Ekla Chalo Re: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
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{{ITALICTITLE}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name      = Ekla Cholo Re
| name      = Ekla Cholo Re
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| next_title =
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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name      = Akla Cholo Re
| name      = Ekla Chôlo Re
| cover      = Rabindranath Tagore 1905-1906 Sukumar Ray.jpg
| cover      = Rabindranath Tagore 1905-1906 Sukumar Ray.jpg
| alt        =
| alt        =
| caption    = Tagore c. 1905, the year he wrote "Akla Cholo Re"
| caption    = Tagore {{c.|1905}}, the year he wrote "Akla Cholo Re"
| type      = single
| type      = single
| artist    = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| artist    = Rabindranath Tagore<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| album      = Record no 357<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| album      = Record no 357<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| released  = sometime between 1905 and 1908<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| released  = sometime between 1905 and 1908<ref name = Encyclopedia />
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| length    =
| length    =
| label      = H. Bose Swadeshi Records<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| label      = H. Bose Swadeshi Records<ref name = Encyclopedia />
| writer    = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| writer    = Rabindranath Tagore
| producer  =
| producer  =
| prev_title =
| prev_title =
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| misc      = This album is now lost.
| 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>
'''''Jôdi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ase Tôbe Ekla Chôlo 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 Chôlo Re''''', is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] patriotic song written by [[Rabindranath Tagore]] in 1905.<ref name = rebasom254/>
 
Originally titled as "EKLA", the song was first published in the September 1905 issue of ''Bhandar'' magazine.<ref name = Encyclopedia /> It was based and influenced by the [[Vaishnavite]] song ''Harinaam Diye Jagat Matale Amar Ekla Nitai Re'', which was 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
The song exhorts the listener to continue their journey, despite abandonment or lack of support from others. It is often quoted in the context of sociopolitical change movements and was a favourite of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web
|url        = http://www.indianembassy.de/templateg.php?inclpage=culture.htm&mnid=5
|url        = http://www.indianembassy.de/templateg.php?inclpage=culture.htm&mnid=5
|title        = Rabindranath Tagore
|title        = Rabindranath Tagore
Line 67: Line 68:
|archive-date        = 20 April 2008
|archive-date        = 20 April 2008
|url-status        = dead
|url-status        = dead
}}</ref> cited it as one of his favourite songs.<ref>{{cite web
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html  
  |url=http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html
  |title=Rabindranath Tagore  
  |title=Rabindranath Tagore
  |author=Monish R. Chatterjee:Sadhaka of Universal Man, Baul of Infinite Songs  
  |author=Monish R. Chatterjee:Sadhaka of Universal Man, Baul of Infinite Songs
  |publisher=Bengali Association of Greater Rochester  
  |publisher=Bengali Association of Greater Rochester
  |location=Rochester, NY, USA  
  |location=Rochester, NY, USA
  |url-status=dead  
  |url-status=dead
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820220824/http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html  
  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820220824/http://homepages.udayton.edu/~mchatterjee1/sadhaka.html
  |archive-date=2011-08-20  
  |archive-date=2011-08-20
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


==Lyrics==
==Lyrics==
The verses of ''Ekla Chalo Re'' read as follows:
 
===Bengali===
The verses of ''Ekla Chalo Re'' read as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Song jodi tor dak shune {{!}} Lyric and History |url=https://www.geetabitan.com/lyrics/J/jodi-tor-daak-shune-lyric.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.geetabitan.com}}</ref>
<!--Please do not change the vowels in this passage. If they show up in the wrong place on your computer, it's a problem with your browser, not with the article.-->
<!--Please do not change the vowels in this passage. If they show up in the wrong place on your computer, it's a problem with your browser, not with the article.-->


===Bengali script===
<poem>{{lang|bn|italics=no|যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে।
যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে ।
একলা চলো একলা চলো একলা চলো 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
যদি কেউ কথা না কয়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
তবে পরান খুলে  
যদি সবাই থাকে মুখ ফিরায়ে সবাই করে ভয়—
ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে ।।
তবে পরান খুলে
ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে॥


