Lit eZine Vol 3 | p-23 | A WRITER’S LIFE | Sarojini Naidu

A WRITER’S LIFE

THE NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA – SAROJINI NAIDU

A poet who for her beautiful writing was lovingly called the Nightingale of India, a freedom fighter, a politician and an author of several books, Sarojini Naidu’s life was eventful and rich in varied experiences.

Sarojini Naidu (February 13, 1879, – March 2, 1949) was born in Hyderabad in a Bengali Brahmin family. Her father, Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, was the principal of Nizam’s College in Hyderabad. The eldest daughter of eight siblings, she was educated at the University of Madras, King’s College, London and Girton College, Cambridge. She worked as a suffragist in Britain and later joined the Indian National Congress’ movement for India’s independence from British rule. 

As a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, she was one of the major figures who led several movements that eventually helped India gain freedom from British rule. Sarojini became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress and after independence, was appointed the first woman governor of the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh).

Sarojini led an active literary life. She began writing at the age of 12. Her Persian play Maher Muneer greatly impressed the Nizam of Hyderabad. Her poetry was written in English and is known for rich imagery and beautiful depictions of her country, India. Such was the beauty of her poetry that she was named Bharat Kokila (The Nightingale of India). In 1914 she was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Her first book of poems, The Golden Threshold was published in London in 1905. It was followed by her collections The Bird of Time and The Broken Wing. Her collected poems can be found in the books The Sceptred Flute (1928) and The Feather of the Dawn (1961). The Feather of Dawn was published after her death, edited by her daughter and contains her unpublished poems as well.  

The Bird of Time is known for her nationalistic poems and includes one of her most famous poems “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad”. In this poem, she presents the charming scenes of a traditional bazaar and reminds fellow Indians of their rich traditions thus urging them to give up buying foreign goods and embrace Indian products (Swadeshi Movement) to cripple the British economy. 

Another famous poem, Palanquin Bearers, depicts the bride carried in her Palanquin by the bearers with pride. Her other well-read poems are Coromandel Fishers, Cradle Song, Song of a Dream, and Indian Weavers (published posthumously).

Her speeches were collected and published as “The Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu” in 1918 and became so popular that it led to two expanded reprints in 1919 and 1925. You can read some excerpts from her speeches here.

If you enjoyed reading her poems, consider buying one of her books for your collection. Her poetry is a joy to read.

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