Written 1828 Country India Form Sonnet Page count 1 | First published in India Language English Meter Iambic pentameter Subject British Raj | |
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Similar India of my dreams, Kari - the elephant, India 2020, Be glad your nose is on your, The Model Millionaire | ||
To India - My Native Land is a poem composed by Indian poet Henry Louis Vivian Derozio in 1828. It is one of the most notable works by the Indian poet.
Contents
The poet was very pained at the fact that India was under British rule and laments that fact in this poem.
Summary
The poet expresses a sense of personal loss in the downfall of his country, India. Addressing India, the poet says that in the old days, India was worshipped like a deity. Poet wonders where that glory and splendour have disappeared and regrets the fact that his motherland has now been reduced to the position of a slave of the British Empire. The author also mentions that the country has been humiliated and ashamed of herself grovelling in the dust. There was time when the country soared like an eagle in the skies but now the wings of that great bird have been clipped and it is chained. The poet has no wreath of flowers to offer the country but instead, he will dig into the past and will try to sing of some parts of that great history which is no longer available to the younger generation. The only reward author wants for his effort is that the country should have a kind wish for the author and the countrymen should love him.
Theme
In this poem Henry Louis Vivian Derozio talked of the past glory of India and how the country that was called the "Golden Eagle" has chained and enslaved. He proposes to write about some of that heritage of the distant past and in return hopes for a kind wish from the country and its people.
Publications
Critical appreciation
The poem is a sonnet which is written as a tribute to the motherland of the author. Though written by an Indian poet, but there is an influence of Romantic poets and Medieval poets with the use of "thou" and "thee" in the poem.
The poet has effectively used the image of a golden bird thus hinting at the past glory of India. Words like "halo", "deity", "worship" elevates the country to a height and then words such as "chained", "grovelling", "lowly dust" and "wreath" bring out the contrast strongly. The misery and lament of the poet has forced to make the readers join his sorrow.