Vinayak Damodar Savarkar nee Veer Savarkar, a name that churns deep emotions and respect in any regular deshbhakt Bhartiya’s heart. Also a name that causes infinite heartburn and resultant vitriol from the Left-Liberal-Nehruvian section of the country. Time and again they have tried their best to keep spreading vile stories against this towering hero of our independence struggle. But for anyone who’s not forsaken their roots or have been fortunate enough to make a pilgrimage to the infamous Cellular Jail or Kala-Pani in Andaman, there can be no confusion about the intent and contribution of those heroes incarcerated in the most inhuman conditions for years without hope. PM Narendra Modi on his recent visit to Andaman Island also resonated the same feeling in his speech saying, “The cells of the Cellular Jail where great freedom fighters such as Veer Savarkar, Baba Bhan Singh, Indu Bhushan Roy were tortured for years by the British are no less than temples.”
While we all were moved by the poignant scenes of PM Modi visiting the cell of Savarkar ji at Cellular Jail and spending sometime meditating and reflecting upon the struggles of the revered freedom fighter, here is a translation and background by Kal_Chiron of his very touching poem – Maajhe Mrityupatra.
माझे मृत्युपत्र – My Final Testament
वैशाखिचा कुमुदनाथ नभात हांसे
यच्चन्द्रिका धवल सौधातली विलासे
घाली स्वये जल जिला प्रिय बाल खासे
जाई फूले चिमुकली नटली सुवासे ll १ ll
The moon in the summer-night is smiling in the sky
The Snow-white stars are brightly shining too
The flowers in the garden of my home blossom
As the children water them in the evening ll 1 ll
आले घरी सकल आप्त सह्रद जिवाचे
आनंदमग्न कुल गोकुल काय साचे
आदर्श दीप्ति-शुचिता-धृति यौवानांचे
पाहून जे तरुण मंडल कीर्ति नाचे ll २ ll
All the members in my family have assembled
Atmosphere as happier than Vrindavan of Krishna
The beautiful, ideal and chaste youthfulness
of people is resonating all over the place ll 2 ll
प्रेम हृदे विकसली नव-यौवनाच्या
गंधे सुवासित उदात्त सुसंस्कृतिच्या
दिव्या लता तरुसी जे गृह बाग़ झाला
ज्यां पौर हर्षित वदे जन “धर्मं-शाला” ll ३ ll
Affections reigned in the hearts of young people
Spreading the fragrance of rich heritage and civilization
My home was a fragrant and heavenly tree which
people referred to as “abode of righteousness” ll 3 ll
स्वयंपाक त्वां निजकरें कुशले करावा
प्रेमें तुझ्या अधिकची सु-रसाल व्हावा
संवाद सर्व मिळुनी करितां नितान्त
जेवावयासी बसलो जईं चांदण्यात ll ४ ll
I savored the food prepared by you
the taste of which was further enriched by your love
how we used to dine together
chatting and relaxing in calm moonlight ll 4 ll
श्री रामचंद्र वनवास कथारसाला
कीं केवीं देश इटली रिपु-मुक्त झाला
तानाजिचा समरधीर तसा पोवाडा
गावा चित्तोडगढ वा शनिवार वाडा ll ५ ll
how we listened to the stories of Sri Raam’s exile
and those of Italy’s quest for independence and unification
and the ballad of brave Tanaji
or those of Chittorgarh and Shanivaar-Vaada ll 5 ll
झाली कशी प्रियकरा अपुली अनाथा
दुर्दास्यखिन्न शरछिन्न विपन्न माता
शोकें विवंचुनी तिच्या जईं मोचनाचे
केलें अनंत तरुणा उपदेश साचे ll ६ ll
How was our beloved (land) orphaned and defiled
saddened by the slavery and poverty was our mother (land)
Saddened by her penury, how we
counselled the youth to alleviate her off her misery ll 6 ll
तो काल रम्य मधुरा प्रिय संगती ती
ते चांदणे नवकथा रमणीय रात्री
ते ध्येय दिव्या निज मातृ-विमोचानाचे
तो उग्र निश्चयही ते उपदेश साचे ll ७ ll
Ah!! that time spent in the company of beloved
that splendid moonlight brightening those beautiful nights
that heavenly desire to liberate the mother
And that firm resolve, I remember everything… ll 7 ll
झाल्या तदा प्रियकरा सह आण-भाका
त्या सर्व देवी वहिनी, स्मरति तुम्हां कां ??
