Surya Kant
Tripathi-‘Nirala’, lived up-to his name-Nirala; (different/Strange),
revolutionary in thought and action.
Text and texture of his works. Lyrical
was his compositions in verse and prose as well. Heart he was from top
to toe. Readers are struck both by his life and works , much in Allahabad but
formulated in west Bengal and well versed was he in Hindi ,Sanskrit, Bengali
and Persian-good friend of Firaq was he.
There was
inherent music in his Poetry. Unpredictable
and uncompromising he was in his lifetime, which was filled with
struggle , disappointments, personal loss of his young wife and daughter, and
uncertain economic condition. But the fire of his imagination never reduces. He
remains current. What I personally like about him is that he was steeped in
Indian literature and mythology, had deep knowledge of Sanskrit and Bengali and
yet he was modern. His modernity is vivid in his poetry. Among his many poems
‘Vinavadini’ , remains popular as ‘Saraswati vandana’ in many school functions
in North India. Though it is sung as a routine Saraswati Vandana it is a fiery ‘National
Song’ where Devi Saraswati –Godessof Art and literature and music and knowledge
is being invoked for the good of the new Nation emerging from the shackles of
slavery. Here I intend
to bring forth his composition-‘Vinavadini’ invoking Godess Saraswati ,the
Godess of learning and Art, Music. Nirala is seeking the blessings of
Saraswati(Vinavadini) for Bharat- The new Nation emerging from British slavery
The poem goes
like:
VINAVADINI
VAR DE VINAVADINI VAR DE 1
PRIYA SWATANTRA RAV
AMRIT MATRA
NAV BHARAT MEIN BHAR DE 2
KAAT ANDH UR KE BANDHAN
STAR
BAHA JANANI JYOTIRMAYA NIRJHAR
KALUSHBHEDHTAM HAR PRAKASH
BHAR
JAGMAG JAG KAR DE-3
NAV GATI NAV LAYE TAAL
CHAND NAV
NAVAL KANTH NAV JALAD
MAND RAV
NAV NABH KE NAV VIHAG
VRIND KO
NAV SUR PAR NAV SUR
DE 4
In this poem
Nirala has chosen Godess Saraswati to
bless the young Nation. He has not invoked Durga for Power, has not invoked
Laxmi for economic prosperity and wealth. But sought blessings of Sarawati for
long term ideology, spirituality, character building ,aesthetics, poetry, qualities
which as humanity we perennially lack. He begins in the first stanza by
addressing Saraswati and seeking direct boon – var de veena vadini varde-
O holder of veena bless me ;give us
boon. Fill the new born Nation Bharat with an independent
voice/sound/music/,with immortal sound/words/phrases/compositions. Give new
voice to this new nation. Bring out the Nation from darkness of bondage and
fill with burst of light .Destroy darkness , evil of the past and illuminate us
with knowledge. In the final stanza the poet is at his poetic best when he
says. Give us new Rhythm , new melody,
new meter, new voice, new sound burning
slowly with aspiration . New sky, new
birds, new forest chirping with new
sound of new music.
It is an
allegorical composition seeking divine boon for the Nation new. The new Nation
needs new voice free of bondage , free of restrictions. A break from the past ,
which is not easy therefore the invocation. Moreover the new Nation needs new
Ideology ,both formal in terms of its constitution and informal arising out
from the free society. It has to move forward from the era of exploitation,
feudalism, rigidity and carve a place for itself in the new world. It has to be
a refined Nation –aesthetically , free from all restrictions. Providing
congenial environment for the growth of Art, Music and culture. Making intrinsic good citizens who shall thereafter
make the Great Nation.
Lofty ideals
indeed. Unique- ‘Andeze bayan’.
Have we lived up-to it?
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें