Dowry,Sugar n Spice: The End
Have been thinking about how to end this. Its better I end it with a great Hindi poem about one of the great Indian warriors ,Rani Lakshmi Bai,queen of Jhansi, the Joan of Arc of India. Rani Laksmi Bai fought for independence of India during the revolution of 1857 against the British and the legend is as big as that of William Wallace of Scotland(movie Braveheart of Mel Gibson).
The famous lines of this poem is known to probably more than 50% of all Indians
bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi
(From the singers of Bundelkhand we heard this story, the queen of Jhansi fought like a man)
Dont remember all of the poem but know a few relevant lines .
lakshmi thi ya durga thi vah svayam veertha ki avtaar
…..
….
(Was she Goddess Lakshmi or Goddess Durga or was she an epitome of courage)
ghayal hokar giri singhni
usey veer-gati paani thi
bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi
(During the ensuing fight with the british, she attained martyrdom. The poet compares her to a lioness.)
dikha gayi path , sikha gayi
hamko jo seekh sikhaani thi
bundelo ….
…..
….
…..
(She showed us the way, and taught us some good lessons)
jaao rani yaad rakhenge ham kruthagya bharatvaasi
…
…..
….
…..
(the author bids good bye to the queen saying the people of the country will be indebted to her)
tera smaarak tu hi hogi
tu khud amit nishaani thi
bundelo harbolo ke muh
hamne suni kahaani thi
khoob ladi mardaani wah to
jhansi waali rani thi
(The authors says that she will be her own tomb , she will always be remembered)
Oh wow I know that whole poem by heart. I wasn’t born in India but almost most of the time it really saddens me and makes me think lots.
Comment by Padma — January 21, 2006 @ 12:33 am