“बाजीप्रभु ठरू” वदे युव संघ सर्व
“आम्ही चित्तोड़ युवती” युवती सगर्व ll ८ ll
The vows exchanged with the beloved
do you remember them, Oh Vahini *
“Will fight like Bajiprabhu” resolved the young men
“Will sacrifice like Padmini of Chittorgarh” resolved the ladies as well ll 8 ll
कीं घेतले व्रत न हे अम्ही अन्धतेने
लब्ध-प्रकाश-इतिहास-निसर्ग माने
जे दिव्य-दाहक म्हणोनी असावयाचे
बुद्ध्याची वाण धरिले करी हे सतीचे ll ९ ll
Blindly have we not made this resolve
But in the light of history and the laws of nature
Whatever is luminous and scorching
Have we purposefully held the robes of a sati in our hands ll 9 ll
ज्या होती ते प्रियजन सह आण-भाका
त्यांते स्मरोनी मग सांप्रत हे विलोका
नाही पूरी उलटली जरी आठ वर्षे
तों कार्यसिद्धि इतुकी मन का न हर्षे ?? ll १० ll
It has been eight years, since then
and we have achieved so much
In spite of all those vows taken and fulfilment of some of them,
why does not the heart feel the joy ??? ll 10 ll
आसेतु पर्वत उचम्बळला स्वदेश
वीराकृति धरित टाकुनी दीनवेष
भक्तांचिया रघुपदी झुलतात झुंडी
जाज्वल्य होयही हुताशन यज्ञकुंडी ll ११ ll
From Himalayas to Ocean, the nation has risen
have assumed the valor, giving up the stance of deprivation
The Yagna-pyre initiated is burning vigorously,
but so is the resolve of devotees.. ll 11 ll
तो यज्ञ सिद्ध करण्यास्तव उग्र दीक्षा
जे घेती येई तइं तत्कृतिची परीक्षा
“विश्वचिया अखिलमंगल धारणाला
बोला असे कवण भक्ष्य हुताशनाला ?” ll १२ll
Those who undertake responsibility of the Yagna’s fulfilment,
are tested immediately for their resolve
“For benefit of mankind and this planet
Who is ready to burn first in this pyre??” ll 12 ll
आमंत्रण प्रभु रघुत्तम सोडितां हे
दिव्यार्थ देव !!! अमुचे कुल सज्ज आहे
हे साध्वी !! गर्जुनी असे पहिल्या हविचा
हा ईश्वरी मिळविला अम्ही मान साचा ll १३ ll
As soon as Sri Raam set up this open invitation
Our family rose with unflinching resolve
“Your holiness!!!” roared our kin
“this divine right belongs to us” ll 13 ll
धर्मार्थ देह बदलो ठरले नितान्त
ते बोल-फोल बालिश नचि बायकांत
ना भंगली भिउनिया धृति यातनान्ना
निष्काम कर्मरति योग ही खंडिला ना ll १४ ll
For upliftment of righteousness, our sacrifice was decided
These words weren’t uttered in childish manner
nor were we flinched by the prospects of torturous road ahead
our yoga of desire-less action continued unflinchingly ll 14 ll
ज्या होती तैं प्रियजना सह आण-भाका
केल्याची सत्य कृतिने अजि ह्या विलोका
दीप्तानलात निज मातृ-विमोचनार्थ
हा स्वार्थ जाळुनि अम्ही ठरलो कृतार्थ ll १५ ll
By all the vows exchanged with loved ones
We fulfilled them all today
In this raging fire, for the sake of liberation of mother,
We burnt ourselves and became immortal ll 15 ll
हे मातृभूमि तुजला मन वाहियेले
वक्तृत्व वाक्-विभव ही तुज अर्पियेले
तुंतेंची अर्पिली नवी कविता वधूला
लेखां प्रति विषय तूची अनन्य झाला ll १६ ll
Oh Motherland! I have dedicated my intellect to you,
To you I have dedicated my oratory,
To you I have dedicated my new poem,
You have become the sole subject of my prose ll 16 ll
त्वत्-स्थंडिले ढकलिले प्रिय मित्र-संघा
केलें स्वये दहन यौवन देह-भोगा
त्वत्कार्य नैतिक सुसंमत सर्व देवा
तत्सेवनीच गमली रघुवीर सेवा ll १७ ll
At your altar, have I sacrificed my friends
sacrificed the pleasures of youth, myself
Righteous is your cause and blessed by all gods
Serving you, I realized the supreme truth ll 17 ll
त्वत्-स्थंडिली ढकलली गृह-वित्त-मत्ता
दावानालात वहिनी नव-पुत्र-कांता
त्वत्-स्थंडिली अतुल-धैर्यनिष्ठ बंधू
केला हवि परम कारुण पुण्यसिंधू ll १८ ll
At your altar, I sacrificed my home, wealth and property
IN this raging fire did I sacrifice my new-born son and wife
At your altar, did my Elder brother go
the one who was embodiment of courage and dignity ll 18 ll
त्वत्-स्थंडिला वरी बळी प्रिय बाळ झाला
त्वत्-स्थंडिला वरी अता मम देह ठेला
हे काय बंधू असतो जरी सात आम्ही
त्वत्-स्थंडिलीच असते दिधले बळी मी ll १९ ll
At your Altar, did my younger brother go as well;
Now, it is my turn….
