Theme: Rabindrasangeet

Happy Birthday

happy birthday1.jpg


He nutan daekha dik aabar
Janmero prathama subhakshan
 

O Ever New, may Thee reappear
Through Life’s holy primal hour;
With the mist torn
Like Sun be Thy manifestation.
From the midst of inane
Thy victory be over its bane.
Let be hailed by Thy glow
And my heart’s trumpet blow;
Music of Life’s marvel
Infinity’s eternal wonder to reveal;
The clarion call to the Ever New be sent
At the advent
Of Baisakh the twenty fifth
For its unblighted gift.

Note:
There has been a boom of celebration of birthday parties of young and adults alike in the Western style even in our country with the trite song ‘Happy birthday to you …..etc.’ preceded by the ritual of cutting/eating of delicious birthday cakes to be followed by sumptuous dishes and, of course, the incumbents are flooded with costly gifts from their guests. Thus, the birthday parties do provide plenty of enjoyment. However, it may be interesting to compare this ethos with that which pervades the whole of Bengal during the Kabi Paksha (Poet’s fortnight) which starts on the 25th day of Baisakh (this month in the Bengali calendar synchronizes with the mid April to mid May period), the birthday of the Poet, when the entire clime here is inundated with Tagore’s songs/recitals etc. in various functions taking us deep into the perception of Creation’s mystery, which we badly miss in our said birthday rituals which, one may feel, are in utter mediocrity once one has experienced the ecstasy and philosophical height in Kabi Paksha. Out of many other recitals relevant to the profundity of ‘birthday’ the above song is sure to be heard on this occasion. 
  

Image © Getty Images

26-Sep-2012

More By  :  Rajat Das Gupta

Views: 1524     Comments: 2

Comments on this Poem

Comment 27 Sept. 2012
TO: Ms. Rupradha
Thank you for appreciation of 'Happy Birthday'
However, it is sad how we are losing depth in our perception even on a profound occasion like 'Birthday' where our Poet had perceived the mystery of Creation.
Rajat Das Gupta

Rajat Das Gupta
27-Sep-2012 08:55 AM

Comment wonderful!

Rupradha
27-Sep-2012 05:52 AM


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