1. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
Research Paper—English
Self - Exploration
In The Poetry Of Sarojini Naidu
January,2013 * Dr. K. A. Thosar
* S.P.M.T.M. Arts and Commerce College, Chikhli, Dist. Buldana (M.S.)
A B S T R A C T
Sarojini Naidus poetic achievement has remained a point of debate. Critics differ widely, from genuine fraise to rejection,
regarding her poetic acheievement. Without entering a camp, here is an attempt to weigh and consider favurable as well
as adverse criticism to capture the truth in terms of a personal encounter with some of her poem.
Present paper is an attempt to study the reasons of diversity of criticism on her poetry and find out the real worth
and success of Sarojini Naidu as a poetess. This study goes one step ahead in presenting the analysis of her often referred
to failure to probe the hidden recesses of human psyche. Though an impression of unreality gets created due to the
maladjustment of the ideal and real, in fact, she is not divoded of such understanding. In this process, the readers get an
idea of her efforts of self-exploration and adjustment with the outer world.
When her first collection of poems "The Golden Thresh- life and death is the basis of her comprehensive view
old" was published in 1905, the papers praised her of life. The Bird of Time, sitting on its fruitful bough,
enthusiastically. "This little volume should silence sings the changing measures of glory and gladness of
forever the scoffer who declares that women cannot life, of poignant sorrow and passionate strife, joy of
write poetry" wrote the 'Review of Reviewers'. "Her spring and hope of unborn years, of the fragrant peace
poetry seems to sing itself as if her swift thoughts and of the twilight's breath and also of "the mystic silence
strong emotion sprang into lyrics of themselves," that men call death." She further envisions the roots of
cooed 'The Times'1 . After the publication of the "The this song in the duality of human nature.
Bird of Time" the 'Yorkshire Post' acknowledged that In the sigh of pity, the sob of hate, And the pride of a
"Mrs. Naidu has not only enriched our language but soul that has conquered fate. (p. 65)5 Sarojini Naidu has
has enabled us to grow into intimate relation with the an evergreen fascination for the building and blooming
spirit, the emotions, the mysticism and the glamour of spring. In spring she experiences a symphony of sight,
the East."2 In the introduction of her collected poems sound and smell. The whole nature joins this revelry.
published many years later under the title "The Scepter The honey-birds pipe to the budding figs. At the cell
Flute," Joseph Auslander halled her as "the greatest of honey-blooms wild bees rifle them; king-fishers ruffle
living poet of India" and claimed her to be "a passion- the feathery sedge, air thrills with butterfly wings in the
ate philosopher"3. On the other hand, some critics had wild-rose hedge and the luminous blue of the hills.
marked a lack of depth in her poetry. For example, ac- Poppies squander their intoxicating fragrances, coral
cording to Padmini Sen Gupta, "She (Sarojini Naidu) and ivory lilies unfold their delicate beauty to the lake.
expresses continually the death wish, but there is not To her the lovely hue, the dazzling, fugitive sheen of
enough depth, as for instance in Eliot's Gerontion Gulmohar is a "gorgeous boon of the spring"(p. 94). So
…….Sarojini's flights of song are always somehow in rapture of ecstasy, she invokes the heart to sing as
never quite real in life."4 "Today it is spring" (p. 99).
Her poems really diverge in poetic worth. The This heaven of joy is not devoid of human
diversity in the criticism reflects this diversity in her reference. Nature, for sarojini Naidu, is not only a nec-
poetry. With a selective citation of her work any argu- essary tool for expression, but is a means of self-dis-
ment can be substantiated.The present paper highlights covery. In "Vasant Panchami" sad, doomed Lilavati
her success as a poet, but goes a step ahead in present- finds the reflection of her mind in a fallen flower, in a
ing the analysis of Sarojini Naidu's oft referred to failure faded leaf. The exuberance of spring is not for her.
to probe the hidden recesses of human psyche. These songs of joy are "poisoned arrows" in her heart,
A critical reappraisal of Sarojini Naidu's po- for they "slay her heart with bitter memories." So she
etry is carried out by apprehending the image of her self asks the lilting Koel to hush her rapturous notes, crim-
as reflected in her work, in her confrontation of expe- son Gulmohar to quench its flame and Sirish tree to hold
rience. For Sarojini Naidu's experience is an act of double its balmy breath.
consciousness. The undulation of her mind between Love is another major theme in Sarojini Naidu's
pleasure and pain, nature and mind, love and despair, poetry. The lovers form a devoted pair. She is ready to
RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 45

2. International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, January, 2013 ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBIL- 2009-30097, VOL- IV * ISSUE- 40
offer everything- beauty, youth, and glory, fame - for doom, loneliness and the mute and mythic terror of the
the bright and sacrificial flame of love. But she is also tomb. With golden oriole she soars to eternity.
aware of the dark shadow inevitably associated with For my glad heart is drunk and drenched with Thee,
this bright light. Love proves to be the path of tears for O inmost wine of living ecstasy;
her. Love is "the very pattern of my joy and pain." 6 O intimate essence of eternity. (P.137)
The same duality of experience is recorded by At such moments Sarojini Naidu probes deep and soars
Sarojini Naidu in the juxtaposition of life and death in high transcending the limitations of individual sensi-
her mind. As an innocent child, she approaches Deity bility. But such occasions are comparatively rare in her
with a request to let her live life fully, "spare me no bliss, poetry.
no pang of strife" and also reveal to her the "inmost In "A Challenge to Fate" she tries to take arms against
laws of life and death". (p.123) The futility of such an the sea of troubles, but it remains a verbal tussle. In
immature efforts to fathom out the mystery of human "The Sanctuary", also, only through trust and not
existence is subtly hinted by Sarojini Naidu through through the deeper understanding of life achieved
the apt epithets such as "childhood's pride" and "blind through experience, she envisions the possibility of
prayer". God promises to harken her prayer. She is quite the sanctification of her yearning love and redemption
aware that her weary soul may be allured by the "kind of her struggling soul.
death" considering "High dreams and hope and love "STOOP not from thy proud, lonely sphere, Star of my
are vain". But the very presence of "blind, ultimate Trust."( P. 230)
silence of the dead" makes her conscious of the im- It is an inevitable result of the maladjustment of the
mense value of life. Her death-wish is surpassed by a ideal and the real, as can be seen from its marked recur-
call of life. "It is mine to carry the banner of song," she rence in the work of the great transendentalist R. W.
declares as her inborn vocation. "In Salutation to the Emerson.
Eternal Peace" delineates another moment of mystic Sarojini Naidu's total poetic achievement,
rapture. "Men say" not she herself, that "The world is thus, reflects her realized self. Her personality is an
full of fear and hate" and will be smitten by "relentless inevitable formative force for her.
fate." But she does not dread the dull passages of
R E F E R E N C E
1) K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Indian Writing in English, 2nd ed. (Bombay : Asisa Publishing House, 1973), pp. 214-15.
2) Ibid., p. 217
3) Tara Ali Baig, Sarojini Naidu. ( New Delhi : Publication Division, Govt. of India, 1974), p.27.
4) Padmini Sen Gupta, Sarojini Naidu (New Delhi : Sahity Akademi, 1974), p. 85
5) Sarojini Naidu, The sceptred Flute, songs of India (1943, rpt Allahabad: Kitabistan, 1979) Subsequent references appear
from this edition.
6 ) Sarojini Naidu, The Feather of the Dawn ( New Delhi : Asia Publising House, 1961), p.29.
46 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION