Its been sometime that I have written something in my native language Odia. What makes it more difficult, is the loosening command over my language and my super slow speed while trying to type out Odia letters on my QWERTY keyboard. Below is my humble try on a writing a short poem called Aahwaan (“ଆହ୍ୱାନ”), translating to “call” or “beckoning,” which reflects the poem’s theme of returning to one’s roots and feeling drawn back to one’s homeland.
ଆହ୍ୱାନ
ମୋ ଓଡ଼ିଶା, ମୋ ମାଟି ମା, ତୋ କୋଳେ ମୁଁ ପୁଣି ଫେରିଛି
ତୋ ମମତା, ତୋ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ, ହୃଦୟରେ ମୋର ଭରିଛି ।
କାଳିଆ ଠାକୁର, ମା’ ସାରଳା, ଜଗା-ବଳିଆ ପ୍ରୀତି କାହାଣୀ
ଶୁଣି ଶୁଣି ବଡ଼ ହୋଇଥିଲି, ଭୁଲି ନାହିଁ ସେ ମଧୁର ବାଣୀ ।
ଫକୀର ମୋହନ, ଗୋପବନ୍ଧୁ, ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଅମୃତ ବରଷନ୍ତି
ପଢ଼ି ପଢ଼ି ମନ ପୁଲକିତ, ନୂଆ ଜ୍ଞାନ ଆଖିରେ ଫୁଟନ୍ତି ।
ପାଇକ ବିଦ୍ରୋହ, ବକ୍ସି ଜଗବନ୍ଧୁ, ସ୍ୱାଭିମାନର ପ୍ରତୀକ ହେ
ତୋ ଇତିହାସ ପଢ଼ି ପଢ଼ି ମୁଁ, ଗର୍ବିତ ହୁଏ ନିତି ନିତି ହେ ।
ଚିଲିକା ନୀଳ ଜଳ, ପୁରୀ ସାଗର, ଆଖି ଆଗରେ ନାଚି ଯାଆନ୍ତି
କୋଣାର୍କ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ମନ୍ଦିର ଶୋଭା, ହୃଦୟରେ ମୋର ଉଙ୍କି ମାରନ୍ତି ।
ଆଜି ମୁଁ ପୁଣି ଫେରିଛି ମା, ତୋ ଅଙ୍କରେ ଶରଣ ନେବାକୁ
ତୋ ଭାଷା, ସଂସ୍କୃତି, ପରମ୍ପରା, ନିଜ ଜୀବନରେ ଆପଣାଇବାକୁ ।
ମୋ ଓଡ଼ିଶା, ମୋ ମାଟି ମା, ତୋ’ଠାରୁ ଦୂରରେ ରହି ନ ପାରେ
ତୋ ମହିମା ଗାଇ ଗାଇ ମୁଁ, ଜୀବନ ସାର୍ଥକ କରିବି ସାରେ ।
For those who would need an English translation, here it goes.
Aahwaan : The Call of My Motherland
My Odisha, my mother soil,
To your embrace I’ve returned at last.
Your love and blessings, like sacred oil,
Fill my heart, connecting present to past.
Lord Jagannath and Goddess Sarala,
Tales of Jaga-Balia’s devotion true,
These stories, heard since I was small,
Their sweet words, forever ring anew.
Fakir Mohan, Gopabandhu – great sages,
Their literature pours like nectar sweet.
As I read, my mind through ages,
Gains new wisdom, makes learning a treat.
Paika Rebellion, Bakshi Jagabandhu,
Symbols of pride, our history’s might.
Reading your past, I stand by you,
Filled with honor, day and night.
Blue waters of Chilika, Puri’s shore,
Dance before my eyes, a vision clear.
Konark’s sun temple, an artistic lore,
In my heart, its beauty draws near.
Today I’ve come back to you, Mother,
To seek shelter in your loving arms.
Your language, culture like no other,
I’ll embrace in life, with all their charms.
My Odisha, my mother dear,
Far from you, I cannot stay.
Singing your glory far and near,
I’ll make my life worthwhile each day.
Hope you like it. I wish, I could come up with more literature pieces eventually.
Leave a Reply