LeonorColangelo: clean up

2026-01-23T17:07:35Z

clean up

78.100.168.191: /* In popular culture */

2021-06-07T12:06:06Z

In popular culture

New page

{{short description|1905 Bengali song by Rabindranath Tagore}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{ITALICTITLE}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ekla Cholo Re
| cover =
| alt =
| type = song
| artist =
| album =
| EP =
| language = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| written =
| published = September 1905
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Rabindra Sangeet]]
| length =
| label =
| writer = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| composer = Rabindranath Tagore
| lyricist =
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| title =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Akla Cholo Re
| cover = Rabindranath Tagore 1905-1906 Sukumar Ray.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Tagore c. 1905, the year he wrote "Akla Cholo Re"
| type = single
| artist = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| album = Record no 357<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| released = sometime between 1905 and 1908<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = H. Bose Swadeshi Records<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| writer = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = This album is now lost.
}}
'''''Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ase Tobe Ekla Cholo Re''''' ("If no one responds to your call, then go your own way alone"<ref name = rebasom254>{{cite book |last1= Som|first1= Reba |title= Rabindranath Tagore: The Singer and His Song |edition=1st |year= 2009 |publisher=Penguin Books India |location= New Delhi |isbn= 978-0-670-08248-3 |page=254 }}</ref>), commonly known as '''''Ekla Cholo Re''''', is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] patriotic song written by [[Rabindranath Tagore]] in 1905.<ref name = rebasom254/>

Originally titled as "Eka", the song was first published in the September 1905 issue of ''Bhandar'' magazine.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> It was influenced by ''Harinaam Diye Jagat Matale Amar Ekla Nitai Re'', a popular Bengali ''Kirtan'' song of ''Dhapkirtan''<ref name = Encyclopedia /> or Manoharshahi ''gharana''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Basu Mallick |first1= Dr Ashis |title= Rabindranather Bhanga Gaan|trans-title=Transcreated Songs of Rabindranath Tagore |edition= 1st |year=2004 |publisher=Pratibhas |location=Kolkata |language=bn |page=166 }}</ref> praising [[Nityananda]], disciple of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]].<ref name = Encyclopedia /> ''Ekla Chalo Re'' was incorporated in the "Swadesh" (Homeland) section of Tagore’s lyrical anthology ''Gitabitan''.<ref name = Encyclopedia >{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Suren |title=Rabindra-Sangeet-Kosh |trans-title=Encyclopedia of Rabindranath Tagore’s Songs |edition=2nd |year=2009 |orig-year= 2001 |publisher= Sahitya Prakash |location=Kolkata |language=bn |page= 290 }}</ref>

The song exhorts the listener to continue their journey, despite abandonment or lack of support from others. The song is often quoted in the context of political or social change movements. [[Mahatma Gandhi]], who was deeply influenced by this song,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.indianembassy.de/templateg.php?inclpage=culture.htm&mnid=5
|title = Rabindranath Tagore
|publisher = Embassy of India Berlin
|location = Germany
|access-date = 29 November 2011
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420232349/http://www.indianembassy.de/templateg.php?inclpage=culture.htm&mnid=5
|archive-date = 20 April 2008
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> cited it as one of his favourite songs.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html
|title=Rabindranath Tagore
|author=Monish R. Chatterjee:Sadhaka of Universal Man, Baul of Infinite Songs
|publisher=Bengali Association of Greater Rochester
|location=Rochester, NY, USA
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820220824/http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html
|archive-date=2011-08-20
}}</ref>

==Lyrics==
The verses of ''Ekla Chalo Re'' read as follows:


===Bengali script===
যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে ।
একলা চলো একলা চলো একলা চলো একলা চলো রে ।।
যদি কেউ কথা না কয়, ওরে ও অভাগা,

যদি সবাই থাকে মুখ ফিরায়ে সবাই করে ভয়
তবে পরান খুলে
ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে ।।

যদি সবাই ফিরে যায়, ও রে ও অভাগা,
যদি গহন পথে যাবার কালে কেউ ফিরে না চায়
তবে পথের কাঁটা
ও তুই রক্তমাখা চরণতলে একলা দলো রে ।।

যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে
তবে বজ্রানলে
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলোরে ।।

<blockquote>
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re, X2 
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re. 
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re

Jodi keu kotha na koe, ore ore o obhaga,keu kothana koi

 
Jodi shobai thake mukh phiraee shobai kore bhoe, jodi shobaai thake mukh phiraae shobai kore bhoi— 
Tobe poran khule 
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re. 

Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re, X2 

Jodi shobai phire jae, ore ore o obhaga,shobai phire jai 
Jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire na chae, jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire naa chaai— 
Tobe pother kata 
O tui roktomakha chorontole ekla dolo re 

Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re, X2 

Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga, X2 
Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duar dee ghore— X2 
Tobe bojranole 
Apon buker pajor jalie nie ekla jolo re. 
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re X2,
</blockquote>

Here is the translation in prose of the Bengali original rendered by Rabindranath Tagore himself.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Choudhury|first1= Subhas |title=Gitabitaner Jagat |trans-title= The World of Gitabitan |edition= 3rd |year=2006 |orig-year= 2004 |publisher=Papyrus |location= Kolkata |language=bn |isbn= 81-8175-087-X |page= 740}}</ref>

