Rabindranath’s Paean to Humanity

Olosh Shomoy Dhara Beye (Time Flows at an Indolent Pace) was part of Tagore’s 1941 collection called Arogya (Healing). In the poem, the poet celebrates the lives of common people over empires.

TIME FLOWS AT AN INDOLENT PACE

Time flows at an indolent pace. 
The mind floats in an empty space. 
Into that vast void, images drift.
Over many eons, many have flit 
To the distant past. 
Arrogant conquerors sped fast. 
Pathans rode to satiate their greed. 
Then, Mughals wheeled 
Victories, whipping dust-storms, 
Flying flags for their throngs. 
These empires have left no trace
On the vast void at which I gaze. 
Through ages, the serene sky 
Is with sunset and sunrise dyed. 
Now the might of Britons holds sway
Penetrating new pathways
With the power of steam
And vehicles of fiery steel. 
With vigour, they spread 
Their dominions across the land’s breadth. 
I know their regime will also pass. 
Their empire will crumble at last. 
On the astral plane, despite their strength, 
Their army will not leave a single indent. 


When I look around the Earth, 
An ocean ripples along its girth 
Heaving huge waves of humanity 
Through myriad paths, in myriad coveys, 
Over centuries as their daily needs are met 
In life and in death. 
Forever, they row,  
With their rudders tow, 
Work in fields, plant seeds, 
Their harvests reap.
They work all the time, 
In towns or in wilds. 
Empires decline silencing bugles of war.
People forget histories of battles fought. 
Stories of glory, angst and gore,
Stay concealed in children’s lore. 
They struggle to work hard, 
In Punjab, Bombay and Gujarat, 
In Bengal, in Kalinga, all over the land, 
By the coastline and the riverbank. 
These stories of daily life hum 
Reverberating like drums;
Joys, sorrows, day and night 
Resonate as hymns to our lives. 
Empires are ruined to ashes.
Over eons, they toil as masses.

This poem has been translated by Mitali Chakravarty with editorial input by Sohana Manzoor 

.

PLEASE NOTE: ARTICLES CAN ONLY BE REPRODUCED IN OTHER SITES WITH DUE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BORDERLESS JOURNAL

Click here to access the Borderless anthology, Monalisa No Longer Smiles

Click here to access Monalisa No Longer Smiles on Kindle Amazon International