INSULT——-Rabindranath Tagore
English: Rabindranath Tagore Русский: Рабиндранат Тагор (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This poem was written by Tagore at the time of India’s darkest days. All the well-known poets and politicians and writers tried to awaken the people’s sentiment. Tagore’s poem is written in Bengali,I have tried to translate it into English to the best of my ability.
“Insult”
O my unfortunate country, those whom you have insulted are not the only ones who deserve your contempt
all the human beings in India should be equally blamed for this tragedy.
Those whom you have deprived of their right and their status as humans,
waited for you to get some recognition but you ignored them,
the contempt they received from you should be shared equally by all the Indians.
You have kept the people away from you
In doing so you took away their belief in almighty God.
They were faced with the wrath of God and the impending famine
and the realization that whatever meagre food and drink, they have will have to be shared equally with everyone.
The condemnation therefore will have to be shared equally by everyone.
Where you pushed them away from you
you managed to sacrifice their strength by your neglect.
Trampled and kicked they were tossed away by the dust__
You have to come down to that level,otherwise there is no hope of retrieving them.
You will have to share this humiliation with them.
Those whom you push down will tie you down also,
those whom you have kept at the back will pull you back.
The ones you have unwittingly hidden away
are sacrificing your well-being and creating a wide distance from you.
You will have to remember all of India deserves the blame for this situation.
For hundreds of years they have carried the weight of disrespect,
you still don’t show your appreciation.
Can’t you see I lower my head for this contempt
it has completely destroyed their confidence and faith in the divine power.
You should also share the insult with everyone.
Don’t you see the angel of death is waiting__
It has stamped a curse on the pride of your nation.
Even now if you fail to call them, it is time for you to stay away,
Bind yourself all over with your anger__
the funeral pyre will burn everyone with same intensity.
Sabethville 
I would say this is extremely intense poem and very powerfully translated by you. You have put effort and it shows, I don’t think this would have been an easy job considering the canvas of the poem. Extremely well done and this is turning out to be one beautiful and profound series on Tagore.
Thank you very much.This is the one I had to trash five times.I thought about the frustrations of
King Bruce Of Scotland, my frustration with it,almost made me drop it.Then last evening I sincerely asked God to help
me and asked Him again this morning after the Fajr for help.Because I always got positive results from my prayer.
I sat down and decided to attempt it again.I read it after I completed it and felt,this one doesn’t give me a negative
vibe.I gathered my courage and posted it.I didn’t think I could do any better.
I am so glad to know you liked it.Thanks again!
Dear Ranu,
Thank you for sharing this very powerful poem.
All good wishes,
robert
Thank you Robert.
Tagore is one of my favorite poets. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Subhan Zein
You are welcome,Subhan.I am glad you visited my blog.I am happy you like Tagore.
Thank you so much.