Sarojini Naidu Biography

 

 

      Sarojini Naidu Biography 

A▪︎ Life,

B▪︎ Contribution To Poetry,

C▪︎ Freedom Fighter,

D▪︎ Contributer In The Awakening Of Women,

E▪︎ Exercises,

F▪︎ Chronolgy Of Her Poetic Volumes.

A▪︎ Life-

Sarojini Naidu was a great patriot and politician. As an orator and an administrator she earned great fame. As a patriotic poetess, her name is at the top. To honour one of the most famous heroines of the 20th century, her birthday is celebrated as Women's Day. She was known as THE NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA. 

Sarojini Naidu was born on 13th February, 1879 in Hyderabad.  Her father named Dr. Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, was the founder of Nizam College of Hyderabad.  He was a great Scientist.  Sarojini Naidu's mother was Mrs. Varasundari. She was Bengali poetess and her daughter was inspired from her mother to be a Poetess. She had inherited a number of qualities from her mother and father both.  

She loved Poetry from the very early age. 

Sarojini Naidu composed The Lady Of The Lake in 1890. At this time she was only eleven years old.  It delighted her mother but disappointed her father, because he wants her daughter to become either mathematician or Scientist. And after finding that her daughter was more inclined towards poetry, he changed his plan, and encouraged her talent of composing poetry. 

She wrote the play Maher Muneer. It was in the Persian language.  Her father distributed its copies among his friends. He sent one copy of the play to the Nizam of Hyderabad.  After reading a beautiful play, Nizam was so much impressed that he decided to offer her a scholarship to study abroad.  300 pounds per annum was the scholarship amount that was offered to her. Just at the tender age of 16, she went to king's College Of England.  It opened the gate of glory for her. It was during her stay in London, she met Dr. Govind Naidu from Southern India.  Both felt attracted to each other. After finishing her studies at the age of 19, she got married to him. At that time inter-caste marriages were not allowed.  But her father did not care, and welcomed the marriage. 

B▪︎ Contribution To Poetry-

It was the sweet lyricism of her poetry that contributed a lot to the popularity of her poetry. It had beautiful words that could also be sung with ease and melody. It brought her the famous title of being The Nightingale Of India. And very soon she got recognition as the Bul Bule Hind. Her collection of poems was published in 1905 under the title Golden Threshold. It was followed by the publication of two other collections of Poems - The Bird Of Time and The Broken Wings. In 1918 came her famous collection Feast Of Youth. After that published The Magic Tree, The Wizard Mask, and A Treasury Of Poems.

It is said that her poems had English words, but an Indian soul.

C▪︎ Freedom Fighter-

Her patriotic feelings attracted the leaders of Indian movement for Independence to her. One day she came to meet Shree Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He inspired her to compose patriotic songs and to use her poetry to give new life and energy to the spirit of Independence in the hearts of villagers. 

He asked her to use her talent to liberate mother India. In 1916, she met Mahatma Gandhi. It was a turning point for her, as she totally directed her energy to the fight for freedom. She wonder around the country to sing poems and deliver speeches to pour enthusiasm among the hearts of Indians. In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi was arrested for a protest, then she took the charge of his movement. 

In 1942, she was arrested during the Quit India Movement protest and was kept in jail for 21 months with Mahatma Gandhi.  When India became Independent she became the Governor Of Uttar Pradesh.  She was the first women governor in India.  She died on 2nd March, 1949.

D▪︎ Contributor In The Awakening Of Women-

It was the period of transition when women were not free to come out to take part in public meetings.  At that time, Sarojini Naidu became active in awakening women in Indian Villages.  She got such a great success that Mahatma Gandhi held her responsible for awakening women of our country.  She brought them out of the narrow homes to wide streets. She re-established self-respect within the women of India.

E▪︎ Exercises-

1▪︎Evaluate Sarojini Naidu as the Nightingale of India.

Ans- she was regarded as one of the jewels of the world. She was known as the Nightingale of India. It was the sweet lyricism of her poetry that contributed a lot to the popularity of her Poetry.  It had beautiful words that could also be sung with ease and melody. It brought her the famous title of being The Nightingale Of India.  

• Philosophic Aspect Of Her Poetry-

Sarojini Naidu expresses deep philosophy in her Poetry.  INDIAN WEAVERS is a philosophic poem that suggests how life is full of joys and sorrows. Both are inevitable. A wise man ought to do his duty like Weavers who make robe for all occasions of joy and sorrows. Sarojini Naidu's famous poem GUERDON is an inspiring song.  All objects and creatures in the world aspire for something or the other. Mostly they wish for worldly rewards but the poetess wishes for spiritual gain.

• Patriotic Aspects Of Her Poetry- 

Her famous poem AWAKE is an inspiring patriotic song. Sarojini Naidu composed the poem wishing for India's freedom.  In this patriotic song she accounts for the glory of the Bharat Ma. She wishes for a bright tomorrow with a call for unity against all the ills of the time. 

She is sure that this dream if Freedom would became a reality when all creeds are United. The song has a great importance in the present context when the country is again being divided in the name of caste, region, or religion. 

• Her Poetic Imaginary-

Sarojini Naidu is excellent in use of poetic imagery. To illustrate, INDIAN WEAVERS is a poem of Poetic imagery. The poetess uses colour imagery to suggest different moods of human life. The BLUE coloured robe is for a new-born child. The PURPLE GREEN robe is for a royal wedding of the queen. The WHITE robe is for funeral of a dead body. The poem is rich in poetic imagery. The imagery of chill moonlight is remarkable. It suggests death for want of action. 

2▪︎ Write a short note on Sarojini Naidu's poetic style.

Ans- Her poetic style is impressive.  It is full of poetic qualities.  Her poetry is rich in thought element, and poetic qualities. Her sensuous art is remarkable.  Her Symbols are comprehensive and irony is sharp.

• Her Popular Themes-

Sarojini Naidu's famous poem AWAKE is a patriotic song. In this patriotic song she accounts for the glory of Bharat Ma wishing for a bright future with a call for unity against all the ills of the time. She was sure that this dream of freedom would become a reality when all creeds are United. Sarojini Naidu's famous poem SONG OF RADHA, THE MILKMAID is a folk-song based on Radha's love for her lover Govinda. Her mind is over-filled with the name of Govinda. This symbolical poem exposes an irony that most of religious people have no sense of true religion. Thus , her themes are limited. 

• Use If Sensuous Art-

Her sensuous art is remarkable.  For Example, SONG OF RADHA, THE MILKMAID is rich in sensuous art. There are lively word pictures.  For example, the narration of Radha's dancing friends is highly sensuous. Her friends are dancing and they asked her to join them to dance and sing wearing saffron garments in order to welcome the spring. But Radha's heart was filled with the music of Govinda's flute.

3▪︎ Account for lyricism in Sarojini Naidu's Poetry.

Ans- It was the sweet lyricism of her poetry that contributed a lot to the popularity of her Poetry.  It had beautiful words that could also be sung with ease and melody.  It is said that words are in English, but the soul of her words is Indian. 

• Lyricism- A lyric ought to have certain qualities and all of those qualities are present in Sarojini Naidu's poetry. A lyric ought to be spontaneous, simple and sweet enough to be sung on a musical instrument like guitar or sitar. There is nothing of artificial thought, feeling or treatment.  Simplicity of her lyrics is remarkable.  Besides, they are short and sweet as well.

• Philosophic Elements- She expresses deep philosophy in her Poetry.  GUERDON is an inspiring song. All objects and creatures in the world aspires for something. Mostly they wish for worldly rewards  but the poetess wishes for spiritual gain. She has no interest in wordly delights. It is her sublime nature that she wishes to see all satisfied. 

• Treatment Of Love- Sarojini Naidu's treatment of love is excellent.  Her concept of love is true and sublime. It is spiritual.  In SONG OF RADHA, THE MILKMAID, us a folk song based on Radha's love for her lover Govinda. 

Her mind is over-filled with the name of Govinda.  Govinda is a cowboy and flute player. She visits the Mathura tide to take water from the Yamuna. Her friends were dancing and they ask her to join them to dance and sing with them wearing saffron garments in order to welcome the Spring.  But Radha does not take interest in singing and dancing rather her heart was filled with the music of Govinda's flute. It proves her love for Govinda is true. It is spiritual. 

F▪︎ Chronology Of Her Poetic Volumes-

• The Holden Threshold- It was punished in 1905. It consisted of 40 short poems. These poems were divided into three categories: folk songs, songs for music and poems. Its title was borrowed from the house which she had built in Hyderabad. 

• The Bird Of Time- It was published in 1912. She dedicated it to her parents.  It consisted of 46 poems which were divided into four categories: songs of love and death, songs of spring time, Indian folk songs and songs of life.

• The Broken Wings- It was published in 1917. It was dedicated to "The Dream if today and Hope of Tomorrow ". It consisted of 61 short poems which were divided into four categories: songs of life and death, the flowering year, the peacock lute and songs for music.

• The Feather Of Dawn- It was published in 1961 by her daughter Padmaja Naidu after Sarojini Naidu's death. It consisted of 37 short poems and 5 sonnets.