Saroj Smriti
Elegiacal poetry by Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'
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Saroj Smriti (ISO: Saroj Smṛti) (lit. 'In memorium Saroj') is a long elegiacal poem in Hindi written by Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', who composed it following the death of his 18-year-old daughter, Saroj, in 1935. Its first publication occurred in the second edition of Anāmikā in 1937. The poem is considered one of the finest elegies in Hindi literature.[1] Landmark elegy in modern Hindi poetry.
| Author | Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' |
|---|---|
| Translator | David Rubin (1976), Murari Madhusudan Thakur (2006) |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Poem |
| Publication date | 1937 |
| Publication place | India |
| Media type |
Overview
Nirala 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
Nirala, while depicting Saroj on her wedding day, portrays her as a vibrant and poetic entity that evokes memories of his late wife, Manohara Devi.
| Devanagari script[4] | IAST transliteration | English translation[5] |
|---|---|---|
|
देखा मैंने, वह मूर्ति-धीति |
Dekhā maine, vah mūrti-dhīti |
In you, I saw the courage, |