The Fakeer of Jungheera
1829 English poem by Derozio
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The Fakeer of Jungheera is a long poem written by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, first published in 1829.[1] The poem is 2,050 lines long, and was published when Derozio was only 19.[2] It is notable for being the first long poem written by any Indian in the English language,[2] and forms a central part of Derozio's legacy as one of the founding Anglo-Indian poets.[3] The poem tells the tragic story of a young woman named Nuleeni, who has been brought to her late husband's funeral pyre to commit sati when she is rescued by a band of thieves led by her childhood friend, the titular fakir. Her father convinces the nawab of Rajmahal to recapture her with his army; in the ensuing battle, many die, including Nuleeni and her lover.[4] The poem has been compared to Lord Byron's so-called "Turkish Tales" like The Giaour and to Letitia Elizabeth Landon's poem "The Improvisatrice".[1]
