These Sarojini Naidu poems and quotes will tell you how long they have struggled and what they have been through for the freedom of India.
About Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was born on 13 February 1879 was an Indian political activist, feminist, and poet. She was also the first Indian woman to be president of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed an Indian state governor. Her work as a poetess makes her earned the title of “the Nightingale of India” by Mahatma Gandhi.
Born in a Bengali family in Hyderabad, she was the eldest daughter of Aghorenath Chattopadhyay. Her education was done in Madras, London, and Cambridge where in England she worked as a suffragist. At that time, she was drawn to Indian National Congress’ movement for India’s independence from British rule. She became the follower of Mahatma Gandhi, his idea of swaraj, and part of the Indian nationalist movement.
Sarojini Naidu played one of the most important roles in India’s struggle for independence from colonial rule. In 1925, she was appointed as the President of the Indian National Congress and later in 1947, became the Governor of the United Provinces where she was the first woman to hold the office of Governor in the Dominion of India.
She had written many books about the struggle they have faced during India’s independence and about Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts and speeches. She met Paidipati Govindarajulu Naidu who was a physician at the age of 19 and married him after finishing her studies. She died on 2 March 1949 due to a cardiac arrest.
Sarojini Naidu Books
- The Gold Threshold
- The Bird of Time – Songs Of Life Death And The Spring
- His Life, Writings and Speeches
- Mahatma Gandhi : His Life, Writings and Speeches
- Words of Freedom – Ideas of Nation
Here we are sharing a collection of Sarojini Naidu poems and quotes for you to know why she is called the Nightingale of India.
Sarojini Naidu Poems in English
“We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech, and earnestness in action.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“A country’s greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“To quench my longing I bent me low
By the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow
In that magical wood in the land of sleep.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“One needs a Seer’s Vision and Angel’s voice to be of any avail. I do not know of any Indian man or woman today who has those gifts in their most complete measure.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“My heart is very weary and sad and alone, For its dreams like the fluttering leaves have gone, And why should I say behind.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Cover mine eyes, O my Love!
Mine eyes that are weary of bliss
As of light that is poignant and strong
O silence my lips with a kiss,
My lips that are weary of the song!
Shelter my soul, O my love!
My soul is bent low with the pain
And the burden of love, like the grace
Of a flower that is smitten with rain:
O shelter my soul from thy face!” ― Sarojini Naidu, The Golden Threshold
“The new has come and now the old retires. And so the past becomes a mountain cell. Where lone apart old hermit memories dwell.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“In a consecrated calm, forgotten yet. Of the keen heart that hastens to forget old longings in fulfilling new desires.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Hark to a voice that is calling, to my heart in the voice of the mind.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“I am not ready to die because it requires infinitely greater courage to live.” ― Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu Quotes in English
“The nations that in fettered darkness weep. Crave thee to lead them where great mornings break.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“She is twin-born with primal mysteries, and drinks of life at Time’s forgotten source.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Profane, not the shrines I have raised in the clefts of my heart.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Once in the dream of a night, I stood
Lone in the light of a magical wood,
Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang;
And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Shall sweet love prosper or high dreams have a place. Amid the tumult of reverberant strife.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“When there is oppression, the only self-respecting thing is to rise and say this shall cease today, because my right is justice. If you are stronger, you have to help the weaker boy or girl both in play and in the work.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“A country’s greatness, sacrifice and love depend on the values of the country that it holds.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“I say it is not your pride that you are a Madrasi, it is not your pride that you are a brahmin, it is not your pride that you belong to south India, it is not your pride that you are a Hindu, that it is your pride that you are an Indian.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Nay, do not grieve tho’ life be full of sadness,
Dawn will not veil her splendor for your grief,
Nor spring deny their bright, appointed beauty
To lotus blossoms and Ashoka leaf.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Time will not pause or tarry on his way, Today that seems so long, so strange, so bitter, Will soon be forgotten yesterday.” ― Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu As A Poetess
“Nay, do not pine, tho’ life be dark with trouble.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“As long as I have life, as long as blood flows through this arm of mine, I shall not leave the cause of freedom.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Nay, do not weep; new hopes, new dreams, new faces,
The unspent joy of all the unborn years,
Will prove your heart a traitor to its sorrow
And make your eyes unfaithful to their tears.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Oh, we want a new breed of men before India can be cleansed of her disease.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Sense of justice is one of the ideals of Islam because as I read Quran I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world.” ― Sarojini Naidu
“Shall hope prevail where clamorous hate is rite?” ― Sarojini Naidu
“My husband is exceedingly busy. For some time the talk of his going had been slack, but just now again there seems to be a move to get him sent to the front!” ― Sarojini Naidu
Did these Sarojini Naidu poems and quotes inspire you?
Since her childhood, Naidu was an exceptional student. She showed exceptional skills that made her stand out from the crowd. Her writing skills were amazing and because of that, she got the chance to study at one of the best institutions, Girton College, the University of Cambridge, and King’s College in England.
Naidu was the poet who spent much of her life campaigning for Indian independence. Her poems include children’s poems and other serious themes such as patriotism, romance, and tragedy. “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad” which was published in 1912 is by far one of her most popular poems. We hope you will like Sarojini Naidu’s poems and quotes as much as we like sharing them with you.
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