Birth anniversary - Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu was born at Hyderabad in India on 13th February, 1879. She was educated at London and Cambridge. She began to write poetry at an early age. She distinguished herself in English poems touching Indian themes. She was a gifted poetess. Her poems have been collected in three volumes - 'The Bird of Time', 'The Broken Wing' and 'The Golden Threshold' are her famous books. She is a poetess of love and beauty. Her poems are beautiful lyrics and are highly musical. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman President of the President of the Indian National Congress and the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She was aptly called 'The Nightingale of India'. She passed away on the 1st of March, 1949. As a freedom fighter, statesman, educationist and poetess, she always remained a source of inspiration to her countrymen.

Sarojini Naidu was born at Hyderabad in India on 13th February, 1879. She was educated at London and Cambridge. She began to write poetry at an early age. She distinguished herself in English poems touching Indian themes. She was a gifted poetess. Her poems have been collected in three volumes - 'The Bird of Time', 'The Broken Wing' and 'The Golden Threshold' are her famous books. She is a poetess of love and beauty. Her poems are beautiful lyrics and are highly musical.

Sarojini Naidu was the first woman President of the President of the Indian National Congress and the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. She was aptly called 'The Nightingale of India'. She passed away on the 1st of March, 1949. As a freedom fighter, statesman, educationist and poetess, she always remained a source of inspiration to her countrymen.

POEM : THE PALANQUIN BEARERS

Lightly, O lightly, we bear her along,

She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;

She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,

She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.

Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing.

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Soflty,O Softly we bear her along,

She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;

She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,

She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride,

Lightly, O Lightly we glide and we sing,

We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

- Sarojini Naidu

Central Idea of the poem

The poem 'The Palanquin Bearers' composed by Sarojini Naidu, is the song of the Palanquin Bearers who sing to relieve themselves of the tedium of journey. The sweet melody of the poem and the gentle touch of imagination have added to the beauty of the poem. It becomes clear by a deeper reading of the poem that the poem is not about the bride inside the palanquin but it is about the palanquin itself. The smooth flow of lives and the lifting rhythm produce pleasing musical effect.