To India - My Native Land

To India - My Native Land is a poem composed by Indian poet Henry Louis

To India - My Native Land
Vivian Derozio in 1828. It is one of the most notable works by the Indian poet.
by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
The poet was very pained at the fact that India was under British rule and
laments that fact in this poem.[1]

Contents
Summary
Theme
Publications
Critical appreciation
References

Summary
The poet expresses a sense of personal loss in the downfall of his country, India.
Addressing India, the poet says that in the old days, India was worshipped like a
Written 1828
deity. Poet wonders where that glory and splendour have disappeared and regrets
First India
the fact that his motherland has now been reduced to the position of a slave of
published
the British Empire. The author also mentions that the country has been
in
humiliated and ashamed of herself grovelling in the dust. There was time when
the country soared like an eagle in the skies but now the wings of that great bird Country India
have been clipped and it is chained. The poet has no wreath of flowers to offer Language English
the country but instead, he will dig into the past and will try to sing of some parts Subject(s) British rule
of that great history which is no longer available to the younger generation. The
Form Sonnet
only reward author wants for his effort is that the country should have a kind
wish for the author and the countrymen should love him. The author says that his Meter Iambic pentameter
last wish to all the Indians is to dive deep into the past and bring back the lost Rhyme abab abcc
glory of India scheme
Publisher Evergreen Publications
Theme (India) Limited

The theme is mainly patriotism. Henry Louis Vivian Derozio talked of the past
Media print
glory of India and how the country that was called the "Golden Eagle" has been
type
chained and enslaved. He proposes to write about some of that heritage of the Lines 14
distant past and in return hopes for a kind wish from the country and its Pages 1
people.[2]

To India - My Native Land

Publications
 Evergreen Publication (India) Limited My country! in thy day of glory past
National Publication House, Dehradun A beauteous halo circled round thy brow,
And worshipped as a deity thou wast.
Critical appreciation Where is that glory, where that reverence now ?
Thy eagle pinion is chained down at last,
The poem is a sonnet which is written as a tribute to the motherland of
And grovelling in the lowly dust art thou;
the author. The poem shows influences of Romantic poets and Medieval
Thy minstrel hath no wreath to weave for thee
poets.
Save the sad story of thy misery!

The poet has used the image of a golden bird, thus hinting at the past Well–let me dive into the depths of time,

glory of India. Words like "halo", "deity", "worship" elevate the country And bring from out the ages that have rolled

to a height and then words such as "chained", "grovelling", "lowly dust" A few small fragments of those wrecks sublime,

bring out the contrast strongly. The misery and lament of the poet invite Which human eyes may never more behold;

readers to join his sorrow. And let the guerdon of my labour be

My fallen country! one kind wish from thee!

References
1. M. K. Naik (1984). Perspectives on Indian Poetry in English (https://books.google.com/books?id=FcH2MUnlQjQC
&pg=RA1-PA1). Abhinav Publications. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-391-03286-6. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
2. Indispensable THE GOLDEN LYRE, By Mr. Usha Nagpal, National Publication house and did like himself , p-117

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