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Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ye Jung hai Jung-e Azadi: lyrical echoes of India's freedom struggle
— Mohammad Asim Siddiqui Poetry is not just a medium for expressing personal emotion but also serves as a source for creating social awakening, launching political protests, and celebrating heroic deeds and patriotic actions. Many powerful slogans and themes of the Indian freedom movement emerged from the work of poets. Vande Mataram, India's national song that was very popular during the freedom struggle, is from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Anandmath (1882). Similarly, the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911. 'Inquilab Zindabad', the patriotic war cry of revolutionaries during the freedom movement, was coined by freedom fighter and Urdu poet Hasrat Mohani in 1921. The famous song 'Vijayi Vishwa tiranga pyara/jhanda uncha rahe hamara', often sung during important events, was written by Hindi poet Shyamlal Gupta in 1924 and was later adopted by the Indian National Congress. Right from the Revolt of 1857, often described as India's first war of independence, to the country's independence on August 15, 1947, poets writing in both English and Indian languages have written about important events and figures of the freedom movement. Rahi Masoom Raza wrote 1857, a long poem in Urdu also published as Kranti-Katha in Devanagari, which celebrates the bravery of leaders and ordinary people during the Revolt. Explaining the reason behind writing this poem, Raza wrote, 'after the Revolt only misguided people accepted mental defeat but the really far-sighted people continued the fight against the British in some form.' He also highlighted the role of all sections of Indian society in the Revolt, though their reasons for participation in the fight could have been different. Maithilisharan Gupt (1886-1964), one of the pioneers of modern Hindi poetry whose work is known for nationalist themes and patriotic fervour, was given the title of Rashtra Kavi by Mahatma Gandhi. In Bharat Bharti (1912), a book of social awakening, he contrasts India's greatness in education, art and civilisation in the past with the decline he perceived in his time. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1908-1974), another important poet known for taking up the themes of nationalism and patriotism in his poetry, wrote Vijay Sandesh (1928), a collection of poems inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat – the agitation against the excessive taxation imposed on farmers by the colonial government. The early phase of Indian English poetry shows poets talking about their love of the country and asserting their Indian identity. Toru Dutt (1856-1877) turned to Indian legends and ancient Indian history. Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-1831) clearly expressed his patriotism and love of freedom in his poetry. His famous poem 'To India: My Native Land' mourns the loss of India's ancient glory and laments its 'chained' state and misery under British rule. Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949), a freedom fighter and the first Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress, paid tributes to many national heroes in her poetry. She described Gopal Krishna Gokhale as 'steadfast, serene, dauntless, supremely wise' in her poem 'In Gokhale's Garden', and praised the bravery of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 'Lokmanya Tilak': Hail dauntless soldier, hail intrepid sage/Who taught our nation Freedom's Gayatri! Immutable from the redeeming flame/Your ashes are our children's heritage, And all the epic rhythms of the sea/Chant your triumphant and undying name. Many Punjabi poets composed powerful verses of protest against the colonial excesses, which angered the British officials. As critic Harbhajan Singh Bhatia notes, Nanak Singh's 'Khooni Vaisakhi', Vidhata Singh Teer's 'Teer Tarang' and Firoz Din Sharaf's 'Dukh de Kirne' were all banned by the colonial government. Nanak Singh (1897-1971), who participated in the protest against the Rowlett Act and miraculously survived the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, wrote a moving account of the tragedy in his long poem Khooni Vaisakhi: A Poem from the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 (2019). This was ably translated from Punjabi into English by his grandson, Navdeep Suri. The 900-line poem, divided into stanzas, bears titles that trace the narrative arc and emotional tenor of the poem. Some examples include 'Rowlatt Act Controversy', 'The Dead and Wounded', ' The Gathering in Jallianwala Bagh', 'Brig. Gen. Dyer Arrives, Gunfire Begins', and 'People Wailing as They Bring the Corpses of Loved Ones'. In a very poignant tone, Nanak Singh captures the wailing of parents, wives, sisters, and presents the harrowing account of cremation and burial of dead bodies: Clutching lifeless bodies of precious sons/Parents mourn the abject horrors of the day/ My child, oh! Wake up just once more/What makes you sleep in a place so grey? He adopts a tone of extreme anger while addressing Gen. Dyer: Shame on you, you merciless Dyer What brought you to Punjab, O Dyer? Not a sign of mercy unleashing such horror How badly were you drunk, O Dyer? You came here thirsting for our blood Will a lake of it fill your greed, O Dyer? An important feature of Khooni Vaisakhi in its English translation is the addition of an essay titled 'The Sins of the Great-Grandfather', written by Justin Rowlatt, the great-grandson of Sir Sidney Rowlatt, the author of the infamous act. Justin Rowlatt expresses his horror and shock at the massacre, calling the Rowlatt Act 'a draconian piece of legislation'. 'I feel deeply ashamed of my connection to this appalling episode', he wrote. There is also a very strong note of protest against colonial rule in Urdu poetry. Hasrat Mohani (1875-1951) is critical of the oppressive laws that were used to persecute people: Naam se qaanuun ke hote hain kya kya sitam Jabr b zere niqab dekhiye kab tak rahe (How long/will this persecution last/under the garb of law?/Let us see./How long/will this tyranny stay hidden/under cover?/Let us see) (Trans. Surinder Deol) He exhorts his countrymen to remain optimistic about India's independence: Ai k najaat-e hind ki dil se hai tujh ko aarzu Himmat-e sar buland se yaas ka insidaad kar (For India's freedom,/ which is your heart's desire,/you have to keep your morale high,/and avoid the feeling of despair.) (Trans. Surinder Deol) Bismil Azimabadi (1901-1978), a freedom fighter and poet, wrote the ghazal 'Sarfaroshi ki tamanna' in 1921 after the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. This ghazal became very popular after Ram Prasad Bismil (1897-1927), a freedom fighter and one of the founders of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, recited it while facing his execution in 1927 for the Kakori train robbery: Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e qaatil mein hai (The desire to sacrifice my life for my land/is supreme in my heart./we have to see how much force/is there in the arms of the murderer.) (Trans. Surinder Deol) Almost all poets associated with the Progressive Writers' Movement spoke against colonialism, communalism, and conservatism. Displaying his Marxist leanings, Makhdoom Mohiuddin (1908-1969) wrote 'Ye Jung hai Jung-e Azadi' in which he emphasised the battle of workers, labourers, and the persecuted people to achieve independence. Asrarul Haq Majaz (1911-1955), usually celebrated for his romantic poetry, prefers a flag to the aanchal of his beloved in one poem: Tere maathe pe ye aanchal to bahut hi khuub hai lekin Tu is aanchal se ik parcham bana leti to achchha tha (The corner of your aanchal/ on your forehead looks beautiful,/but it would have been much better/if you had made a flag/out of this material.) (Trans. Surinder Deol) In his book India's Freedom Struggle and Urdu Poetry: Awakening (2022), translated by Surinder Deol, famous Urdu critic Gopichand Narang states four reasons for Urdu's importance during the freedom struggle. First, it was the most popular and most widely used language. Second, many prominent freedom movement leaders knew Urdu well and used this language to address the masses. Third, several revolutionaries composed verses in Urdu. Fourth, it had many great poets 'who composed poems that quickly became songs of freedom'. The book is divided into two parts. In the second part, Narang 'highlights the poetic contributions of four leading poets of the freedom movement: Durga Sahai Suroor Jahanbadi, Josh Malihabadi, Tilok Chand Mehroom, and Firaq Gorakhpuri'. How did the poetry in various Indian languages amplify the patriotic war cry of revolutionaries during India's freedom struggle. In what ways did poetry during the freedom movement appeal to diverse groups of people by blending romantic, religious, and revolutionary imagery? How do you think the participation in the fateful massacre in Jallianwala Bagh shaped the emotional tone and narrative style of poets like Nanak SIngh? Why was Urdu such a potent medium for mobilising people during the freedom struggle, and how did its popularity intersect with the multilingual character of the movement? (Mohammad Asim Siddiqui is a Professor in the Department of English at Aligarh Muslim University.) Share your thoughts and ideas on UPSC Special articles with Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
News18
02-08-2025
- News18
Diddy's Lawyer Slams 'Horrible' Brooklyn Jail: 'He Hasn't Seen Sunlight In 11 Months'
Last Updated: Sean 'Diddy' Combs, ex-CEO of Revolt, faces harsh conditions in Brooklyn's MDC since his arrest last September. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, criticizes the jail's brutal environment. Sean 'Diddy" Combs' legal team is calling out what they describe as inhumane conditions at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), where the music mogul has been held for almost 11 months. Following a partial conviction in a federal case that saw him cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, Combs continues to serve time for violations under the Mann Act which prohibits the transportation of individuals for prostitution across state lines. Attorney Marc Agnifilo, who represented Combs through the high-profile trial, is now urging the court to reconsider the terms of his confinement. Speaking to Variety, Agnifilo criticised the detention centre for keeping inmates entirely indoors. 'One of the horrible things about the MDC is not going outside ever," he said. 'It's sort of like sensory deprivation." Agnifilo noted that Combs has not been exposed to fresh air or sunlight since his arrest last September. 'He wants to get out and be with his family." Combs was taken into custody following simultaneous raids on his properties in Miami and Los Angeles by Homeland Security investigators under the Biden administration. Since then, he has remained in custody, largely isolated, and has reportedly kept to himself. 'He's learned a lot," Agnifilo said. 'His time in jail has given him the ability to reflect and consider his life… his seven children, the fact that he's still close with the mothers of his children, and the life he's been given." The rapper and producer, Agnifilo added, spends much of his time writing essays and thinking deeply about his past. 'His view is: 'Have I lived up to the blessings I've been given?' And I think his conclusion is: 'Not in every aspect of my life have I lived up to those blessings.'" He also revealed that Combs is working on initiatives to support fellow inmates during his time behind bars. Although former President Donald Trump has indicated he is unlikely to grant clemency, citing a strained relationship, Agnifilo acknowledged that someone from Combs' circle did reach out. 'I do not purport to know the president's mind. I really don't know," he added. Combs' legal team has now filed a 62-page motion seeking to overturn the guilty verdicts or initiate a retrial. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Diddy hasn't seen sun in 11 months, writes essays in ‘sensory deprivation,' lawyer slams ‘horrible' Brooklyn jail
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was recently convicted of transporting people for prostitution under the Mann Act. But he managed to beat the more serious charges, sex trafficking and racketeering, due to lack of evidence. According to his lawyer Marc Agnifilo, the verdict, after a gruelling month-long trial, is still a win because Diddy dodged the worst of it. Still, his team has been fighting for bail or house arrest. Speaking to Variety, Agnifilo slammed the Brooklyn detention centre for its brutal conditions, calling it 'sensory deprivation.' The former Revolt CEO was arrested last September after his Miami and LA mansions were raided by Homeland Security under Joe Biden's administration. Diddy's been locked up in Brooklyn ever since, and Agnifilo says he hasn't seen the sun once. 'One of the horrible things about the MDC (Metropolitan Detention Centre) is not going outside ever,' the lawyer said. He's been inside nearly 11 months, no fresh air, no wind, just artificial light around the clock. 'It's sort of like sensory deprivation,' he added. 'He wants to get out and be with his family.' Also read: Donald Trump says Diddy was 'hostile' toward him; says rapper's team asked for a pardon but he likely won't grant it Agnifilo said Diddy misses his kids badly. 'He's learned a lot. His time in jail has given him the ability to reflect and consider his life and look at all the blessings he's been given, his seven children, the fact that he's still close with the mothers of his children, and the life he's been given.' He revealed they speak daily. Diddy keeps to himself, doesn't socialise much with other inmates, and spends more time thinking, which the lawyer admits can take a toll. 'His view is: 'Have I lived up to the blessings I've been given?' And I think his conclusion is: 'Not in every aspect of my life have I lived up to those blessings,'' Agnifilo said. Agnifilo, who's handled several high-profile cases in the US, including Luigi Mangione (accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare), said they've been putting in serious hours preparing Diddy's defence. Calling the disgraced mogul a 'smart man,' he revealed they worked together for 20 hours a day. 'Now, he doesn't have as much emphasis on the case, so he's been spending time on himself. He's been doing a lot of writing. He writes essays, some of which I think are beautiful and poignant and thoughtful.' The lawyer even claimed Diddy is trying to start a few programs for the inmates. Also read: Donald Trump risks losing more women voters if he pardons Diddy, can spark 'another Epstein-like situation' When pressed on whether they've asked Donald Trump for a pardon or even reached out, Agnifilo said he is not involved. 'There are times I think there's nothing to it, and there are times I think it's just rumour mill stuff. But I do not purport to know the president's mind. I really don't know,' he said. Trump, meanwhile, has made it clear he likely won't grant clemency, citing how Diddy turned hostile during his first term. He claimed they used to be friendly, but things went south. Still, Trump confirmed someone from Diddy's camp did reach out about a pardon. As for the case, nearly a month after the verdict and bail denial, Diddy's legal team has now filed a 62-page motion asking for the two guilty verdicts to be tossed, or pushed into a retrial.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Revolt Motors expands in Sri Lanka with RV1 and RV1+ launch
Revolt Motors has announced the launch of its RV1 and RV1+ electric motorcycles in Sri Lanka, marking the next phase of the company's international expansion. The launch is being carried out in partnership with its exclusive distributor, Evolution Auto , during the EV Motor Show Colombo 2025, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from June 27 to 29. This development follows the earlier introduction of the RV400 and BRZ models in the Sri Lankan market on 26 November 2024. The addition of RV1 and RV1+ is part of Revolt's strategy to increase its electric mobility presence in South Asia. Visitors to the Evolution Auto – Revolt Motors booth at the event will be able to see the new models and take part in test rides of the RV1+. The booth will also facilitate direct vehicle bookings, with event-specific offers and early delivery options available to customers. Commenting on the launch, Anjali Rattan, Chairperson of Revolt Motors, said, 'This is more than just a product launch, it's a reaffirmation of Revolt's global ambitions. With the RV1 and RV1+, we are expanding our reach in Sri Lanka with offerings that blend performance, affordability, and sustainability. Our goal is to empower riders across borders with smart mobility that is both aspirational and accessible.' Revolt Motors plans to continue expanding its presence in the region through further product introductions, distribution partnerships, and a growing portfolio of connected electric motorcycles designed for international markets.
Business Upturn
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
RattanIndia Enterprises shares surge 7% after Revolt Motors launches RV1 and RV1+ in Sri Lanka
By Aman Shukla Published on June 27, 2025, 09:23 IST RattanIndia Enterprises Ltd. saw its shares jump 7% in early trade after its subsidiary, Revolt Motors , announced the international debut of its new electric motorcycles — the RV1 and RV1+ — in Sri Lanka. As of 9:21 AM, the shares were trading 5.34% higher at Rs 63.77. The unveiling will take place at the EV Motor Show Colombo 2025, scheduled from June 27 to 29 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). This marks a strategic move in Revolt's push to expand its global footprint, especially in South Asia. Revolt Motors has partnered with Evolution Auto , its exclusive distributor in Sri Lanka, following the successful introduction of the RV400 and BRZ models in November 2024. The launch reflects the brand's commitment to making sustainable, AI-driven mobility accessible worldwide. Show visitors will get an exclusive first look at the RV1 and RV1+, experience test rides, and access special show offers, including early delivery benefits. Attendees can also book the models directly at the booth. With rising demand for eco-friendly vehicles and smart mobility, the launch is expected to boost Revolt's visibility and sales in overseas markets. Backed by cutting-edge tech and a strong local partnership, the company aims to strengthen its regional presence. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
