Ekla Chalo Re...My Dear Vegan Friends

 



I forget in what context I noted and  traced this beautiful Bengali song, but listened to it a few times yesterday.

Noticed the words Ekla Chalo Re somewhere in an online news news portal and it reminded me of Amitabhs song in a hindi movie called Kahaani.

I traced the song on You Tube.

The movie itself was a good one and I enjoyed the first view more than the second one - I always watch movies which I like, more than once.

Enjoyed Twelve Angry Men about 7-8 times and maybe will again, a few more times later in life. 

This initial title song in Kahaani stayed with me because of the haunting tune and the meaning ....


Was written as a patriotic song in the beginnings of the twentieth century by Rabindhranath Tagore.

BTW I like the way Bengalis pronounce A as O .. should it be Robindhranath..?


Another reason I like Bengal is that the state gave us Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He was against Sati and Child marriage and  advocated actively against them. 

Vegan advocates can take heart from his efforts in the days, when  social media was just the newspaper.

He had distributed pamphlets and spoke to small public gatherings, spreading an awareness about the cruel practices.

Sati was the habit of burning the widows in the dead husband's funeral pyre.

People had to be TOLD that even if it is a tradition, burning humans alive is wrong and cruel!


Wonder 🤔 WHO started this tradition....

Some articles say that many women did it voluntarily, but I have a feeling that the instigation must have been from the patriarchal inclinations of human society.

Online articles related to the history of this practice say that it was Ram Mohan Roy's and  another British gentleman's efforts, which made the British Indian Government headed by Lord William Bentinck,  pass the law against Sathi in 1829.The statement said that it was revolting to the feelings of human nature.


To think that a human being should be burned alive just because the partner died...!

I am waiting for the day in future when most of the world will recoil at the memory of todays meat, egg and milk eating practices with the same shock.


Over to the song....

I liked the three versions  given below in the links, especially the first one better than Amitabhs for the obvious reason ....Voice.


Could also be because I am not a great fan of the Big B.

Just a reminder to the die hard AB fans that I have my individual rights in liking or not one movie star or another...

Hopefully his status is like Rajini's now?

Most Rajini fans are over sixty and probably dont care either way...

and the caring younger ones cannot be classified as die hard.

For clarity of information I did and do like some Rajini starrers to this day..... but I describe myself as a die hard fan of Kamal. 


Am dedicating these three links given below to my Vegan friends,difficult to select one, all the three are lovely..


👇


https://youtu.be/yPqdlR_X1Vk

Shreya Ghoshal


https://youtu.be/HK9y5VsYhSI

Usha Uthup


https://youtu.be/HkPC8BaALxY

Hemant Kumar


The translation I got from Quora:

👇


What is the meaning of the poem 'Ekla Chalo Re' by Rabindranath Tagore?


Somava Das

1 February 2017


Ekla Cholo Re is not a poem. It is a patriotic song, dating back to 1905 or so.


Roughly translated, “Jodi tor daak shune keu na aashe tobe Ekla Cholo Re” means if no one responds to your call then walk on your path alone.


This is the English translation of the song done by Rabindranath Tagore himself.


“If they answer not to your call walk alone


If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,


O thou unlucky one,


open your mind and speak out alone.


If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,


O thou unlucky one,


trample the thorns under thy tread,


and along the blood-lined track travel alone.


If they shut doors and do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,


O thou unlucky one,


with the thunder flame of pain ignite your own heart,


and let it burn alone.”


The song, in a sense, can be considered as an inspiration to the listener for continuing the journey, even if they have no support or have been left alone by others.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A minute to ponder 🤔🤔 Two to cook 🍋🌶️

சுலப சாம்பாரும் சிந்திக்க ஒரு நிமிடம்

விருட்சம்

சிந்திக்க ஒரு நிமிடம்

புகைபோக்கி

நகரும் 🐌 நத்தை

Cruelty-free Ommelete அகிம்சா ஆம்லட் 🌰🥬🌶️

வெட்டும் நேரம் வளரும் நேரம்

A minute to ponder...🤔 Two to cook.. 🍆🍅

பொன்னாடை துணி