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To India, My Native Land
Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
About Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, the composer of this fine sonnet, was the first Indian to write poems in English. He lived for only 22 years, but within this short period, he became famous as a journalist, Professor of History and English Literature at Hindu College (now Presidency College) and the leader and guide of a group of brilliant students known as 'Young Bengal' who spoke out openly against the orthodoxy and superstitions of Indian society.
My country! In thy day of glory past
A beauteous halo circled round thy brow,
And worshipped as a deity thou wast -
Where is that glory, where that reverence now?
Thy eagle pinion is chained down at last,
And grovelling in the lowly dust art thou;
Thy minstrel hath no wreath to weave for thee
Save the sad story of thy misery!
Well - let me dive into the depths of time,
And bring from out the ages that have rolled
A few small fragments of those wrecks sublime,
Which human eyes may never more behold;
And let the guerdon of my labour be
My fallen country! One kind wish from thee!
Available Answers
- 1.
What portrait of ancient India does the poet paint at the beginning of the poem?
- 2.
What was the India's condition when the poem was written?
- 3.
Who is the minstrel? What is the only thing he can do now?
- 4.
Why does the poet wish to dive into the depths of time?
- 5.
What reward does he wish for?
- 6.
Explain "A beauteous halo circled round thy brow".
10 more answer(s) available.