The great Harivansh Rai Bachchan remains immortal through his poems. No wonder, his poetry echoes through millions of hearts and it’s absolute bliss to read his poems. The late poet has enriched Hindi literature with his wonderful poems that are mesmerized even today. Love or departure, pain or struggle- his poems have touched every corner of life.
The Padma Shri recipient completed his PhD in English literature from Cambridge University, and yet had an unending love for Hindi literature. He taught English literature at Allahabad University and was influenced by Persian and Urdu poetry at the same time. His work has been used in many Bollywood films, including Agneepath starring Amitabh Bachchan, his son.
1. Madhushala
This poem of Harivansh Rai Bachchan deserves special mention. He portrays life in depth by referring human and human life to Madhushala (The Tavern), Saaki (The wine bearer), Haala (The Wine), and Pyala (The wine cup). Different perspectives on human emotions are addressed in this poem.
“Alag-alag path batlaate sab, Par main yaha batlaata hun, Raah pakad tu ek chala chal, Paa jayega Madhushala'.' No matter which path we take, we will eventually lead us to our respective destinations. Like this, many aspects of life are discussed in an abstract context.
2. Tera Haar
There is no greater gift than true love. Pure love binds human-beings with true happiness and wisdom. The last lines of this poem - Hai sajeev jo madhur bolti, Baat baat mein amrit gholti, Sehej hriday ke bhav kholti, Ve bhi kya bhavna bhakti se ho jayengi maun.” speak in volumes on this mentioned fact.
3. Madhubala
This poem is just an earlier version of Madhubala, consisting of the same theme. Some famous lines from this poem are quoted as follows- Main madhu-vikreta ko pyaari, madhu ke ghat mujh par balihari, Pyalo ki main sushma saari, mera rukh dekha karti hai, Madhu pyase nayano ki mala, main madhushala ki madhubala.”
4. Ekaant Sangeet
‘Ekaant Sangeet’ narrates the lonely voice of Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Loneliness is sometimes suffocating, highlighting the failures of life and making the person sink deeper into depression.
Even though the poet has made deeper notice in loneliness, the lines “Bhu par van, varidhi par bede, Nabh mein udu khag mela, Nar naari se bhare jagat mein, kavi ka hriday akela!” reveals how loneliness is responsible for bringing such ill conditions in life.
5. Aakul Antar
“Vividh rupo mein hua sakar, rango mein suranjit, mrittika ka yeh nahi sansar, uski vikalta hai.” These lines show how poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s mind was torn in anxiety and anguish. Tormented by all hostilities between life and self, he wishes to drinks honey to calm his soul.
6. Agneepath
“Tu na thakega kabhi, Tu na thamega kabhi, Tu na mudega kabhi, Kar shapath, Kar shapath, Kar shapath, Agnipath Agnipath Agnipath.” Life is not a bed full of roses, but a road filled with fire and obstacles. Most of the Harivansh Rai Bachchan poems in Hindi fires up the strength and determination within us.
The poem elaborately explains the constant battle of life, and for that reason, one needs to strive badly for success. Most of the work from this poem is used in the film “Agneepath” starring Amitabh Bachchan, his son.
7. Dhaar ke Idhar Udhar
“Sabki ki hai mitti ki kaya, Sab par nabh ki nirmam chaya, Yaha koi nhi aaya hai le bishes bardan, Bhul gaya hai kyon insaan”.
One can never realize life with moments of happiness but with experiences of pain. When joyful tomorrow turns into sluggish today, happiness turns into tears- it won’t take much time for life to become futile. No matter how much we try to balance, life remains unbalanced.
8. Khaadi ke Phool
“Ho gaya kya desh ke, sabse tapaswi deep ka, Nirman”. Torn with lust and cruelty, India was on the verge of death. Rampant incidents of injustice tormented the poet and this poem voices his pain. He is skeptical of the future and thus stresses the importance of ‘Nirvana’ to attain global peace.
9. Satarangini
Harivansh Rai Bachchan Hindi poems, literal words are given different meanings. Here, the poem beautifully explains what ‘Satarangini’ actually stands for. “Yeh rang-birang vihangini! Satrangini, Satrangini!” Satrangini is the colour of hope and confidence that advances like a rainy freeze to restore all that’s lost in darkness.
10. Bengal Ka Kaal
Harivansh Rai Bachchan Hindi poems were not limited to any particular theme or place. Most tragedic Bengal’s famine of 1983 found a place in his poem too. The lines “Kya kaha?, Kaha par gaya kaal, Kaha kangal, Kaha kankal, Kya kaha kaaltrasta bangal!” portrays the deep pain that has shaken him. He urges for food to stop the hunger death that broke down the population of Bengal.
11. Soot Ki Mala
Instead of grief, Gandhiji’s death has brought immense pride. This particular poem of Harivansh Rai Bachchan in Hindi has expressed how Gandhiji remains immortal through his contributions. His physical death is not the end, for he will continue to live in our hearts forever.
