Having suffered a lot
Those whose minds are wrought
The base of whose existence becomes shaky
Those who are listless
Let them listen -
Don't ever forget yourselves.
Let you meet every day
Those who have won over death
Those who have kept their torch aflame
Above whatever is mean and small
If you make them dwarf
The sin of their disrespect
Will make you dwarf as well
And you will suffer that indignity forever.
Make yourselves honorable
Honoring them
In the world
Those who are memorable men.
Translation of poem 18 from the collection Janmadine by Rabindranath Tagore. The original in Bengali script may be viewed at
