Monday, April 30, 2012

Old Man's Hope: Sons of Ind, why sit ye idle

Allan Octavian Hume (aka A.O Hume) is an unavoidable name in the history of Indian Independence Movement. He is considered as the founder of one of the oldest democratic parties in the world - INC (Indian National Congress). Apart from a civil servant, political reformer he was also an amateur ornithologist and horticulturalist in British India.

Old Man's Hope, written by A.O Hume, was first published in 1886. This poem analyses the situation of India in the 1880's.

Old Man's Hope

        Sons of Ind, why sit ye idle,
        Wait ye for some Deva's aid?
        Buckle to, be up and doing!
        Nations by themselves are made!

        Yours the land, lives, all, at stake, tho'
        Not by you the cards are played;
        Are ye dumb? Speak up and claim them!
        By themselves are nations made!

        What avail your wealth, your learning,
        Empty titles, sordid trade?
        True self-rule were worth them all!
        Nations by themselves are made!

        Whispered murmurs darkly creeping,
        Hidden worms beneath the glade,
        Not by such shall wrong be righted!
        Nations by themselves are made!

        Are ye Serfs or are ye Freemen,
        Ye that grovel in the shade?
        In your own hands rest the issues!
        By themselves are nations made!

        Sons of Ind, be up and doing,
        Let your course by none be stayed;
        Lo! the Dawn is in the East;
        By themselves are nations made!

Lyrics Courtesy: Wikipedia.

Sajeev.

I am very thankful to one of my friends, who send me this poem.

1 comment: