Ekla Chalo Re - By Legendary Mr. Rabindranath Tagore

I want to write about the beautiful poetry by RabindranathTagore "Ekla Chalo Re" but before I do that, it would be inappropriate if I didn’t write, How grateful our literature is because of compositions by him. Writer of Gitanjali, (also known as "An offering of songs"), and winner of The Nobel Prize in Literature (the first non-European to win it) is simple remarkable in the all on his work. I just want to salute this great poet and artist.

So now back to the poem which I keep listening (even now when I am writing this), "Ekla Chalo Re" (Check out this on Youtube).

Jodi tor daak shune keu naa ashe tobe ekla cholo re

Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re

(If they answer not to thy call walk alone,)

Did he mean walk ALONE? What I guess from these lines, he poured the entire world of wisdom in this single line of verse. He didn’t mean walk alone. I feel, he wanted to say, Even if no one understands you, even if no one listens to your Noble (yes, noble cause) words, don’t be afraid and walk alone. I always thought, we are so much afraid to express our opinions, our views that it almost dies each day in us, and here our greatest poet giving us strength to tell don’t be afraid, don’t fell alone, because you have YOURSELF with you, so walk... walk alone with yourself. But Make sure you take a step.... (from where a journey will begin)

Jodi keu kothaa naa koye, ore ore o abhaagaa, keu kothaa na koye

Jodi shobai thaake mukh phiraaye shobai kore bhoye

Tobe poraan khule o tui mukh phute tor moner kothaa, eklaa bolo re

(If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall, O thou unlucky one, open thy mind and speak out alone.)

Again this verse beautifully portrays the freedom, right to FREEDOM SPEECH, in his own expressive and lucid words. He wants people to walk if no one supports him or he says, those unlucky ones who are not with you in your right way, you still Express. How does it signify today? Infect, its true

and on the target even today, we want support around us, if want to say something, we will go and ask hundred people do you think its right? We take people's judgement over matter we know in heart is right. And finally we sink our judgement, So that what I guess he is trying to say, be true to yourself and express even if no one listens to you, if no one supports you, walk in your own company. 

Jodi shobai phire jaaye, ore ore o abhaagaa, shobai phire jaaye

Jodi gohana pothe jaabaara kaale keu phire naa chaaye

Tobe pothera kaantaa o tui rokto maakhaa choronatole eklaa dolo re

(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.)

Isn’t very true in today’s world? We at times, feel deserted, we feel are alone in the wild race of success, wild race of power and struggle, we forget WHO we REALLY ARE. At that times, instead of surrender to the blood sucking animals (cruel, jealous or unloyal people I mean) we should tread our path. Because if we know we are right, and true in our self, what’s wrong in the walking the path which no one has taken before? Just believe and walk. That’s where Rabindranath Tagore has shown skill of leadership and told to bear the torch in dark and walk on the path which will be difficult but will lead to success. 

Jodi aalo naa dhore, ore ore o abhaagaa, aalo na dhore

Jodi jhora-baadole aadhaara raate duyaara deye ghore

Tobe bajraanole aapon bukera paajora jaaliye niye ekalaa jolo re

(If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm, O thou unlucky one, with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart and let it burn alone.) 

Again marvel worlds by him. Here as we all know, diamond is produced buy pressure and hundreds of years of heat. So how come we can get the purity by not burning our self and being feel how pain is? I understand from this lines is, we should be not be afraid of falling and failing. we should be not being afraid to burn our self in the process to get and achieve what we want, even if we are alone. 

Doesn’t this poem also can be counted as one of the great poem which teaches us the wisdom of leadership, lets us know that we can be wrong, but not to stop trying?  It teaches us that we are who we are, and that’s where we can burn our self, believe in our self and in the end, being honest and being faithful will make us winner. Quite interesting to note that this poem might be result of India’s struggle of freedom? Wonderfully written poem and no wonder, I am addicted to it.

And lastly a quote from Rabindranath Tagore which reflects a reflexion of this poem, 

"What I could not see did not take me long to get over—what I did see was quite enough. There was no servant rule, and the only ring which encircled me was the blue of the horizon, drawn around these solitudes by their presiding goddess. Within this I was free to move about as I chose."