Poem Review- The Gift of India by Sarojini Naidu- ‘A Tribute’

Source: Litbug

The poem ‘The Gift of India’ was written by Sarojini Naidu in 1915. It was written as an appeal for the recognition of the Indian contribution to the First World War. The poem celebrates as well as proclaims the contributions of thousands of Indian soldiers to the cause of the colonizers, especially the British. 

Introduction

Poem’s Name- The Gift of India

Author’s Name- Sarojini Naidu

Genre- A war poem

Language- English

About the poem

The poem ‘ The Gift of India’ is a patriotic poem written as a tribute to the contributions of the Indian soldiers during the First World War. The poem reminds us of the time the British ruled over India.

The poem talks about the sacrifices and emotions of the mothers of the Indian soldiers, and also about the various sacrifices made by India to the British. In the initial parts of the poem, Mother India herself proclaims proudly about the rich gifts that she gave the world- these included priceless raiment (clothes), grain and gold. This refers to all the resources starting right from agricultural productions to priceless metals that the colonisers took to their country during their rule in India.

The major sacrifice that this poem talks about is the sacrifice of the brave Indian soldiers who were sent to fight in a foreign land. These Indian soldiers were sent to fight in a war to which they are not connected in any way. They had to leave their country and go to fight in the war only because of British rule. These soldiers were flung to foreign lands (to the east and the west) and most of them could not return back because of their unfortunate death.

Many strong phrases such as ‘’the sons of my stricken womb’, ‘to the drum-beats of duty’, ‘gathered like pearls in their alien graves’, ‘pale brows and brave, broken hands’- all express a motif of glorification and celebration of the dutiful brave soldiers who were martyred in the war. Lastly, and most importantly, Mother India requests the British to remember and honour the contributions of these soldiers. 

About the poetess

The poetess of ‘The Gift of India’ is Sarojini Naidu. She was also known as the ‘Nightingale of India’. She was an Indian political activist, a feminist and a poet. A proponent of civil rights, women’s emancipation, and anti-imperialist ideas, she was an important figure in India’s struggle for Independence.  She was born on 13th February 1879 in Hyderabad, India, and died on 2nd March 1949 in Lucknow, India. She was the first Indian woman to be the president of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed as the Indian state governor. 

She was educated in Madras, London and Cambridge. Following her time in England, she worked as a suffragist and was drawn to the movement of the Indian National Congress for India’s independence from British rule. She soon became a part of the Indian nationalist movement and also a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his idea of swaraj. She was one of the main leaders involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India movement. She was sometimes even arrested by British authorities and spent over 21 months in jail.

Her work as a poet earned her the title ‘The Nightingale of India’ or ‘Bharat Kokila’ by Mahatma Gandhi because of the colour, imagery and lyrical quality of her poems. Her poems included poems for children, as well as poems on serious themes like patriotism, tragedy and romance. 

The theme of the poem

The poem has poignantly depicted the heroic sons of Mother India and also conveyed the futility of bloodshed in war. The poem is an anti-war poem as it depicts the ill effects of war. It depicts how war causes the loss of thousands of lives and also separates soldiers from their families. In this poem, it is portrayed that Mother India has gifted to the world, not mere material gifts such as food, clothing and wealth but has also bestowed upon the world her ‘priceless treasure’- her sons, whom she had torn from her breasts.

These are the Indian soldiers who fought valiantly in the First world war. When these brave sons met their ends, they were like scattered precious pearls plucked from the necklace of Mother India. In a series of rhetorical questions, Mother India asks whether can anyone measure the grief of tears she weeps for her lost sons or fathom her woes or sufferings when she watches her sons dying? At the same time, she questions if anyone could measure the pride that thrills her heart’s despair or the hope that comforts the agony of prayers.

She wonders when the terror and disorder caused due to hatred shall cease. When will the world put an end to the war which is futile and robs many mothers of their priceless sons? She wonders when the world will be running on the anvils of peace and harmony.  She continues to say that when the world is devoid of hatred, it will be filled with love and this love shall offer memorial thanks to the comrades who fought fiercely on the battlefield. 

Famous quotes from the poem

1. ‘‘Lo! I have flung to the East and West 

Priceless treasures torn from my breast.’’

2. ‘‘Gathered like pearls in their alien graves’’

3. ‘‘They are strewn like blossoms mown down by chance’’

4. ‘‘Can ye measure the grief of tears I weep

Or compass the woe of the watch I keep?’’

Conclusion

The main request of the poem to the world is to honour the deeds of the Indian soldiers who died while fighting in the war. The sacrifice of the martyred sons should always be remembered. 

My ratings for the poem are 4.5/5

Get your copy from Amazon- Isc Workbook On Reverie Collection Of Poems 

Written by - Pranika Kothari