Saroj Smriti (ISO: Saroj Smṛti) (lit. 'In memorium Saroj') is a long poem and an elegy in Hindi written by Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'. He composed this following the death of his 18-year-old daughter, Saroj, in 1935. Its first publication occurred in the second edition of Anāmikā in 1937. This poem is considered one of the finest elegies in Hindi literature.[1]
| Author | Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' |
|---|---|
| Original title | सरोज-स्मृति |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Poem |
Publication date | 1937 |
| Publication place | India |
| Media type |
Overview
editNirala composed this poem in the profound grief following his daughter's death. It transcends emotional outpouring, with a deep sense of regret and sadness permeating the poem. Its subdued, restrained treatment and pensive dignity elevate it to an epic stature.[2] David Rubin stated that Nirala's elegy for his daughter introduced a new element of unsparingly direct speech. It combined an intensely personal tone with objective control, merging the rhythmic flexibility of free verse with the solemnity of classical meter.[3]
Excerpts
editNirala, while depicting Saroj on her wedding day, portrays her as a vibrant and poetic entity that evokes memories of his late wife, Manohara Devi.
| Devnagri script[4] | IAST transliteration | English translation[5] |
|---|---|---|
|
देखा मैंने, वह मूर्ति-धीति |
Dekhā maine, vah mūrti-dhīti |
In you, I saw the courage, |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Nirala, Suryakant Tripathi (2024). A Portrait of Love: Six Stories; One Novella. Translated by Choubey, Gautan. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 9789357086011.
- ^ Gupta, Manju (1988). Datta, Amaresh (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1149. ISBN 9788126011940.
- ^ Rubin, David (1971). "Nirala and the Renaissance of Hindi Poetry". The Journal of Asian Studies. 31 (1): 114. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ "Saroj Smṛti: Full poem". www.hindwi.org. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Shah, Ramesh Chandra (1998). "Another Returning of the Heart... Nirala's Imagination". India International Centre Quarterly. 36 (1): 1998. Retrieved 2024-07-28.