The bard of the Indian literature had a special consideration for the kids of the epoch. He had constructed myriad poems and other works that depict the baby that used to reside in the mind of the man. Rabindranath had spent a lonesome childhood in the interiors of the house and thus there was an ardent urge in him to talk with the children and spin the untold to arise their imaginations. The poems took shape in many6 anthologies which are still remembered for the fineness of the language and the effectiveness of the depiction of child’s mind.

Structure

This poem is a part of the "shishu", an anthology of the poems written mainly keeping the children in mind. The poem is in a rhymed structure where the rhyme is in every alternate line. The last syllable of the lines is in match with each other. This poem is written in regular meters and has a ballad format. This might be termed as a trial to constitute an elegy in the form of the children poetry. Birpurush is hailed all over the world (the hero, in translation done by the poet himself later) for the poise and the poignant use of the verse. The imageries and the happenings constitute a dramatic tone to this poem that aggravates the reader’s delight to a great extent.

Background

Not much is known about the background of the poem but this can be said with certainty that the poem was written after the poet has shifted to Shantiniketan. Probably the rhymester had desired to constitute a dramatic ballad poem for the kids of the school. The heartrending use of the events and incidents arises a sense of great awe in the minds of the scholars who term this poem as one the best poems of all times written for the children.

Analysis

"mone koro jeno bidesh ghure…. Anek dure"

the poet here is a small boy who is travelling to some distant land with his mother.

"tumi jachho palki te….. phank kore"

the mother of the boy is going in a palanquin, a vehicle used by the women of the early nineteenth century where they were used to be carried by some people. The poet says that the mother overlooks the land by opening the doors of the palanquin a little.

"ami jachhi ranga…. Uriye ashhe"

the poetr visualizes himself to be on a red horse which is galloping beside the palanquin with bravery. The hooves of the horse incurs the red dust from the roads.

"sandhya holo…. Mathe"

darkness subsides. It appears that they have entered in a field which has a pair of ponds.

"dhhu dhhu kore…. Jono manob nai"

it is absolutely vacated and desolate throughout the horizon. There is no man to be seen at any corner

"tumi jeno…. Elem kotha?"

the mother is thus a little afraid. She thinks where on earth has she come upon?

"ami bolchhi…. Mora nodir sota"

the boy says the mother not to get afraid as he can see a bridge over the dead stream of the river.

"chhorkanta te math…. Benke"

the field is full of small acorns and thorns. The road is entwindled through the grass.

"goru bachhur…. Gnaayer pane"

there are no cattle to be seen on any sides. It appears as of with the onset of the evening the animals have taken their homeward way.

"amra kothay jachhi….jane?"

no one knows where are we going?

"andhhokaare dekha jay…. Oi j kiser alo?"

there is darkness all through. Suddenly the mother says which is the light that is seen at the side of the pool?

"emon somoy…. Ashtechhe daak chhere"

there is suddenly a war cry of the dacoits heard. Some people are seen coming forward with the cry.

"tumi bhoye… smaron korchho mone"

the mother is afraid. She has cuddled at a corner of the palanquin and is seeking the graces of the lords.

"beharagulo pasher…. Thoro thoro"

the palanquin bearers are hiding at a bush by the road and they are shivering with fear.

"ami jeno…. Keno maa koro"

the baby poet as if calls for the mother and says does not fear for I am here.

"haate latthhi… jobar phul"

the people are armed with the sticks. Their hair is distempered. They have put the hibiscus flowers by their ears.

"ami boli…. Shere"

the boy says "halt. If you come a step forward then the sword shines in my hand. I shall cut all of you into two!"

"shune tara…. Ha re re re re"

on listening they smile and give their frightening war cry as well.

"tumi bolo…. Khoka orey"

the mother asks the boy not to go.

"ami boli… chup kore"

the boy asks the mother to be patient and see the consequences.

"chhutiye ghora… majhhe"

the boy speeds the horse and enters in between them.

"dhal toroyal…baje"

the swords and the shields shine and ring in fierce sound.

"ki bhoyanok… gaye debe kanta"

the battle was very fierce. The boy says that if the mother shall listen to the tale then she shall shiver in awe.

"koto lok je… porlo kata"

many people fled in fear and many had their heads mutilated in the hands of war.

"eto loker…. Geloi bujhhi morey"

the poet says the mother that did she think the boy to be dead after combating with so many men?

"ami tokhon…. Lorai gechhe theme"

the boy then descends. He is bathed in blood and sweat. Boldly does he tell the mother that the war has come to an end.

"tumi tokhon…. Ta na hole"

the mother comes down from the palanquin and kisses the boy and takes him in her lap. She remarks that it was the grace of the lord that the boy with them lest disasters untold might have chanced.

"roj koto…. Sottyi hoy na aha"

the dream of the boy ends. He thinks that there are many trivial happenings everyday why an incident like this does not come true?

" thhik jeno…. Abak hoto sobe"

then it would have been like a story and the listeners would have been amazed to hear the same.

"dada bolto…. Jor ache?"

elder brother would deny to believe and remark that how can this be true? Does the small boy have such power in him?

"parar loke…. Mayer kachhe"

the neighbors would say that it was a gift that the boy was with the mother.

Summary

The poem is a dream of a small boy who is travelling to distant lands with his mother. In a desolate place a group of dacoits attack the party and the boy fights back and defeats the dacoits like a valiant man and thus the people of the neighborhood shrines his name in spite of the suspisi9ons of the elder brother.

Importance of the poem

The imaginative world of a small boy is excavated over here in this poem. The boy wanders in different lands and then likes to see himself the valiant and the shining. This poem deals with that innate part of the child psychology as well. Tagore had effectively depicted the bay and his world with all the glamour and clamor of the same.