The lyrical gem, Tomay gaan shonabo, finds its place as the sixth verse within the love segment of Gitabitan. Tagore penned this during his stay in Ahmedabad. Accompanying this lyrical masterpiece is a tale of friendship and cultural resonance. In March 1923, Tagore journeyed through the heartland of northern and western India. After spending four days in Kashi, he travelled to Lucknow, where he stayed in the home of poet Atul Prasad Sen. March 10 marked Tagore’s arrival in Mumbai, where he was graciously welcomed in the residence of Jahangir Petit. The next day, he met his friend Ambalal Sarabhai, a patron of the arts. It was in Sarabhai’s home in Ahmedabad that Tagore wrote Tomay gaan shonabo on March 13. Interestingly, Tagore sang this song at the inaugural ceremony of the Basant Utsav in Santiniketan that year. The following year, to raise funds for the victims of a massive earthquake in Bihar, Tagore’s play Raktakarabi was staged at Natya Niketan. This song, Tomay gaan shonabo, was incorporated in the drama and is sung by a labourer, Bishu, to Nandini in the play.
Lyrics:
তোমায় গান শোনাব তাই তো আমায় জাগিয়ে রাখ
ওগো ঘুম-ভাঙানিয়া
বুকে চমক দিয়ে তাই তো ডাক’
ওগো দুখজাগানিয়া ॥
এল আঁধার ঘিরে, পাখি এল নীড়ে,
তরী এল তীরে
শুধু আমার হিয়া বিরাম পায় নাকো
ওগো দুখজাগানিয়া ॥
আমার কাজের মাঝে মাঝে
কান্নাহাসির দোলা তুমি থামতে দিলে না যে।
আমার পরশ ক’রে প্রাণ সুধায় ভ’রে
তুমি যাও যে সরে–
বুঝি আমার ব্যথার আড়ালেতে দাঁড়িয়ে থাক
ওগো দুখজাগানিয়া ॥
English translation (By Rabindranath Tagore):
You keep me awake that I may sing to you, O Breaker of my sleep!
And so my heart you startle with your call, O Waker of my grief!
The shades of evening fall, the birds come to their nest.
The boat arrives ashore, yet my heart knows no rest, O Waker of my grief!
Own Translation:
You keep me awake so that I may sing to you,
O disrupter of my sleep!
My heart you startle with your call,
O waker of my grief! O waker of my grief, to you I’ll sing.
As dusk casts its mantle, birds return to their nests,
The boat comes ashore
Only, my heart knows no rest.
O waker of my grief, to you I’ll sing.
In between my daily chores,
You did not let the swing of my teardrops cease
You touch me and fill my soul with life’s nectar,
You move away…
Perhaps you linger behind the veil of my sorrow.
Oh, waker of my grief, to you I’ll sing.
Oh, waker of my grief, to you I’ll sing.
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.
