The song Esho shyamalo sundaro was first rendered on the Chhaya stage in Kolkata during the monsoon of 1937 at a Varsha Mangal programme. The event was scheduled to be held at Santiniketan but the death of ashramite Bireswar Goswami led to the change of venue. This song, along with 15 others intended for this festival, was written by Rabindranath Tagore after he returned from Almora the previous month. Some sources suggest that this song may have been influenced by Sushil Bhanja Chowdhury’s sitar notes that were composed on the occasion of Aashu Varsha Mangal. Sushil Bhanja Chowdhury had just arrived at Shantiniketan at that time, and Rabindranath used to call him “my doctor” as they both practised homoeopathy. Esho shyamalo sundaro aptly captures the essence of the monsoon with its lush greenery. As Buddhadeb Basu notes, such seasonal songs overflow with a Rabindrik essence, expressing every word to its fullest. These songs resonate with every aspect of our lives. We cannot experience, feel, or cherish the world without sensing the profound impact of Tagore’s seasonal songs.
Lyrics
এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর, এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর,
আনো তব তাপহরা তৃষাহরা সঙ্গসুধা।
বিরহিণী চাহিয়া আছে আকাশে॥
শ্যামল সুন্দর, এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর,
সে যে ব্যথিত হৃদয় আছে বিছায়ে
তমালকুঞ্জপথে সজল ছায়াতে,
নয়নে জাগিছে করুণ রাগিণী॥
শ্যামল সুন্দর, এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর,
বকুলমুকুল রেখেছে গাঁথিয়া,
বাজিছে অঙ্গনে মিলনবাঁশরি।
বকুলমুকুল রেখেছে গাঁথিয়া,
বাজিছে অঙ্গনে মিলনবাঁশরি।
আনো সাথে তোমার মন্দিরা
চঞ্চল নৃত্যের বাজিবে ছন্দে সে-
বাজিবে কঙ্কণ, বাজিবে কিঙ্কিণী,
বাজিবে কঙ্কণ, বাজিবে কিঙ্কিণী,
ঝঙ্কারিবে মঞ্জীর রুণু রুণু॥
শ্যামল সুন্দর, এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর,
আনো তব তাপহরা তৃষাহরা সঙ্গসুধা।
বিরহিণী চাহিয়া আছে আকাশে॥
শ্যামল সুন্দর, এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর,
এসো শ্যামল সুন্দর॥
English translation: Own Translation:
Welcome forth, O lovely verdure.
Bring your refreshing, thirst-quenching nectar.
The lovelorn one stares longingly at the skies.
She lays bare her pained heart
On dark green paths, drenched in shadows,
Her eyes awaken to painful melodies.
Buds of Spanish cherry (bakul) she has strung together,
In the courtyard, the flute weaves the melody of a union.
Bring along your cymbals
To the rhythm of a lively dance, she will play —
The bangles will tinkle, the girdles will ring
In charming harmony, anklets will jingle.
Some useful information:
Written on: 1937
Age of the poet: 76
Published in: Prabasi
Parjaay (Category): Prakriti (Nature)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Barsha (Monsoon)
Taal: Tritaal
Raga: Desh
Anga: Gatt
Swarabitan: 54
Notation by: Santidev Ghosh
Purpose of the presentation
Tagore’s music resonates with people from all walks of life. His songs are performed at cultural events, religious ceremonies and social gatherings, reflecting their enduring popularity. In an effort to bring home this treasure trove to the non-Bengali population and Bengalis around the globe, Brainware University offers a selection of Rabindrasangeet in this presentation. It is enriched with details on the songs and relevant anecdotes.
Sung By
Sri Phalguni Mookhopadhayay Chancellor, Brainware University Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is the founder-Chancellor of Brainware University, founder-Chairman and Managing-Director of Brainware Consultancy Private Limited and founder-Chairman of Webguru Infosystems Private Limited. He did his schooling at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and graduated with honours in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He completed his masters in Economics from Calcutta University and MBA from IISWBM, before joining Hindustan Lever as a management trainee. He worked as a market planner for the ABP group for nearly a decade before striking out on his own and successfully launching two private limited companies and one University. Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is a self-taught digital artist, a versatile photographer, a filmmaker and a weekend singer who has already recorded 78 songs and is now immersed in a project to popularise Tagore songs among a global audience.
