Sarojini Naidu's Poetry


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Sarojini Naidu, Her Way with Words


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Collection of the prose and poetic works of the author.




The Golden Threshold


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It is at my persuasion that these poems are now published. The earliest of them were read to me in London in 1896, when the writer was seventeen; the later ones were sent to me from India in 1904, when she was twenty-five; and they belong, I think, almost wholly to those two periods. As they seemed to me to have an individual beauty of their own, I thought they ought to be published. The writer hesitated. "Your letter made me very proud and very sad," she wrote. "Is it possible that I have written verses that are 'filled with beauty,' and is it possible that you really think them worthy of being given to the world? You know how high my ideal of Art is; and to me my poor casual little poems seem to be less than beautiful—I mean with that final enduring beauty that I desire." And, in another letter, she writes: "I am not a poet really. I have the vision and the desire, but not the voice. If I could write just one poem full of beauty and the spirit of greatness, I should be exultantly silent for ever; but I sing just as the birds do, and my songs are as ephemeral." It is for this bird-like quality of song, it seems to me, that they are to be valued. They hint, in a sort of delicately evasive way, at a rare temperament, the temperament of a woman of the East, finding expression through a Western language and under partly Western influences. They do not express the whole of that temperament; but they express, I think, its essence; and there is an Eastern magic in them. Sarojini Chattopadhyay was born at Hyderabad on February 13, 1879. Her father, Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, is descended from the ancient family of Chattorajes of Bhramangram, who were noted throughout Eastern Bengal as patrons of Sanskrit learning, and for their practice of Yoga. He took his degree of Doctor of Science at the University of Edinburgh in 1877, and afterwards studied brilliantly at Bonn. On his return to India he founded the Nizam College at Hyderabad, and has since laboured incessantly, and at great personal sacrifice, in the cause of education.




Sarojini Naidu - The Golden Threshold


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Sarojini Chattopadhyay was born into a Bengali family in Hyderabad, India on February 13th, 1879. the eldest of the eight siblings. The family was well-respected in Hyderabad and were established artists. Naidu passed her matriculation examination at the University of Madras and took a four-year break from her studies. In 1895, H.E.H. the Nizam's Charitable Trust founded by the 6th Nizam, Mahbub Ali Khan, gave her the chance to study in England, first at King's College, London and later at Girton College, Cambridge. Even in these early times she was a social activist. It was whilst in England that she worked as a suffragist and was first drawn to the Indian National Congress' Hindu movement for India's independence from British Colonial rule. Naidu became a part of the Indian nationalist movement and was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his idea of swaraj (this was an India without its colonial administration systems). She began writing at the age of twelve. Her play, 'Maher Muneer', written in Persian, impressed the Nawab of Hyderabad. It was an auspicious start. Sarojini met Paidipati Govindarajulu Naidu, a physician, and after finishing her studies at age 19 married him. The couple would have five children. Interestingly their families approved their marriage even though they were from different castes and society was not as tolerant as it might be today. Additionally, Sarojini was from Bengal and Naidu from Andhra Pradesh and marriages between those from the north and south were frowned upon. Happily, they overcame these problems and both marriage and careers thrived. In 1905, her first collection of poems, 'The Golden Threshold' was published. Despite her growing political career she still found time to write and published several further volumes of poetry. Such was her eloquence that she became known as the 'Nightingale of India'. Sarojini was appointed the President of the Indian National Congress in 1925 and was a major influence and figure in the Independence movement. Along with several other Congress leaders including Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru she was arrested for taking part in the 1930 Salt March. Indeed Sarojini faced frequent arrest by the British Authorities and spent, in total, many months in prison. Following India's independence from British rule in 1947, Sarojini was appointed as the governor of the United Provinces (the present-day Uttar Pradesh) in so doing she became India's first woman governor. Returning from work in New Delhi on 15th February, 1949 she was advised to rest by her doctors, and her official engagements were cancelled. Her health deteriorated rapidly and on 1st March bloodletting was performed after she complained of severe headache. Sarojini Naidu died of a cardiac arrest on 2nd March 1949.




The Bird of Time


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Sarojini Naidu


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Sarojini Naidu s interests and passions were many: books, poetry, people, conversation, food, gardens, folklore handicrafts and travel. As a poet, she had perhaps the finest ear among Indians for the English language. As a public speaker, she impressed the most sophisticated audiences. As a political worker, her courage and conviction embarassed her detractors. As a proponent of women s rights, she won over numerous chauvanists.




Dear Mrs Naidu


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Twelve-year-old Sarojini’s best friend, Amir, might not be her best friend any more. Ever since Amir moved out of the basti and started going to a posh private school, it seems like he and Sarojini have nothing in common. Then Sarojini finds out about the Right to Education, a law that might help her get a free seat at Amir’s school – or, better yet, convince him to come back to a new and improved version of the government school they went to together. As she struggles to keep her best friend, Sarojini gets help from some unexpected characters, including Deepti, a feisty classmate who lives at a construction site; Vimala Madam, a human rights lawyer who might also be an evil genius; and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a long-dead freedom fighter who becomes Sarojini’s secret pen pal. Told through letters to Mrs. Naidu, this is the story of how Sarojini learns to fight – for her friendship, her family, and her future. Published by Zubaan.




Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu - With a Chapter from 'Studies of Contemporary Poets' by Mary C. Sturgeon


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"Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu" is a 1925 work that includes a wide selection of Sarojini Naidu's speeches and other assorted writings. Contents include: "Nilambuja", "True Brotherhood", "Personal Element in Spiritual Life", "Education of Indian Women", "A Plea for Social Reform", "Hindu and Mussalmans", "Mrs. Ghandi", "In Memoriam: Gokhale", "The Children's Tribute to Gokhale", etc. Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was an Indian political activist and poet. She was a staunch proponent of women's emancipation, civil rights, and anti-imperialistic ideas, playing an important role in India's struggle for independence from colonial rule. Her work as a poet includes both children's poems and others with more mature themes including patriotism, romance, and tragedy, earning her the sobriquet "Nightingale of India". Her most famous work is "In the Bazaars of Hyderabad" (1912), which remains widely read to this day. Other notable works by this author include: "The Broken Wing - Songs of Love, Death & Destiny" (1917) and "Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity" (1919). This classic work is being republished now in a new edition complete with an introductory chapter from 'Studies of Contemporary Poets' by Mary C. Sturgeon.




IDEAS OF A NATION:SAROJINI NAIDU


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To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Indian Republic; the Words of Freedom series showcases the landmark speeches and writings of fourteen visionary leaders whose thought animated the Indian struggle for Independence and whose revolutionary ideas and actions forged the Republic of India as we know it today. View all books in the series here: http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/Words_of_freedom.asp




Great Women Of India


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"Presented here are some intriguing life stories of outstanding women who have brought about commendable changes by their determination and their will power. In this series, you will find people as different as politicians, reformers, revolutionaries and artists – women whose lives have left an indelible imprint on our world. Table of Content.. 01. The Formative Years 02. A New Home for Annie 03. Finding her Soulmate 04. Loosing Faith in God 05. Changing Priorities 06. Summons from the Court 07. Setting Sail for India 08. Fighting for a Cause 09. Reaching out to People 10. Social Activities 11. The Retreat"




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