Best Nehru Poems
A Poem as a Tribute on Mother's Day Part 2
I was again charmed
By the singing of Koyal’s song
As the Koyal was still singing her “Kuhoo kuhoo”
In her full throated ease with her melodious sweetness
Perhaps this immortal bird is singing
Like this, since thousands and thousands of years,
Sometimes enjoying the lush green Nature
All around her and sometimes
In the company of only few trees and
some humans like me and others. 07
.
The melodious voice of the bird reminded me
My mother’s expertise in singing and
In playing the musical instrument like Harmonium and Violin
Perhaps she had developed these
To forget the pains of her life and other sufferings
Due to my father’s too much involvement in freedom struggle and
The loneliness in which she was taking care,
of my grandfather, mother and other family members
Although, all these silent sacrifices made her a unique woman of her time
Who was blessed with the simplicity of life and
her ardent love and care for her family members and her husband. 08
.
Her sacrifices for the country’s freedom struggle,
for which she had devoted many younger years of her life,
While working with Late Kamla Nehru*
And doing the work of social upliftment
To awaken and improve the dirty slums of Allahabad* around 1930’s
Made her a woman of outstanding courage and strength. 09
* Kamla Nehru was the wife of Ist Prime Minister of India
*Now Allahabad is renamed as Prayagraj as it was in 1575.
.
My late mother did many sacrifices for her country’s freedom struggle,
as a true-life partner of her husband
While working with Late Kamla Nehru* in Allahabad
She worked to light up the torch of freedom struggle,
In the hearts of illiterate and untouchable of those days
With whom no one used to talk in that era,
what to say of sitting with them,
educating them and even touching them sometimes,
when these poor people were sick
Doing all these things was almost impossible,
in the Hindu society of those days
These people for whom, she worked were in the most depilated condition,
in my country of those days of India, around 1930’s. 10
.
Ravindra K Kapoor
Kanpur India 12th May 2019 Please see Last two paras as concluded in Part 3
-- January 30, Martyr's Day --
noble and martyred
wrapped in the colours they served
nation in their legacy
***
August 14, 1947
Jawaharlal Nehru stood before The Parliament - Words were spoken, recounted this century as clear as then.
“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny; and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.
A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new -- when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India, her people, and to the still larger cause of humanity.
The turning-point is past, and history begins anew for us, the history which we shall live and act and others will write about.”
August 15, 2017
Policemen are positioned at the borders of states.
Stars are thanked at the break of dawn - the night passed without their lives.
Embassies light up with stories of the past - They play out on facades for the holidayer in traffic.
Tiny hands wave paper flags at the rural side of the city. In the August heat, parades are viewed from terraces barefoot.
Students wear pins in a march. The sole aim ~ Giving back more than we get.
A day cannot sleep without celebration of culture:
saffron, white and green
twenty nine states on stage -
nation in their eyes
.. continuation posted
A poem for republic day.....
~~~~~ Jai Hind ~~~~~~~~
From great nation, India, we hail,
Where Indus valley used to prevail.
Emperors came, emperors gone,
We always regained our own throne.
Last was the English invasion on us,
Brutal than Alexander, Ghazni, and Poras,
Wings of Golden Bird were torn,
To teach Non-violence, Bapu was born.
Bhagat, Rajguru, Sukhdev chose their way,
With combined efforts came a strong ray.
Nehru, Lala, Shashtri we can’t forget,
But for unsung heroes we regret.
Finally the moment of freedom came,
Now the wildest elephant we could tame.
Tricolour perpetually tells us to go on,
Despite of Ram, Rahim, Aryan or John.
Democracy, harmony we really praise,
Most of the intellectuals of all, we raise.
Tell everyone this noble story.
How to take the nation to zenith of glory.
Independence and republic day are not only to celebrate,
We must ever have full respect to commemorate.
India is united from Kashmir to Chennai and Assam to Sind,
Let’s come together and say aloud Jai Hind Jai Hind Jai Hind.
Written by: I. B. Chhetri
Freedom at Mid-Night
Huge crowd of a small town, lighted lamps and fireworks
No electricity, the only battery radio of my town on stage
Airing the first freedom speech of *Nehru sparking thus:
India made a tryst with destiny with many brakes
Now the time has come to redeem our pledge
At mid-night hour the world sleeps, India wakes.
A moment comes, but comes rarely in history
When we step out from the old to the new age
As the soul of India, long subdued, finds victory.
+++++++
*A great freedom fighter and the first Prime Minister of India.
January 29, 2015
Form: Tercets
Await the zenith of the sun,
cross clay courtyard a beckoning
barefoot walked, heartstring undone,
Oh Lord, there’s love, no reckoning.
Soundless clarion of tears fall
toward absolution’s bright blessing,
within the domed sabil I call...
Oh Lord, there’s love, no reckoning.
The fountain's dry, but not my eyes
sounds of grace rebound, amazing,
Amazing Grace, sang such as I
Oh Lord, there’s love, no reckoning.
We are but one beneath the sun
for all our fears and wandering
all creation our companion...
Oh Lord, there’s love, no reckoning.
