
Sarojini Naidu
Biography
Sarojini Naidu (February 13, 1879 – March 2, 1949) was born in Hyderabad, India as the eldest daughter of scientist, philosopher, and educator Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, and Varada Sundari Devi, a Bengali poetess. Her father was the founder of the Nizam College, Hyderabad and also the first member of the Indian National Congress in Hyderabad with his friend Mulla Abdul Qayyum. Chattopadhyaya’s family heritage was of the Brahman class, originally from Bengal. He was later dismissed from his position as Principal and even banished in retaliation for his political activities. Sarojini Naidu learned to speak Urdu, Telugu, English, Persian and Bengali. Her favorite poet was P.B. Shelley.
She attained national fame for entering Madras University at the age of twelve. At sixteen, she traveled to England to study first at King’s College London and subsequently at Girton College, Cambridge. While in England, she identified with the Suffragette movement. Also in England, she was encouraged by the poets Arthur Simon and Edmond Gausse to explore Indian themes in her writing, such as India’s landscape, her temples and her people. Her first book of poetry, The Golden Threshold, appeared in 1905. Other volumes followed. Her poems featured everyday scenes of Indian life, often drawn from the streets and markets, thus snake charmers and beggars and bangle sellers populate her poetry. It was in 1905 that she joined the Indian National Congress in protest over the Partition of Bengal. She was a strong supporter of women’s rights, a champion of education for all and of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Poems by Sarojini Naidu
- A Love Song From The North
- A Rajput Love Song
- Alabaster
- An Indian Love Song
- Autumn Song
- Corn Grinders
- Coromandel Fishers
- Cradle Song
- Damayante To Nala In The Hour Of Exile
- Ecstasy
- Harvest Hymn
- Humayun To Zobeida (From The Urdu)
- In Praise Of Henna
- In Salutation To The Eternal Peace
- In The Bazaars Of Hyderabad
- In The Forest
- Indian Dancer
- Indian Love Song
- Indian Weavers
- Leili
- Life
- My Dead Dream
- Nightfall In The City Of Hyderabad
- Ode To H.H. The Nizam Of Hyderabad
- Palanquin Bearers
- Past And Future
- Song Of A Dream
- Street Cries
- Suttee
- The Bangle Sellers
- The Gift of India
- The Illusion Of Love
- The Indian Gipsy
- The Pardah Nashin
- The Poet To Death
- The Poet’s Love-Song
- The Queen’s Rival
- The Royal Tombs Of Golconda
- The Royal Tombs Of Golconda
- The Snake Charmer
- The Song Of Princess Zeb-Un-Nissa In Praise Of Her Own Beauty
- The Soul’s Prayer
- To A Buddha Seated On A Lotus
- To My Children
- To My Fairy Fancies
- To The God Of Pain
- To Youth
- Transcience
- Village Song
- Wandering Singers