Pandit-Ji* – A Poem for Jawaharlal Nehru
1.
The moon cast an enveloping shadow over the teeming multitudes,
as they made their tryst with destiny**,
with you as the bearer of the light,
and at the stroke of the midnight hour,
you emerged an icon, from the long and desolate night.
Long years had passed,
since those humid evenings spent,
languishing in jail,
yet your mind remained unshackled,
putting words on paper in the dim candlelight,
as the gaudy glare of empire began to pale.
2.
Today,
you live,
within us,
though not amongst us,
and,
your discovery,
your glimpses,
smoulder within me,
your immortal words,
my compass.
I am now,
the soul of nations,
once suppressed,
that have,
found utterance.
I am now,
me.
I am now,
finally,
free.
* – ‘Pandit-Ji’ was the name that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, was respectfully called.
** – excerpts from Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on 15th August 1947
OMG, what happened to the beard? 🙂 You look great either way of course!
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too kind brother as always. humbled.
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Hi… could you please explain the meaning of this poem in short.?
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It’s a bit difficult to explain it short but I suppose I’ll try. The poem is a dedication to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. It picks on pieces of his historic speech when India gained independence (tryst with destiny speech) … it also picks on the British empire’s claim that the ‘sun would never set on the British empire’. Well as we know the sun did set and the British were forced from India. The other parts of the poem also pick on the themes from Pandot-ji’s ‘tryst with destiny’ speech on 15th August 1947 when he proclaimed India’s freedom from British domination and when the multitudes, the majority of the people’s dreams of freedom finally came true. I hope that helps
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The last verse of the poem is a dedication to how the sacrifices of so many freedom fighters (including Pt. Nehru) allow us all who live in a free society and country.
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So in short (LOL) the poem is a dedication to Pandot-ji’s and all other freedom fighters sacrifices without whose bravery we would not have been able to appreciate the freedoms that they fought and died for.
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hope that helps, my friend
Peace ✌
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I like your biographical topic framework for poetry.
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Thank you very much. Much appreciated and humbling. Thanks again, friend ✌👍
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Really awesome proud to be an Indian proud to be a children
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many thanks, zeb! Truly a giant in the history not only of India but of the world and an iconic inspiration for all who value freedom, justice, gender equality and democracy !
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Awsome verses on jwaher lal Nehru really proud to be an indian
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Many thanks again, zeb … a monumental figure in out shared history!
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A beautiful dedication to an incredible individual. And a proud to be of Indian origin moment for me…
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Many thanks!
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