<blockquote>
If there is no-one responding to your call - then go on all alone 
If no-one speaks (to you), don't think you are unfortunate, if no-one speaks (to you), 
If everyone turns away, if everyone fears (to speak), then with an open heart without hesitation speak your mind alone 
If everyone walks away, O unlucky one, everyone walks away 
If no-one looks back towards the (your) unpredictable path, then with thorn pricked (of the path) bloodied feet, walk alone 
If no-one heeds your call - then walk alone 
If no-one shines a light (on the path), O unlucky one, 
If the dark night brings thunder and storm at the door - then let the lightning ignite the light in you alone to shine on the path 
If no-one heeds your call - then walk alone
</blockquote>

==History==

=== Publication of lyric ===
"Ekla Chalo Re" was written at [[Giridih]] town in modern-day [[Jharkhand]], [[India]].<ref name = gj33>Choudhury, Subhas (2006). ''Gitabitaner Jagat''. p. 33.</ref> It was one of the 22 [[protest songs]]<ref name = rabindrasangeet/> written during the [[Swadeshi|Swadeshi period]] of [[Indian freedom movement]] and along with "[[Amar Sonar Bangla]]", it became one of the key songs for <nowiki/>the Anti-[[Partition of Bengal (1905)|Partition]] Movement in [[Bengal Presidency]] in 1905.<ref name = rabindrasangeet>{{cite book |last1=Ghosh |first1= Santidev |author-link1=Santidev Ghosh |title=Rabindra Sangeet |trans-title= Songs of Tagore |edition= 6th |year=1987 |orig-year= 1942 |publisher= [[Visva-Bharati]] |location=Kolkata |language=bn |isbn=978-81-7522-302-8 |page= 108 }}</ref>

Titled as "Eka" ("Alone") the song was first published in the September 1905 issue of ''Bhandar'' magazine.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> "Eka" was first included in Tagore’s song anthology ''Baul'' in 1905.<ref name = gj33/> In 1941, it was incorporated into the "Swadesh" ("Homeland") section of ''Gitabitan'', the complete anthology of Tagore’s music.<ref>Choudhury, Subhas (2006). ''Gitabitaner Jagat''. p. 122.</ref>

The musical notation of "Ekla Chalo Re" was prepared by Indira Devi, a niece of Tagore.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> The notation was first published in the April–May 1906 issue of ''Sangeet-Vignan Prakashika'' magazine and later incorporated into the 46th volume of ''Swarabitan'', the complete collection of Tagore’s musical notations.<ref name = Encyclopedia />

===Recording history===
Ekla Chalo Re was first recorded by Rabindranath Tagore himself sometime between 1905 and 1908.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> The [[cylinder record]] labelled H. Bose Swadeshi Records is now lost.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> Two other records of the song made by Harendranath Dutta (record no P5270) and Hindustan Party (comprising Amala Dutta, Nandita Devi, Sudhin Dutta and [[Santidev Ghosh]]) (record no H 191) are released by Gramophone Company of India and Hindustan Records respectively.<ref name = Encyclopedia />

Eminent Rabindra Sangeet singer [[Suchitra Mitra]] recorded this song twice, first in 1948 (record no N27823), for the film Sandipan Pathshala, then in 1984 (record no PSPL 1501). There is also a third recording of this song by Suchitra Mitra from the album Rupantori (1988). She also recorded the song for the fourth time, with the said being played as background music, by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, from the album Tribute to Tagore.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mitra |first1=Suchitra |title=Mone Rekho |trans-title=Autobiography of Suchitra Mitra |edition=2nd |year=2008 |orig-year=1995 |publisher= Ajkaal Publishers Pvt Ltd|location=Kolkata |language=bn |isbn= 81-7990-084-3 |pages= 65 & 72 |trans-chapter= Discography of Suchitra Mitra (appendix)|chapter= Suchitra Mitrer Record }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
{{Listen|filename=Ekla Cholo Re.ogg|title="Ekla Cholo Re"|description="Ekla Cholo Re" excerpt from Kahaani movie depicts Bachchan’s infrequent vocal style}}
In 2004, "Ekla chalo re" song was used along with Hindi lyrics composed by [[A.R Rahman]] in the movie ''[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero]]''. The song was included in a 2012 Bollywood film; ''[[Kahaani]]'' and is sung by actor [[Amitabh Bachchan]] under music direction of [[Vishal-Shekhar]]. Earlier, it had also been sung by [[Kishore Kumar]], under the direction of [[Hemanta Mukhopadhyay]]. The song was also recorded by [[Hemanta Mukherjee]], in 1989. [[Manna Dey]] had sung the song in Hindi as Teri Awaz Pe Yadi Koi Naa Aye.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060902010338/http://www.calcuttaweb.com/gaan/rabindra/index.shtml যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে] Audio from calcuttaweb.com
{{Rabindranath Tagore}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bengali-language literature]]
[[Category:Indian poems]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Bengali-language songs]]
[[Category:Indian patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Protest songs]]
[[Category:Manna Dey songs]]
[[Category:Kishore Kumar songs]]
[[Category:Shreya Ghoshal songs]]
[[Category:Amitabh Bachchan songs]]
[[Category:1905 songs]]
[[Category:Poems by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Rabindra Sangeet]]
[[Category:Works by Rabindranath Tagore]]

Ekla Chalo Re - Revision history

LeonorColangelo: clean up

78.100.168.191: /* In popular culture */