Let spirit rise on minaret
and phantom penitents come hieing
all is well, we are God’s get
Oh Lord, there’s love, no reckoning.
Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.
Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 - 1964)
It was a bigly time ago.
I was rock and rolling.
The guys wore gel or mop-top beads;
The girls were cool strolling.
Asking for her time, forthrightly,
Permissions all obtained.
A friendly double date, indeed,
In stylish dress, constrained.
Hands held, nervous knees, butterfly
Bellies and Summer Sun.
Zombie kids shuffling to their doom
With cold-foot pizza fun.
Names all changed to insure the past:
Pete and Prue ate like hogs.
Joe loved June with all of his heart --
Until the girls shrieked, "frogs!"
Joe chased Pete around the table,
Marinara splattered.
Napkins called an encore order.
June and Prue both flattered.
Joe and Pete were at it, again.
Girls with sticky-face smiles.
We settled down and sauntered home.
A night of teasing trials.
Just before parting, Joe kissed June --
So ... unsymmetrical:
He was cloud-sailing, upside down.
June smelled boy chemical.
July 14, 2016
Pink Domino - Poetry Contest
(Continued from Part Two - 2)
While those that lay claim, nay, boast of
to the largest democratic state
a bi-cameral constitution
simply inherited from Westminister
as much as the unifying language
and the soi-disant socialist stamp
transported lock stock and tablier
from a Cambridge freemasonic lodge
by the Nehru dynasty progenitor
look the other way
with thumb and index closing on nostrils
when their pariah cart their faeces away
and still after millennia acknowledge and uphold the Brahmin
the self-proclaimed superior priesthood caste
those who speak for the Godhead Brahman
albeit speak with Him in the only sacred Sanskrit tongue
thus to be enthroned
on the highest pure-blooded pedestal
Can there be an Asia
the cradle of quarrelling Gods
which can listen to the little voice within
the voice of innocence
Is there an ASIA
or
are there asias
As there were warring Euro-nations…
[ to be continued ]
© T.Wignesan 1996/2001
(Written between April 7th and 20th, 1996; revised February 2001/2012 and published in The Asianists’ Asia, Vol. II, March 2001, an on-line journal [from the “original version” in the collection: longhand notes (a binding of poems), 1999]
Published in T. Wignesan. Rama and Ravana at the Altar of Hanuman: on Tamils, Tamil Literature and Tamil Culture. Chennai: Institute of Asian Studies, 2006.
*What Gods there were
I did not know then,
And was not concerned with them.
But I do know now,
HE can come to us in any form.
Attacked by the dragon, Cancer,
Threatening to take away
My one talent to speak.
I did not see HIM positively,
But I do feel him now,
HE came to me as a doctor,
And gave me many years,
To live and play with my grandkids.
I also got a message from HIM saying
“Drink water from your own cistern
running water from your own well”.
Urine Therapy – a recent treatment**
On deadly diseases like cancer.
Though a non-believer before
I lived life as a good person
If one can't love some one, but hurt none.
Maybe not of help to anyone, but never betraying
One may live a good life as a non-believer
Or one may live a good life as believer
Infinite gains are on both the sides.
+++++++
April 6, 2014
Form: Free Verse
Third place win
Dr. Ram Mehta -the poem is wholly based on my peronal experiences when I was
attacked by Cancer in the 1994.
*The poem originally was posted on PS in the year 2005. This is a much longer
revised version of the old poem.
*The opening line of the First Prime Minister of India Nehru writing A Preface to
Gandhi’s Biography
“ What Gods there are, I do not know and I am not concerned with them”
**There are many Urine Therapy centers all over the world, one of them in
New-York. It is also called in the ayurvedic tradition of yoga, drinking one's
urine is called amaroli. Because extensive Vedic texts exist from at least
2000 B.C., this practice provides us with much of the most thorough guidance
available. Yogic techniques tell us exactly how to go about drinking or applying
amaroli.
If anyone wants to read more about it, here are the two sites:
http://www.heartlandhealing.com/pages/archive/urine_therapy
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/UT/Urine.aspx
Today is the seventy third Republic Day,
Of India - young nation - a unique bouquet;
Nice spicy people living in twenty eight states,
And eight union territories; friendly relate…!
Talking more than four hundred twisting tuneful tongues,
With their hereditary folk-dialect strings;
Faiths of ten religions fraternally flourish,
Each in their way love, hope and tolerance nourish...!
Staging, daily, moreover, twenty eight dance forms,
And ten or above folk county art formic norms...
Algebra, number zero, yoga, shampoo, chess,
Origin from this ancient land's lovely abyss...!
We've Tricolor; true Hindu Saka calendar,
Rupee, tiger, peacock, lotus, Ganges grandeur;
Our hospitality has its global flavor,
Shown in humble, courtesy-filled frank behavior...!
Doctor Ambedkar, Constitution-designer,
Nehru, Bose, Dadaaji, lal, bal, pal, and other;
All fighting to gain the nation deserved freedom,
And then its federalism solving each problem...!
Of all, gift of this nation for this lovely globe,
Is, the man, Mahatma Gandhi, in torn old robe...
