आज में भारतेन्दु हरिश्चंद्र से मिली। The following lines are from his poem, मातृ-भाषा के प्रति (For the sake of Mother-Tongue). You may find the complete poem here. I don't have a very good grasp on Hindi however, I never stop trying. I suppose that's what Bharatendu Harishchandra is asserting in this poem ... If interested in further exploration of his works, you may find a good collection of his poems at this site.
निज भाषा उन्नति अहै, सब उन्नति को मूल ।
बिन निज भाषा-ज्ञान के, मिटत न हिय को सूल ।।
विविध कला शिक्षा अमित, ज्ञान अनेक प्रकार।
सब देसन से लै करहू, भाषा माहि प्रचार ।।
Translation:
Progress is made in one's own language (the mother tongue), as it the foundation of all progress.
Without the knowledge of the mother tongue, there is no cure for the pain of heart.
Many arts and education infinite, knowledge of various kinds.
Should be taken from all countries, but propagated in one mother tongue.
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Given the time-line, Bharatendu (1850-1885) must be writing with the Indian Mutiny (1857) still fresh in the memories of Indians! The first call for independence must have been a wake up call to a comatose nation that had accepted slavery as destiny. If you read the complete poem, you can see the undertones/overtones - a call for unity of the family who is bound by their mother-tongue, a call to protect the mother-tongue, and so forth. Here are the lines in which I believe lies the soul of the piece. I may stand corrected since I am not very well educated in this language.
इक भाषा इक जीव इक मति सब घर के लोग।
तबै बनत है सबन सों, मिटत मूढ़ता सोग।।
4 thoughts:
Good one. Tough to catch as m not good with Hindi too.
I know - The language used has become archaic and difficult to understand. But as much as I could understand, the message seems to be conveyed. Besides even if you can understand a little bit, it is sometimes enough because Indian languages have spiritually connecting quality to them!
??? It was heavier than Bhartendu's Poem for me. 'Spiritually connecting quality' n all, eh? N I thot it depends on the persons thinking rather than his language. May be its about the wise people who wrote great things in that particular language. Urdu always gives me feel of love n related emotions may be because of Mirza Galib. Sanskrit gives me feel of knowledge n wisdom because of Dhanvantari n Bhartruhari etc etc etc.
I talk too much n over-explain sometimes. Kindly bare with it. My ex used to get irritated with that. ;)
No worries Rahul =)
Considering my limited exposure to a formal education in Hindi (2nd to 8th grade only) I don't have a good handle on deciphering symbols in Hindi literature so I hide behind the "spiritual connection" excuse!
But you are right about how each language has individuality like Urdu has a romantic expression ...
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