Thinking Task
This blog is prepared as part of thinking activity on war poetry.
Compare any two poems concerning the subject, style of writing, and patriotism.
The Soldier by Rupert Brook
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
The Fear Wilfrid Wilson Gibson
I do not fear to die
‘Neath the open sky,
To meet death in the fight
Face to face, upright.
But when at last we creep
Into a hole to sleep,
I tremble, cold with dread,
Lest I wake up dead.
Subject
Nineteen-Fourteen: The Soldier or The Soldier is the war poem written during first world war by a soldier Rupert Brook. Main subject of the poem is patriotism of soldier, who fought many battles for his country, and takes pride in it. Here, soldier is from England and fought many battles for country and believes that there are many foreign fields that now belong to England now. The second poem also talks about the same theme of patriotism but here the soldier himself is not the part of any war but only encourages others to go into the war because poet is not afraid to die beneath the open sky in the battleground.
Style of Writing
Rupert Brooke's poem "The Soldier" conveys a patriotic and idealistic mood through a formal and traditional language, employing iambic pentameter and rhymed couplets. The poem emanates a romantic atmosphere and communicates the speaker's readiness to sacrifice for their country, characterized by a tone of nobility and honor. The Fear is one of the shortest war poem concerning the courageousness of a soldier in a battlefield.
Patriotism
"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke shows strong love for England. The soldier feels really connected to his country, thinking it's a big part of who he is. He's willing to give up his life to protect England, showing how much he values his nation. Even when thinking about the possibility of dying in a faraway place, he sees it as a way of keeping England alive in that foreign land. The soldier believes he's like a living representation of his country, and this connection stays strong even in the face of death. The poem talks about England like a caring mother and mentions an "English heaven," highlighting the idea that the bond between a person and their homeland lasts forever, even beyond life.
Do you find any such regional poem/movie/web series/songs which can be compared to any one of the poems given here. Also, give a proper explanation of the similarity.
"Kesari" Movie
This historical war drama depicts the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi, highlighting Havildar Ishar Singh's leadership of a platoon of 21 Sikhs. They valiantly defended the North-West Frontier Province against an overwhelming force of 10,000 Afghans, marking it as one of the most remarkable last-stands in history.
Adapted from the actual events of the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi, the story revolves around Havildar Ishar Singh and his 21 Sikh comrades facing a daunting challenge against 10,000 Afghans. During a routine patrol, Singh and his fellow Sikhs witness a distressing scene where a woman is about to be executed for refusing an arranged marriage with an older man. Singh, driven by a sense of justice, seeks to intervene and prevent the execution. However, the British officer in command, reluctant to become entangled in local affairs, instructs his men not to intervene or take any action.
Patriotism of Ishwar
The one-hour-long battle in Kesari faces a similar drawback. Lacking in strategic warfare tactics or military brilliance, the film simplifies the Sikh-Afghan conflict into a basic exchange of bullets and swords. The Afghan forces approach the fort, face gunfire, and meet their demise. In a peculiar twist, when Ishwar engages in solo combat against numerous Afghans, none of them, inexplicably, opt to use guns to subdue him. Instead, they take turns charging at him with swords, forming a crowd nearby, resulting in a massacre. Despite sustaining multiple stab wounds, Ishwar miraculously defies death for several minutes, summoning a last-minute surge of patriotism.
"Teri Mitti" Song from Kesari
तलवारों पे सर वार दिए अंगारों में
जिस्म जलाया है तब जाके के कहीं हमने
सर पे यह केसरी रंग सजाया है......
ऐ मेरी ज़मीन अफ़सोस नहीं जो तेरे लिए
सौ दर्द सहे महफ़ूज़ रहे तेरी आन सदा
चाहे जान मेरी ये रहे ना रहे
ऐ मेरी ज़मीन महबूब मेरी
मेरी नस नस में तेरा इश्क़ बहे
फीका ना पड़े कभी रंग तेरा
जिस्मों से निकल के ख़ून कहे
तेरी मिट्टी में मिल जावाँ गुल बनके
मैं खिल जावाँ इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू
तेरी नदियों में बह जावाँ
तेरे खेतों में लहरावाँ इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू
वो ओ… सरसों से भरे खलिहान मेरे जहाँ
झूम के भंगड़ा पा ना सका आबाद रहे वो गाँव मेरा
जहाँ लौट के वापस जा ना सका हो
वतना वे, मेरे वतना वे
तेरा मेरा प्यार निराला था
कुर्बान हुआ तेरी अस्मत पे मैं
कितना नसीबों वाला था
तेरी मिट्टी में मिल जावाँ गुल बनके
मैं खिल जावाँ इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू
तेरी नदियों में बह जावाँ
तेरे खेतों में लहरावाँ इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू
ओ हीर मेरी तू हँसती रहे
तेरी आँख घड़ी भर नम ना हो
मैं मरता था जिस मुखड़े पे
कभी उसका उजाला कम ना हो
"Teri Mitti" is a heartfelt song that expresses a strong love for our country. The title, meaning "Your Soil," shows a deep emotional tie to the land. The lyrics talk about sacrifice and bravery, giving respect to those who serve in the armed forces. The song honors the dedication of warriors who sacrificed their lives for the country, showing a strong sense of duty and pride. The lyrics emphasize enduring pain for the nation, highlighting the selflessness and determination of individuals who work hard to protect their homeland. Overall, "Teri Mitti" is a moving and powerful tribute to patriotism.
References:
Doman, Peg. “Kesari – Heroism Comes in Many Different Colors and Locations Even in Afghanistan – Film Review – The Suburban Times.” The Suburban Times, 30 August 2021, https://thesubtimes.com/2021/08/30/kesari-heroism-comes-in-many-different-colors-and-locations-even-in-afghanistan-film-review/. Accessed 29 January 2024.
“Movie Review: Akshay Kumar's 'Kesari' Is Yet Another Contrived Nationalist Drama.” The Wire, 21 March 2019, https://thewire.in/film/movie-review-kesari-akshay-kumar. Accessed 29 January 2024.
Thank You.
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