Jodi Tor Dak Soone Keu Na Asse…Tobe Ekla Chalo …

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Impact of Rabindranath Tagore and his works  on me is immense. I have a special bonding with Gurudev’s poems and stories right from 7th standard. In my school days, this special interest towards Tagore and his works developed when I learnt that he is also “May Born” , he is also “youngest child in the family” 😉 .  My second brother who was our inhouse Tagore used to write serene, short poems in English taking a cue from Tagore’s literature. I was (the ONLY) diehard fan of my Second Bro’s Tagore type’s of poems. I still remember those poems written by my dearest Second Bro. My Bro used to tell me the interesting aspects of biographies/autobiographies of famous people. As a part of those  interactions I got to learn several interesting things of Tagore from my Second Bro.

Added to this, My Big Brother always used to recite “Ekla Chalo Re” poem. My Big Brother being the Hero to me(then…as I was child..I used to think that My Brothers are the BEST and the Big B is the Superstar) I too used to recite the first two lines of this poem.

Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ashe(“If they answer not to thy call”) often shortened to Ekla Cholo (Walk Alone) is a song written by the Nobel prize winning poet Rabindranath Tagore, and is a part of the Rabindra Sangeet canon. Here is the poem for all of you, do check it 🙂

Ekla Chalo Poem In Bengali….

Jodi Tor Dak Soone Keu Na Asse
Tobe Ekla Chalo re
Ekla Chalo Ekla Chalo Ekla Chalore
 

Jodi Keu Katha Na Kai Ore Ore O Abhaga
Jodi Sabai Thake Mukh Firae Sabai Kare Bhay
Tabe Paran Khule
O Tui Mukh Fute Tor Maner Katha Ekla Balo re

Jodi Sabai Fire Jai Ore Ore O Abhaga
Jodi Gahan Pathe Jabar Kale Keu Feere Na Chay
Tobe Pather Kanta
O Tui Rakta Makha Charan Tale Ekla Dalo re

Jodi Alo Na Dhare Ore Ore O Abhaga
Jodi Jharr Badale Andhar Rate Duar Deay Ghare
Tobe Bajranale
Apaan Buker Panjar Jaliey Nieye Ekla Jalo re

 

Tagore’s English Translation

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.

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.

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.

Got to check this serene version of Ekla Chalo sung by Shreya Ghosal today. Do check it:

and

Shri. Amitabh Bachchan’s version of Ekla Chalo from the movie Kahaani:

Cheers,

Prasanna Rayaprolu