Daily Poetry — July 14, 2026

सरोज स्मृति (Saroj Smriti)

Composed by सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी 'निराला' (Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala')

Original Hindi

दुःख ही जीवन की कथा रही क्या कहूँ आज जो नहीं कही! हो इसी कर्म पर वज्रपात यदि धर्म रहे नत सदा माथ। इस पथ पर मेरे कार्य सकल हों भ्रष्ट शीत के से शतदल! कन्ये, गत कर्मों का अर्पण, कर करता मैं तेरा तर्पण।

English Translation

Sorrow has been the story of my life. What shall I say today that has not been said! Let a thunderbolt strike this very act If my head bows not always in dharma. All my deeds on this path May they be ruined like a hundred petals in frost! Daughter, offering the deeds of the past, I perform your libation.

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

क्या विधाता की यही गति, जीवन की अनमोल भेंट? जिसमें पलते स्वप्न कितने, फिर क्यूँ मिटे ये रेत। तेरा विस्मय, तेरी हंसी, अब केवल स्मृति में जीती, हर साँस में बस यही वेदना, हृदय की गहरी रीति। किंतु अमर प्रेम की गाथा, कभी न मिटती, न थमती, आत्मा का बंधन शाश्वत, हर बाधा को सहती। शायद तुम हो अब उन तारों में, जहाँ शांति का वास, देखूँ जब भी आसमान को, महसूस करूँ तेरा पास।

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

Is this the way of fate, life's precious gift? In which so many dreams are nurtured, then why do they drift like sand? Your wonder, your laughter, now live only in memory, In every breath, just this sorrow, a deep ritual of the heart. But the tale of immortal love, it never fades, never ceases, The bond of souls is eternal, enduring every obstacle. Perhaps you are now among those stars, where peace resides, Whenever I gaze at the sky, I feel your closeness.

Literary & Historical Context

"Saroj Smriti" (1935) is widely recognized as the first significant elegy in Hindi literature, penned by the revolutionary poet Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala'. This deeply personal and poignant poem is a tribute to his teenage daughter, Saroj, who passed away prematurely. The chosen lines encapsulate Nirala's profound grief, his sense of powerlessness against fate, and his lament over the harshness of his own life, which he feels prevented him from providing a better life or a grand wedding for Saroj. He performs a 'tarpan' (a ritualistic offering or libation for the deceased) by offering his past deeds. The poem is a landmark work of the Chhayavaad (Romanticism) era, celebrated for its raw emotional honesty, its innovative use of free verse (muktak chhand) in an era dominated by traditional meters, and its blend of personal tragedy with philosophical reflection on human suffering and existential questions. It remains a powerful testament to a father's enduring love and sorrow.