12. Aarti Aur Angaare
“Aur tumko bhi abhi marne na doonga, main abhi zinda,abhi yah shav-pariksha main tumhe karne na doonga.” Death has a deep impact on the port’s mind. Harivansh Rai Bachchan has noticed much change in later life with fear in mind.
But he doesn’t like the fear of death crawling into the present, rather he chooses to enjoy life with energy and confidence.
13. Buddha Aur Naachghar
"Jaha hai teri bastiya, tere bazaar, tere len-denai-karch k sthaan, waha kaha hai, Raam-Krishna, buddha, Muhammad, esha k koi nishaan”
These strong lines raises doubt on humanity and leaves us in amazement. We humans often take pride in following or worshipping Buddha but forget to notice the biggest aspect of his teachings.
The ‘naachghar’ or the dance room is full of rampant violent activities that disobey Buddha’s moral values. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poems in Hindi foils sarcasm in strong lines of the poem.
14. Bahut Din Beete
Long lost from the path of life, aren’t we all just surviving? Yes, that’s what Harivansh Rai Bachchan calls for attention. The call of Cuckoo, fountain, horse mountain, and every sound of nature that once charmed us with its presence no more pulls us. He urges to return to the path of life with inquisitiveness and a joyous spirit.
15. Pranay Patrika
“Ek Yehi Armaan Geet Ban Priy Tumko, Arpit Ho Jaoon, Arpit Ho Jaoon, Arpit Tumko Meri Aasha Aur Nirasha Aur Pipasa.” This poem makes one of the best collections of Harivansh Rai Bachchan poems in Hindi.
The melody of a song grows intense with love and pain. But the poet is unknown of any worldly pleasures that can compose a song with such purity such as the poet’s pain. He wants to sing a song full of love that directly comes from the strings of the heart.
16. Jaal Sameta
“Ek din maine, maun ke sabdo ko dhayasaya that, aur ek gehri eeda, ek gehre anand may,sunnypaat-grasht sa, vivash kuch bola that, suna mera waha bolna duniya may kaavya kehlayega.”
Expression can never hold emotions in depth. Rightly pointed out by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Jaal Sameta explains many aspects of life where silence alone can bring justice in many incidents. In the give and take policy of life, many things go unnoticed and unappreciated. Silence conceals a huge depth of life in its shell.
17. Ek Geet
Most of the Harivansh Rai Bachchan poems in Hindi embark on the journey of man’s life. ‘Ek Geet’ portrays the journey of the path taken by the traveller but signifies the journey of his life too. He goes on to explain how excited the traveller is to finish his road in daylight, before night sets in. He wishes to finish the journey of life smoothly before night(the end of life).
18. Nirman
Creation and destruction are two sides of a coin. There can be no creation without any kind of destruction of the old. To bring a new creation, the old should be destroyed completely. Under the metaphors of new-old,creation-destruction, the poet relates important aspects of life.
19. Aathmaparichai
“Main jag-jeevan ka maar liye firta hoon, fir bhi Jeevan mein pyaar liye firta hoon, keh diya kisi ne jhankrit jinko choo kar, min saanson ke do taar liye firta hoon.” Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poem in Hindi throws light into the poet’s mental state and lets readers glide into his world.
Great poems are not composed of joy or happiness but sorrow. This sorrow makes him hollow from inside and yet rich with superiority. He drinks wine to intoxicate all feelings of pain, but at the same time that makes him stay aloof from the world too.
The most pathetic part is despite the sorrow or pain inside, there is always a smile that he is compelled to wear.
20. Nisha Nimantran
“Din jaldi jaldi dhalta hai,/ho jaaye na path mein raat kahi,/manzil bhi toh hai durr nahi,yah soch thaka din ka panthi bhi jaldi chala,din jaldi jaldi dhalta hai.”
Day and night indicate life and death. The constant cycle of life continues to rotate until dawn, and the poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan beautifully signifies all emotions and bonds that we weave during the rotation.
But he reminds us of our duties and responsibilities that need to be finished before night. Although we desire to spend a little more time in daylight, the invitation of the night cannot be denied. Nisha Nimantran is undoubtedly one of the best Harivansh Rai Bachchan poems in Hindi.
It’s not so easy to interpret the accurate meanings of a poem, but you can at least try. The surface layer interpretations can enlighten you to a great extent too! Choose from this poem for your school/college functions and be ready to win the stage!
These Harivansh Rai Bachchan poems in Hindi are available in the forms of recitation too, so that you can feel the real mood of this poem. But we will suggest you read these poems to get the best thrill.
Once you read, you will feel that you are sinking deep into the words and swinging with the mood of the poem. Enriched with deeper meanings of life, these poems will certainly broaden your perspectives on life.
You can borrow some lines to use them when needed. Even your parents will think that you have a powerful vocabulary. Do comment below which one you liked the most.
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