can a person conquer a Typhoon while sitting in a boat near the shore.

The desire for struggle is in our hearts,
We shall now see what strength there is in the boughs of the enemy.

#3 Poem: Vande Mataram (I Praise Thee, Mother)

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhayay, the great Bengali litterateur wrote his classic Anandmath in the year 1882. It was one of the most important pieces of literature ever written by …an Indian in Bengali or English. The poem, that was to later become India’s national song was written for the first time in this novel.

The poem, originally a Bengali and Sanskrit stotra, for the first time, personified India as a mother goddess. It became the most important poem in the context of India’s struggle for Independence and was sung in the political context, for the first time, by Rabindra Nath Tagore at the 1896 session of Indian National Congress.

In 1950, the first two stanzas of the song were given the status of India’s National Song, as distinct from India’s National Anthem Jana Gana Mana.

First, let me give you the original song in Bengali:

বন্দে মাতরম্৷
সুজলাং সুফলাং
মলয়জশীতলাম্
শস্যশ্যামলাং
মাতরম্!
বন্দে মাতরম্৷.

শুভ্র-জ্যোৎস্না
পুলকিত-যামিনীম্
ফুল্লকুসুমিত
দ্রুমদলশোভিনীম্,
সুহাসিনীং
সুমধুরভাষিণীম্
সুখদাং বরদাং
মাতরম্৷৷
বন্দে মাতরম্৷

bônde matôrôm
sujôlang sufôlang
môlôyôjôshitôlam
shôsyô shyamôlang
matôrôm
bônde matôrôm

shubhrô jyotsna
pulôkitô jaminim
fullô kusumitô
drumôdôlôshobhinim
suhasining
sumôdhurôbhashinim
sukhôdang bôrôdang
matôrôm
bônde matôrôm

Now in Devnagari:

वन्दे मातरम्।
सुजलाम् सुफलाम्
मलयज शीतलाम्
शस्यश्यामलाम्
मातरम्।
वन्दे मातरम्।

शुभ्रज्योत्स्ना
पुलकितयामिनीम्
फुल्लकुसुमित
द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्
सुहासिनीम्
सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदाम् वरदाम्
मातरम्।।
वन्दे मातरम्।

vande mātaram
sujalāṃ suphalāṃ
malayajaśītalām
śasya śyāmalāṃ
mātaram
vande mātaram

śubhra jyotsnā
pulakita yāminīm
phulla kusumita
drumadalaśobhinīm
suhāsinīṃ
sumadhura bhāṣiṇīm
sukhadāṃ varadāṃ
mātaram
vande mātaram

And now for the remaining stanzas of the song:

বন্দে মাতরম্৷
সুজলাং সুফলাং
মলয়জশীতলাম্
শস্যশ্যামলাং
মাতরম্!

শুভ্র-জ্যোত্স্না-পুলকিত-যামিনীম্
ফুল্লকুসুমিত-দ্রুমদলশোভিনীম্,
সুহাসিনীং সুমধুরভাষিণীম্
সুখদাং বরদাং মাতরম্৷৷

সপ্তকোটীকন্ঠ-কল-কল-নিনাদকরালে,
দ্বিসপ্তকোটীভুজৈধৃতখরকরবালে,
অবলা কেন মা এত বলে!
বহুবলধারিণীং
নমামি তরিণীং
রিপুদলবারিণীং
মাতরম্৷

তুমি বিদ্যা তুমি ধর্ম্ম
তুমি হৃদি তুমি মর্ম্ম
ত্বং হি প্রাণাঃ শরীরে৷
বাহুতে তুমি মা শক্তি,
হৃদয়ে তুমি মা ভক্তি,
তোমারই প্রতিমা গড়ি মন্দিরে মন্দিরে৷

ত্বং হি দুর্গা দশপ্রহরণধারিণী
কমলা কমল-দলবিহারিণী
বাণী বিদ্যাদায়িণী
নমামি ত্বাং
নমামি কমলাম্
অমলাং অতুলাম্,
সুজলাং সুফলাং
মাতরম্

বন্দে মাতরম্
শ্যামলাং সরলাং
সুস্মিতাং ভূষিতাম্
ধরণীং ভরণীম্
মাতরম্৷

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलाम्
मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलाम्
मातरम्।

शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीम्
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीम्
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम्।वन्दे मातरम्।

कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम्।
वन्दे मातरम्।

तुमि विद्या, तुमि धर्म
तुमि हृदि, तुमि मर्म
त्वम् हि प्राणा: शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारई प्रतिमा गडि
मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे

त्वम् हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी,
नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलाम्
अमलां अतुलाम्
सुजलां सुफलाम् मातरम्।
वन्दे मातरम्।

श्यामलाम् सरलाम्
सुस्मिताम् भूषिताम्
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम्।
वन्दे मातरम्।।

And now for the translation:

Mother, I salute thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I salute.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the swords flash out in seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nerves the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with bejeweled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I salute thee,
Mother great and free!

#4 Poem: Pushp Ki Abhilasha (A Flower’s Desire)

Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi (April 4, 1889 – January 30, 1968), also called Panditji, was an Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright and a journalist who is particularly reme…mbered for his participation in India’s national struggle for independence and his contribution to Chhayavaad, the Neo-romanticism movement of Hindi literature. He was awarded the first Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi for his work Him Taringini in 1955.

His poem Pushp Ki Abhilasha is considered one of the finest works in patriotic poetry.

I give you its Hindi version, English transliteration and the meaning in English:

Here is it in Hindi:

चाह नहीं मैं सुरबाला के
गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ

चाह नहीं, प्रेमी-माला में
बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ

चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव
पर हे हरि, डाला जाऊँ

चाह नहीं, देवों के सिर पर
चढ़ूँ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ

मुझे तोड़ लेना वनमाली
उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक

मातृभूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने
जिस पर जावें वीर अनेक ।।

Its transliteration in English:

Chah Nahin Mai Surbala Ke
Gehnon Mein Guntha Jaaon.

Chah Nahin Premi Mala Mein
Bindh, Pyari Ko Lalchaon.

Chah Nahin Samraton Ke Shav Par,
He Hari Dala Jaaon.

Chah Nahin Devon Ke Sar Par
Chadhon, Bhagya Par Itraoon.

Mujhey Tod Lena Banmali,
Us Path Par Tum Dena Phaink,

Matra Bhoomi Per Sheesh Chadhaney,
Jis Path Jaayen Veer Anek.

And finally, its translation in English:

It is not my desire to be weaved in the ornaments of a beautiful girl.
It is not my desire to be weaved into a Lover’s garland and tempt a beloved.
It is not my desire, O Hari, to adorn the funeral of a monarch.
It is not my desire to be presented as offering to a goddess and rejoice at my good luck.
O, Gardner, all I desire is
That you will pluck me and throw me on that path
On which our brave soldiers tread to sacrifice their lives for the motherland.

#5 Poem: Lohe Ke Mard (Iron Men or Men of Steel)

During my school days, I liked Hindi poets Maithili Sharan Gupt, Sumitra Nandan Pant, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and Mahadevi Verma. But, each one of us have our favourites. Mine… was Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Why? I was a young impressionable boy at that time and I liked Veer Ras. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s poems made my blood boil with their naked patriotism and resolve.

Just like Maithili Sharan Gupt, Dinkar was also given the title of National Poet and if you recall, in 2008, his statue was unveiled in the Parliament by the then Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh.

The Government of India went one step ahead and named Sahitya Ratna Awards after him: Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar Sahitya Ratna Awards.

The poem Lohe Ke Mard was written by him on 01 November 1962. The war with China, if you recall, started on 20 Oct 1962.

As always, I give you the poem in Devanagiri script, transliteration in English and finally its translation in English. Share with me in the comments if you too got goose pimples whilst reading the poem.

Enjoy: Lohe Ke Mard by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

पुरुष वीर बलवान,
देश की शान,
हमारे नौजवान
घायल होकर आये हैं।

कहते हैं, ये पुष्प, दीप,
अक्षत क्यों लाये हो?

