Shivpreet Singh
Shivpreet Singh
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One of Bob Dylan's greatest songs Blowin' in the Wind was written in 1962 and released on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. The song is about peace. In that, the song is about Ekonkar, the oneness of all. I used to wonder what makes some songs popular, how do they become powerful in swaying people's minds.  And in the late 2000s hypothesized that the most powerful and songs tend to be one that are singing Ekonkar.  This is true of Michael Jackson's We are the world, John Lenin's Imagine and even  Taylor Swift's Mean.

Although "Blowin' in the Wind" has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war and freedom. The third line in each of the three stanzas is especially poignant and questions. According to Mick Gold, the refrain "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" is "impenetrably ambiguous: either the answer is so obvious it is right in your face, or the answer is as intangible as the wind." For both reasons, wind an apt metaphor for knowledge. Guru Nanak so beautifully crystallizes this in 2 words and 5 syllables: "Pavan Guru" - "the wind is the guru."  Being a protest song, this song also reminds of Guru Nanak's protests against the cruelty of Babar's invasion of India in the 16th century.  

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

"Blowin' in the Wind" has been covered by hundreds of artists. The most commercially successful version is by folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, who released the song in June 1963, three weeks after The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan was issued.  Here is that version:


Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' down to freedom land

Ain't gonna let segregation turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let segregation turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

Ain't gonna let racism turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let racism turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

Ain't gonna let no hatred turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let no hatred turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

Ain't gonna let injustice turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let injustice turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

Ain't gonna let no jail cell turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let no jail cell turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around
Turn me around, turn me around
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around
I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin'
Marchin' up to freedom's land

 


"Ekla Chalo Re" is a Bengali poem and song written by Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate from India. The song "Ekla Chalo Re" was originally titled "EKLA" and was first published in the September 1905 issue of Bhandar magazine. It was then published in 1910 as part of Tagore's collection of poems, "Kshudita Pashan".  This song is part of the Dhapkirtan or Manoharshahi gharana. It was later included in the "Swadesh" (Homeland) section of Rabindranath Tagore's collection of lyrics, "Gitabitan."

We used to sing this song sometimes in our assembly in my school in Delhi, DPS RK Puram. This poem has served me as inspiration many times in life along with Guru Gobind Singh's hymn Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ihai in which he says "Oh Shiva, Give me this boon that I may never shirk from auspicious duties."  It is said that this song was one of Mahatma Gandhi's favorite songs as well and has for long been associated with political rallies and social change movements.

The poem is considered a classic and has been translated into many languages. The song Ekla cholo re meaning "If they answer not to thy call walk alone" is a call to remain steadfast and determined in one's pursuits, even if one is alone or unsupported by others. This poem is considered as a national anthem of the Indian state of West Bengal and Bangladesh.

It was inspired by the popular Bengali Kirtan song "Harinaam Diye Jagat Matale Amar Ekla Nitai Re," -"Because of the intoxication of harinaam, I am not alone." The repetition of Ekla Nitai, and the tune are identical to Tagore's poem.  




Romanized Lyrics for Ekla Chalo Re


Jodi tor đak shune keu na ashe tôbe êkla chôlo re,
Êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo re.
Jodi keu kôtha na kôe, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi shôbai thake mukh firaee shôbai kôre bhôe---
Tôbe pôran khule
O tui mukh fuţe tor moner kôtha êkla bôlo re.
Jodi shôbai fire jae, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi gôhon pôthe jabar kale keu fire na chae---
Tôbe pôther kãţa
O tui rôktomakha chôrontôle êkla dôlo re.
Jodi alo na dhôre, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi jhôŗ-badole ãdhar rate duar dêe ghôre---
Tôbe bojranôle
Apon buker pãjor jalie nie êkla jôlo re.

Tagore's English translation


If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou unlucky one,
open thy mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou unlucky one,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
O thou unlucky one,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone.

My Translation 


If no one answers your  call 
make a stride and walk alone
When everyone is closed and shut
Open your mind and speak alone.

Walk Alone, Walk Alone, Walk Alone

If they turn away and desert
and the wild path obstacles exerts
trample the thorns no matter the hurt
And Alone along blood-lined track traverse.

Walk Alone, Walk Alone, Walk Alone

If no one holds up the light 
and a fierce storm troubles the night,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite 
your heart, alone, and let it burn bright

Walk Alone, Walk Alone, Walk Alone


Bengali Lyrics:



যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে।
একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো রে॥
যদি কেউ কথা না কয়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি সবাই থাকে মুখ ফিরায়ে সবাই করে ভয়---
তবে পরান খুলে
ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে॥
যদি সবাই ফিরে যায়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি গহন পথে যাবার কালে কেউ ফিরে না চায়---
তবে পথের কাঁটা
ও তুই রক্তমাখা চরণতলে একলা দলো রে॥
যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে---
তবে বজ্রানলে
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলো রে॥ 


[jodi tore] [ekala cholo] [ekala chalo] [ekla cholo] [ekla cholo]

 
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SHIVPREET SINGH

Singing oneness!
- Shivpreet Singh

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