Who, like Jesus, taught Indians, show other cheek,
If one beats you on one; to reach forgiveness-peak...!
26 January 2022
Carefree evening
Arriving for a concert in the park
I set up my blue lawn chair
Pulled out my cool water bottle
A sun hat covering my hair
The green grass closely manicured
Warmth from the sun on my face
I sit back, relax, think back in time
When the British Invasion took place
Time ticking backward reveals
Nehru jackets and hip hugger jeans
aqua net hairspray and breck shampoo
Screaming teenage girls, such a scene
The band takes the outside stage
Donning Beatles haircuts and attire
Singing I wanna hold your hand
Setting grey-haired girls hearts on fire
He is my role model
His life, an inspiration to me
Did some research on him
Since then am in awe of him
Empath at heart,
he dedicated his life in selfless service
Saw teeming millions without dress
Wore a simple dothi like them
Wherever he found people suffering
Took up their cause, fought for justice
Knew scriptures well, was therefore
always good in words, deeds and action
Was aware we are accounted for our karmas
Would not sin whatever may happen
Britishers beat him, jailed him
He never did tit for tat
Was against partition, knew its effects
Advised others to reject it
Power hungry politicians did not hear
Its consequences stand before us
When India gained independence
Nehru invited him to attend the ceremony
He refused saying how can I celebrate
When my brother's and sisters are suffering
During post partition communal riots
He walked bare foot all over country,
helping all, rquesting them to maintain
peace and communal harmony
He was firm in his beliefs
Practicing what he preached
All his movements like swadeshi,
abolition of untouchability,
salt satyagraha were for masses
If all became like him, nonviolent,
selfless, and worked for the
betterment of everyone around
world would become a better place to live
02.10.2021
Note: 2nd October is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
In buttonhole set daily a red rose new
His charisma couldn’t beguile the neighbor
The dragon disgorged fire in ‘62’s war.
January 24, 2019
(Note : Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) was the first Prime Minister
of independent India. His charismatic leadership initiated the offer
of peaceful coexistence, goodwill and brotherhood to China, but
as a result of Sino-Indian border dispute China attacked India in 1962.)
(for: Harris Narang)
Like a scholar of potent Nehru
He comes a pommy to the Iroko;
He comes from a long long voyage
To behold our greying Achilles:
This ever-young archer of the Iroko!
A simple face of old nature’s arts
Bearing the complexion
Of our cherished sublimity;
We saw perfection in the brief smiles;
Come to us again, Narang come!
Come with all the arts of India:
Another eagle is flying to the Iroko;
She flies singing a different song;
Seeking her perfection from nature.
Yours truly an unfortunate hostage
within *****sapien zoo
looking for unwitting subject(s) to woo,
and albeit impossible mission) to free me,
where within human bondage I stew
more specifically mine personally
custom designed invisible prison self made,
thus wishing to don persona
of such an éminence grise
as Jawaharlal Nehru,
and trumpet courteous helloo
before bidding kith and kin
and fellow humans permanent adieu.
When out of the blue
methinks I hear a voice which intones do
please try a healthy dose - Mister Fitzhugh,
a Louisiana creole speciality touted
as psychological cureall within Hangzhou
capital of Zhejiang sheng (province), China
where amidst bustling businesses as usual
happens to live animated cartoon
caricature, whose modesty peddling
holistic and homeopathic
(interestingly enough) Asian Jew,
who many neighboring residents
thought said long in the tooth occupant loo
duck criss cause he exhibited inhibition,
hence nonestablishmentarian fella
in their (others) netview
hashtagged snake oil salesman
buzzfeeding gullible poo
courtesy legendary secret formula
comprising his mumbo jumbo
chicken gumbo soup,
our mutual friend Dumbo
doth heartily broker
entrancing kickstaring rendezvous
panacea as genuinely true
but aforenamed solitary wordsmith
also incorporates voodoo
to scare away mailer daemons
all the way to Xanadu
located (courtesy Google)
in the modern-day Zhenglan Banner
in inner Mongolia on southeastern edge
of the Mongolian plateau
The city founded as first capital
of Kublai Khan, the leader
of Mongol Borjigin clan
who founded Yuan dynasty that ruled
most of modern-day China,
Korea, and its surrounding areas.
Wearing whirls, swirls, paisley too.
A jazzy, snazzy, bell bottomed you.
Slinky hip huggers with large chunky belts in style.
White Go Go boots that never walk a country mile.
Faux fringed jackets, fake fur vests, tall high boots too.
Gypsy skirts with mismatched patterns of every hue.
Please let your belly button show, my dear.
Wear the tightest jeans to accent your rear.
As long as your jeans flare out as wide as a skirt
And drag along enticingly in Woodstock’s dirt.
Homemade embroidery on blouses, and dainty braids.
Unless you deem to do an Afro, beautifully made.
Tight mini-skirts that show off your thighs.
Nehru jackets with high necks are a prize.
Headbands made to match every outfit.
The 70’s was strutted. Don’t you doubt it!
Vietnam War in black and white, every night on TV
Burning bras seemed okay for everybody but me.
Hippies and flower children seemed pretty wild.
To me in the Midwest, pregnant with child.