हमें कामना नहीं सुयश-विस्तार की,
फूलों के हारों की, जय-जयकार की।

तड़प रही घायल स्वदेश की शान है।
सीमा पर संकट में हिन्दुस्तान है।

ले जाओ आरती, पुष्प, पल्लव हरे,
ले जाओ ये थाल मोदकों ले भरे।

तिलक चढ़ा मत और हृदय में हूक दो,
दे सकते हो तो गोली-बन्दूक दो।

Transliteration in English

Purush veer balwaan
Desh ki shaan
Hamare naujawan
Ghayal ho kar aaye hain.

Kehte hain, ye pushp, deep
Akshat kyon laaye ho?

Hammen kaamna nahin suyash-vistaar ki,
Phulon ke haaro ki, jai-jaikaar ki.

Tadap rahi ghayal, swadesh ki shaan hai,
Seema par sankat mein Hindustan hai.

Le jaayo aarti, pushp, pallav hare,
Le jaayo ye thaal modkon se bhare.

Tilak chada mat aur hriday mein hoonk do,
De sakte ho to goli bandook do.

Translation

Men, brave, strong
Are pride of the nation.
(But) these young soldiers
Have returned (from the border) wounded.

They ask: Flowers, lamps
Why have you brought them unhurt?

We don’t desire fame and glory
Garlands of flowers or praise.

Wounded, the nation’s pride lies in pain,
We have an emergency at the border.

Take away the aarti, flowers and green leaves,
Take away these trays full of modak sweets.

Don’t honour us with tilak, when heart is wounded,
If you want to give us anything, please give bullets and guns!

#6 Poem: Azaadi Ka Geet (Song of Freedom)

Harivanshrai Bachchan (Amitabh Bachchan’s father) was born on 27 Nov 1907 in India that was slave. He died on 18th Jan 2003, having lived in independent India for 55 years. He was a major poet of the Chhayawad literary movement (Romanticism)

This is what he had to say on 15th August 1947:

आज़ादी का गीत

हम ऐसे आज़ाद हमारा झंडा है बादल।
चाँदी सोने हीरे मोती से सजती गुड़ियाँ।
इनसे आतंकित करने की बीत गई घड़ियाँ
इनसे सज धज बैठा करते जो हैं कठपुतले
हमने तोड़ अभी फेंकी हैं बेड़ी हथकड़ियाँ

परंपरा गत पुरखों की हमने जाग्रत की फिर से
उठा शीश पर रक्खा हमने हिम किरीट उज्जवल
हम ऐसे आज़ाद हमारा झंडा है बादल।

चाँदी सोने हीरे मोती से सजवा छाते
जो अपने सिर धरवाते थे वे अब शरमाते
फूलकली बरसाने वाली टूट गई दुनिया
वज्रों के वाहन अंबर में निर्भय घहराते

इंद्रायुध भी एक बार जो हिम्मत से ओटे
छत्र हमारा निर्मित करते साठ कोटि करतल
हम ऐसे आज़ाद हमारा झंडा है बादल।

– हरिवंश राय बच्चन

Aazaadi Ka Geet

Ham aise aazaad, hamara jhanda hai baadal,

Chandi, sone, here, moti se sajati gudiyan,
Inse aatankit karne ki beet gayi ghadiyan,
Inse saj dhaj baitha karte jo hain kathputle
Hamane tode abhi fainki hain bedhi hathkadiyan.

Parampara gat purkhon ki hamane jagrit ki phir se
Utha sheesh par rakha hamane him kireet ujjawal
Ham aise aazaad hamara jhanda hai baadal.

Chandi here moti se sajawa chhate,
Jo apne sir dharvaate the vo ab sharmate
Phoolkaari barsaane waali toot gayi duniya
Vajaron ke waahan ambar mein nirbhay gehraate.

Indrrayudh bhi ek baar himmat se ote’,
Chhatra hamara nirmit karte saath koti kartal,
Ham aise aazaad hamara jhanda hai baadal

– Harivanshrai Bachchan

We are free and our flag flies like clouds

Toy-girls are adorned with diamonds and pearls,
The time to paly with them is over now.
Only puppets sit adorned with them
We have broken and thrown away the shackles at our feet.

Tradition of past men, we have revived
With head held high, we have looked to snow laden mountains
We are free and our flag flies like clouds!