Even if we were seven brothers in family
All of them would have been sacrificed at your Altar, oh Mother !!! ll 19 ll
संतान ह्या भारतभूमिस तीस कोटि
जे मातृभक्ति सज्जन धन्य होती
हे आपुले कुल ही तय मध्ये ईश्वरांश
निर्वंश होउनी ठरेल अखंड वंश ll २० ll
India is mother to 300 million children
All of them are our brothers, truthful and motivated
our family, but a small drop in this vast ocean of humanity
Even if it dies out, our line will continue ll 20 ll
कीं ते ठरों ही अथवा न ठरो परंतु
हें मातृभू अम्ही असो परिपूर्ण हेतु
दीप्तानलात निज मातृ-विमोचनार्थ
हा स्वार्थ जाळुनि अम्ही ठरलो कृतार्थ ll २१ ll
In spite of success and failure, Oh motherland,
our resolve still remains unbroken..
In this raging fire, for the sake of liberation of mother,
We burnt ourselves and became immortal ll 21ll
ऐसे विवंचुनी अहो वहिनी !! व्रताते
पाळोनी वर्धन करा कुल दिव्यतेतें
श्रीपार्वती तप करीं हिम-पर्वती ती
कीं विस्तवात हसल्या बहुराजपुती ll २२ ll
After saying this, dear Vahini,
Follow this divine pledge throughout your life
Just like the torturous penance of Parvati
Just like the burning resolve of rajput princess ll 22 ll
तें भारतीय ललना-बल-तेज काही
अद्यापि या भरतभूमित लुप्त नाही
हें सिद्ध होइल असेंच उदार उग्र
वीरांगने !! तव सुवर्तन हो समग्र ll २३ ll
That luminous feminine strength
has not yet disappeared from Bharatbhumi
Prove these words, Oh brave lady
may your life be a guiding star for the rest ll 23 ll
माझा निरोप तुजला येथुनी हाच देवी
हा वत्स-वत्सल तुझ्या पदी शीर्ष ठेवी
सप्रेम अर्पण असो प्रणति तुम्हांते
आलिंगन प्रियकरा मम अंगनेते ll २४ ll
I bid you good-bye, Oh divine lady,
This brother of your’s is bowing in front of you, one last time
The affections and love shall remain in my heart forever;
ardently convey this message to my beloved (wife)… ll 24 ll
कीं घेतले व्रत न हे अम्ही अन्धतेने
लब्ध-प्रकाश-इतिहास-निसर्ग माने
जे दिव्य-दाहक म्हणोनी असावयाचे
बुद्ध्याची वाण धरिले करी हे सतीचे ll २५ ll
Blindly have we not made this resolve
But in the light of history and the laws of nature
Whatever is luminous and scorching
Have we purposefully held the robes of a sati in our hands ll 25 ll
This is one of the most heart-wrenching compositions of Veer Savarkar. Written in highly sanskritized Marathi, he composed this when he was sentenced 50 years of rigorous imprisonment (Kala-Pani) at Andaman cellular jail when he was accused for his revolutionary activities against British Empire for independence of India.
He went to England to finish his education in law, however returned to India with sentence of 50 years on his head. The sensitive poet in him has given many beautiful poems to Marathi literature. This one, in particular, is my personal favourite. The agony of a talented young man, who is patriot to his core, when he sees his life ahead being virtually destroyed without achieving the goal (of Indian independence), and yet, the courage with which he consoles his family saying,”Everything will be fine”.
The metaphors of Savarkar’s poems are extremely difficult to translate. The profound reference to Indian history and mythology is seen in his poetic compositions. This makes it extremely difficult to translate and yet preserve the meaning (as much as possible). Although I am not a very good translator and I know that I have not done complete justice to this beautiful composition while translating it in English, it was my ardent desire that this poem should be put forth in its fullest, for all the readers of my blog. And since this poem has not been translated in English previously, it will also attract non-Marathi speaking people towards literature of Veer Savarkar.
* Vahini – Sister-in-law (Bhabhi) – Yesuvahini or Yesubai was wife of poet’s elder brother. Savarkar’s mother died when he was young. Since the death of his mother, his sister-in-law (Vahini) took care of him affectionately. He grew extremely close to her with time. This final testament of Savarkar is addressed to his beloved Bhabhi, whom he refers to, at various places in this composition, as Vahini (bhabhi), Divine lady, Brave woman.
**Translation piece and following commentary has been taken from Kal_Chiron ‘s blogpost “माझे मृत्युपत्र – Maajhe Mrityupatra – My Final Testament – by Veer Savarkar“
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