Story of Laxmi Bai, (born Nov.19, 1835) the Queen of Jhansi is unparalleled in the history of India. She was only 18 years old when her husband Gangadhar Rao, the king of Jhansi died. As the first born child of Rani had died, the couple was childless. They adopted a …
Read More »हल्दीघाटी: युद्ध – श्याम नारायण पाण्डेय
In mid 1500s Akbar the Mughal emperor of India, in his bid to consolidate his empire, had entered into agreements with Rajput kingdoms except that of Mewar. Maharana Pratap of Mewar was defiant and did not want to lose his independence. Frustrated Akbar sent his massive army led by Mansingh …
Read More »पीथल और पाथल – कन्हैयालाल सेठिया
You may have read Shyam Narayan Pandey’s classic epic “Haldighati”. Three excerpts from that great work are available on this site. Many readers had asked me to include a Rajasthani classic poem on the same theme by the great poet Kanhaiyalal Sethia, but I could not find that poem any …
Read More »रे प्रवासी जाग – रामधारी सिंह दिनकर
There is always nostalgia about the country we left long ago. Even as we wade our way through alien society and land, heart often pines for good old Home. Here is a poem of this nostalgia from Ramdhari Singh Dinkar – Rajiv Krishna Saxena रे प्रवासी जाग रे प्रवासी‚ जाग‚ …
Read More »बढ़े चलो, बढ़े चलो – सोहनलाल द्विवेदी
Here is another old classic from Sohan Lal Dwivedi. Most of us may have read it in school. Enjoy the rhythm – Rajiv Krishna Saxena बढ़े चलो, बढ़े चलो न हाथ एक शस्त्र हो, न हाथ एक अस्त्र हो, न अन्न नीर वस्त्र हो, हटो नहीं, डरो नहीं, बढ़े चलो, …
Read More »रुके न तू – हरिवंश राय बच्चन
Here is an exhortation from Harivansh Rai Bachchan to leave inaction and to work with full enthusiasm and vigor. A good poem for children to recite. Rajiv Krishna Saxena रुके न तू धरा हिला, गगन गुँजा नदी बहा, पवन चला विजय तेरी, विजय तेरीे ज्योति सी जल, जला भुजा–भुजा, फड़क–फड़क …
Read More »हल्दीघाटी: युद्ध के लिये प्रयाण – श्याम नारायण पाण्डेय
In mid 1500s Akbar the Mughal emperor of India, in his bid to consolidate his empire, had entered into agreements with Rajput kingdoms except that of Mewar. Maharana Pratap of Mewar was defiant and did not want to lose his independence. Frustrated Akbar sent his massive army led by Mansingh …
Read More »चाहता हूँ देश की धरती, तुझे कुछ और भी दूँ – राम अवतार त्यागी
I had read this poem by Ram Avtar Tyagi in children’s school Hindi text book. It left a deep impression. It may moisten eyes of some readers, especially those who feel special affinity for India. And that is why this is such a special poem. Illustration is from the collection …
Read More »प्रताप की प्रतिज्ञा – श्याम नारायण पांडेय
Mansingh, a Rajput, ( “Maan” in first line of third stanza) had aligned with Emperor Akbar of Delhi and had attacked Rana Pratap’s kingdom of Mewar. Rana Pratap kept fighting and resisting this assault. His velour and that of his legendry horse “Chetak” has been immortalized by famous poet Shyam …
Read More »मेरा परिचय – अटल बिहारी वाजपेई
Atal Ji’s famous poem on his birthday! Hindu thought and philosophy evolved over the Indian sub-continent over last thousands of years. It was the most liberal thought that allowed unfettered thinking and reasoning and was a natural precursor for true humanism. Hindu society assimilated whosoever reached India for shelter from …
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