NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was a distinguished poetess and literateur. Known as the “Nightingale Of India”, She wrote exquisites lyrics, which appeared in several collections including the “The Sceptred Flute”, “The Bird of Time” and “The Broken Wing”.

She was also a political leader of first rank, an orator and an ardent champion of freedom and independence. Her political poems represent a magical fusion of her love for poetry and her love for the country. Her closing address to the fortieth National Congress highlights this synthesis of Poetry and Patriotism: “As long as I have life, as long as blood flows through this arm of mine, I shall not leave the cause of freedom, as a woman I give you the weapons of faith and courage and the shield of fortitude. As a poet, I fling out the banner of song and sound, the bugle call to battle. How Shall I kindle the flame which shall waken you men from slavery?”

Mrs. Mrs. Sarojini Naidu was born in 1897 in Hyderabad Deccan in a respected family, which had migrated from Bengal. IN 1895 at the age of sixteen she went to England for higher education and studied at King’s college and Girton (Cambridge). She returned to India in 1898. In 1919 she went to England on a propaganda crusade as a member of the home rule league Deputation. Her first Public appearance was, however during the Lucknow session of the Muslim League (1913) when she spoke on Hindu-Muslim Unity. It was around this time that she resp0onded to the call of the nation. She left a rose-bower of Poetry and plunged into the struggle for freedom. She was a great Orator and for a time president of the Indian National Congress. In later years she was appointed governor of the United Provinces (Utter Pardesh).

She was one of the very few India Leaders who, whatever her political views, was free from antipathy towards Muslims and their aspirations. She was a sympathetic student of Islam, Muslim Culture and Urdu language in which she was well versed. She was widely respected for the catholicity of her outlook and sympathy.

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