(Our rulers) Those with umbrellas of silver, gold, diamonds and pearls
Over their heads, are repentant now,
The world where they were greeted with flower petals is gone now
The chariots of Vajra now roam freely in the sky!

Us who have wrapped Indra Yudh around us with great courage
We now have a new umbrella, established with sound of sixty crore kartal,
We are free and our flag flies like clouds!

#7 Poem: Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamaara…

Shyamlal Gupta immortalised Indian Flag through his melodious lyrics “Vijayi Vishwa Tiranga Pyara, Zanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara.”…

After Gandhiji assumed the leadership of Indian freedom movement and tricolour became symbol of independence, Gupta thought of composing a motivating song eulogising the flag and born those immortal lines “ Vijayi Vishwa Tiranga Pyara, Zanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara.” Shyamlalji Gupta, was born on September 9, 1896 at Kanpur in a Dosar Vaishya family.

After the composition of Zanda Geet, a wave of patriotism got created in India. The song brought a passion among Indians to fight for making India free from the clutches of British. The atmosphere was charged so much so that it was felt that Indian Tri-colour might take place of Union Jack. People from every background and age, adored Zanda Geet and it became an integral and inseparable part of freedom movement. In the year 1934 at Haripur Congress, Zanda Geet was given a status of National Song. Sarojini Naidu presented it. The session was chaired by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Here is the famous song, first in Devnagiri script:

विजयी विश्व तिरंगा प्यारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

सदा शक्ति बरसाने वाला,
प्रेम सुधा सरसाने वाला
वीरों को हरषाने वाला
मातृभूमि का तन-मन सारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

स्वतंत्रता के भीषण रण में,
लखकर जोश बढ़े क्षण-क्षण में,
काँपे शत्रु देखकर मन में,
मिट जावे भय संकट सारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

इस झंडे के नीचे निर्भय,
हो स्वराज जनता का निश्चय,
बोलो भारत माता की जय,
स्वतंत्रता ही ध्येय हमारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

आओ प्यारे वीरों आओ,
देश-जाति पर बलि-बलि जाओ,
एक साथ सब मिलकर गाओ,
प्यारा भारत देश हमारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

इसकी शान न जाने पावे,
चाहे जान भले ही जावे,
विश्व-विजय करके दिखलावे,
तब होवे प्रण-पूर्ण हमारा,
झंडा ऊँचा रहे हमारा।

And now in English transliteration:

Vijayi vishwa tiranga pyaara,
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara,

Sada Shakti barsaane waala,
Prem sudha sursaane waala,
Veeron ko harshaane waala
Matribhumi ka tan man saara
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara

Swantrata ke bheeshan ran mein
Lakhkar josh badhe kshan kshan mein
Kaampe shatru dekhkar man mein
Mit jaave bhay sankat saara
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara

Is jhande ke neeche nirbhay
Ho swaraj janam ka nishchay
Bolo Bharat Mata ki jay
Swantrata hi dhyay hamara
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara

Aao pyaaro veero aao
Desh jaati per bali bali jaao
Ek saath sab mil kar gaao
Pyaara Bharat desh hamara
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamara

Iski shaan na jaane pave
Chahe jaan bhale hi jaave
Vijay Vijay kar ke dikhlave
Sab hove pran poorn hamaara
Jhanda ooncha rahe hamaara

And finally the English translation:

The conqueror of the world, our tri-colour
Let our flag always fly high

It showers strength always
It oozes out love nectar
It gives pride to the brave
It is the heart and mind of Motherland
Let our flag always fly high

In the intense battle for independence
It gives josh to every moment
The enemy trembles after seeing it
(And for us) our fear and danger goes away
Let our flag always fly high

Under this flag we are fearless
And our intention is the birth of Swaraj
Shout Jay for Bharat Mata
Now our aim is independence
Let our flag always fly high

Come, beloved braves, come
Sacrifice everything for our nation
In one voice sing together
Beloved is our nation Bharat
Let our flag always fly high

Let its prestige never go away
Even if we give away our lives for that
Let Victory Victory be ours
Let our pledge be realised
Let our flag always fly high

#8 Poem: 15 August 1947

Girija Kumar Mathur was born on 22 Aug 1919 in Gunna, Madhya Pradesh. He emerged as an important Hindi poet and lyricist. Mathur was conferred the Vyas Samman by t…he K.K.Birla Foundation. He retired as the deputy director-general of Doordarshan in 1978 and was later appointed emeritus producer. His first collection of poems, Manjir, was published in 1941. He passed away on 10 Jan 1994.

The poem that he wrote on 15 Aug 1947 is still so relevant today, 67 years later.

In Devanagiri

१
आज जीत की रात
पहरुए! सावधान रहना
खुले देश के द्वार
अचल दीपक समान रहना

२
प्रथम चरण है नए स्वर्ग का
है मंज़िल का छोर
इस जनमंथन से उठ आई
पहली रत्न-हिलोर
अभी शेष है पूरी होना
जीवन-मुक्ता-डोर
क्योंकि नहीं मिट पाई दुख की
विगत साँवली कोर
ले युग की पतवार
बने अम्बुधि समान रहना।

३
विषम शृंखलाएँ टूटी हैं
खुली समस्त दिशाएँ
आज प्रभंजन बनकर चलतीं
युग-बंदिनी हवाएँ
प्रश्नचिह्न बन खड़ी हो गईं
यह सिमटी सीमाएँ
आज पुराने सिंहासन की
टूट रही प्रतिमाएँ
उठता है तूफ़ान, इन्दु! तुम
दीप्तिमान रहना।

४
ऊँची हुई मशाल हमारी
आगे कठिन डगर है
शत्रु हट गया, लेकिन उसकी
छायाओं का डर है
शोषण से है मृत समाज
कमज़ोर हमारा घर है
किन्तु आ रहा नई ज़िन्दगी
यह विश्वास अमर है
जन-गंगा में ज्वार,
लहर तुम प्रवहमान रहना
पहरुए! सावधान रहना।

In English transliteration

1

Aaj jeet ki raat
Pehruye! Savdhaan rehna
Khule desh ke dwaar
Achal deepak smaan rehna

2

Prathm charan hai naye swarg ka
Hai manzil ka chhor
Is janmanthan se uthh aayi
Pehli rattan hilore
Abhi shesh hai poori hona
Jeevan-mukta-dore
Kyunki nahin mit paayi dukh ki
Vigat saanwli kore
Le yug ki patwaar
Bane ambudhi smaan rehna.

3

Visham shrankhlaayen tooti hain
Khuli samast dishaayen
Aaaj prabhanjan banker chalti
Yug-Bandini hawaayen
Prashanchinh ban khadi ho gayi
Ye simati seemayen
Aaj puraane sinhaasan ki
Toot rahi pratimayen
Uthhata hai toofaan Indra! tum
Deeptiman rehana.

4

Oonchi hui mashaal hamari
Aage kathhin dahgar hai
Shatru hat gaya, lekin usaki
Chhayayon ka dar hai
Shoshan se hai mrit samaaj
Kamzore hamaara ghar hai
Kyunki aa raha nayi zindagi
Yeh vishwas amar hai
JanGanga mein jwaar
Lehar tum pravhamaan rehna
Pehruye! Saavdhaan rehna

Finally, the English translation

1

Tonight, is the night of victory,
O Sentinel! Remain alert
Gates of the country are open
Remain like a still lamp.

2

It is our first step into this new heaven
It is only the edge of the destination
With this mass churning we have
Our first wave as a jewel
Still it remains to be completed
The thread that sets us totally free
Because our miseries are not yet over
And the darkness of our past is still with us
You should be like a boatman
Guiding us through the ocean.

3

Odd chains have broken
All directions are open now
Like defeat they move
The winds that are hostage to the past
Like a question mark they stand
The limits of our borders
Today, the old thrones
Have broken their models
The typhoon rises, O Indra
Remain radiant.

4

Our torch remains high
Our path is difficult
Enemy has gone, but
His shadows threaten us
Our dead society is prone to exploitation
Our house is weak
But new Life is coming
This belief is eternal
In the tide of the Ganga of our people
O wave, remain observant of the stream
O sentinel, remain alert.

Jai Hind!