Bharat Our Land By Subramania Bharati
Class 09 EnglishThe mighty Himavant is ours-
there’s no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours-
which other river can match her grace?
The sacred Upanishads are ours-
what scriptures else to name with them?
This sunny golden land is ours-
she’s peerless, let’s praise her!
Gallant warriors have lived here,
many a sage has sanctified this land.
The divinest music has been heard here,
and here all auspicious things are found.
Here Brahma-knowledge has taken root,
and the Buddha preached his dhamma here.
Of hoary antiquity is Bharat,
she’s peerless, let’s praise her! ...
Summary of Poem
The poem is a tribute to India, celebrating its natural beauty, spiritual heritage, and historical greatness. The poet praises the Himavant, describing it as mighty and unparalleled. The Ganga is depicted as generous and graceful, while the Upanishads are honoured as sacred and unmatched. The poem highlights the contributions of warriors and sages who have enriched the land with their bravery and wisdom. It also acknowledges the presence of Buddha and the teachings of Brahma-knowledge, highlighting India’s deep-rooted spiritual and philosophical traditions. The poet repeatedly asserts that India is peerless, urging everyone to praise her.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole (hi-puh-buh-lee) is a figure of speech that involves extreme exaggeration to highlight a point or create a dramatic effect. It is not meant to be taken literally but is used to make something sound more impressive or intense. For example:
- My luggage weighs a tonne. Does the luggage actually weigh a tonne?
- She was so happy that her smile was a mile wide. Can a smile be a mile wide?
Ode
An ode is a lyrical poem that expresses deep admiration, praise, or reverence for a person, place, object, or idea. It is often written in an elevated and formal style, celebrating the subject with enthusiasm and emotion.
An ode’s language is often grand and expressive; and it seeks to highlight the extraordinary qualities of its subject.
Allusion
Allusion is a literary device where a writer makes an indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or cultural element without explicitly mentioning it. The reader is expected to recognise and understand the reference based on prior knowledge.
Allusions can come from mythology, religion, literature, history, or popular culture.
For example: He is a real Einstein in the mathematics class. (This alludes to Albert Einstein, meaning the student is very intelligent, especially in mathematics or science.)