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


যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ও অভাগা,  
যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে—
তবে বজ্রানলে  
তবে বজ্রানলে
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলোরে ।।
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলো রে॥}}</poem>


<blockquote>
===Roman transliteration===
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re, X2<br>
<poem>Jodi tor dak shune keu na eshe tobe ekla cholo re.
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re.<br>
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 keu kotha na koe, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi shobai thake mukh phirae shobai kore bhoe, jodi shobai thake mukh phirae shobai kore bhoi—
Tobe poran khule
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re.


<br>
Jodi shobai phire jae, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi shobai thake mukh phiraee shobai kore bhoe, jodi shobaai thake mukh phiraae shobai kore bhoi—<br>
Jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire na chae, jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire naa chai—
Tobe poran khule<br>
Tobe pother kata
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re.<br>
O tui roktomakha chorontole ekla dolo re.


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


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


Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re, X2<br>
<poem>If they answer not to thy call;
Walk alone.


Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga, X2<br>
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall;
Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duar dee ghore— X2<br>
O thou unlucky one! ,
Tobe bojranole<br>
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall;
Apon buker pajor jalie nie ekla jolo re.<br>
Open thy mind,
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re X2,
And speak out alone.
</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>
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness;
O thou unlucky one! ,
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness;
Trample the thorns under thy tread,
And along the blood-lined track travel alone.


<blockquote>
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm;
If there is no-one responding to your call - then go on all alone<br>
O thou unlucky one! ,
If no-one speaks (to you), don't think you are unfortunate, if no-one speaks (to you),<br>
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm;
If everyone turns away, if everyone fears (to speak), then with an open heart without hesitation speak your mind alone<br>
With the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart,
If everyone walks away, O unlucky one, everyone walks away<br>
And let it burn alone.</poem>
If no-one looks back towards the (your) unpredictable path, then with thorn pricked (of the path) bloodied feet, walk alone<br>
If no-one heeds your call - then walk alone<br>
If no-one shines a light (on the path), O unlucky one,<br>
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 <br>
If no-one heeds your call - then walk alone
</blockquote>


==History==
==History==


=== Publication of lyric ===
=== Writing ===
"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>
"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 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>
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 />
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===
===Recording===
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 />
"Ekla Chalo Re" was first recorded by Rabindranath Tagore 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>
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 sarod 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= 978-81-7990-084-0 |pages= 65 & 72 |trans-chapter= Discography of Suchitra Mitra (appendix)|chapter= Suchitra Mitrer Record }}</ref>


==In popular culture==
==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}}
{{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.
In 2004, "Ekla Chalo Re"'s tune was used with Hindi lyrics composed by [[A.R Rahman]] and sung by [[Sonu Nigam]] in the movie ''[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero]]''. In the 2012 Bollywood film ''[[Kahaani]]'', it is sung by actor [[Amitabh Bachchan]] under music direction of [[Vishal–Shekhar]]. Earlier, it was sung by [[Kishore Kumar]], under the direction of [[Hemanta Mukhopadhyay]]. It was recorded by [[Hemanta Mukherjee]] in 1989.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Songs written by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Bengali-language songs]]
[[Category:Songs in Bengali]]
[[Category:Indian patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Indian patriotic songs]]
[[Category:Protest songs]]
[[Category:Indian protest songs]]
[[Category:Manna Dey songs]]
[[Category:Kishore Kumar songs]]
[[Category:Kishore Kumar songs]]
[[Category:Shreya Ghoshal songs]]
[[Category:Shreya Ghoshal songs]]
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[[Category:Poems by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Poems by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Rabindra Sangeet]]
[[Category:Rabindra Sangeet]]
[[Category:Works by Rabindranath Tagore]]

Latest revision as of 22:37, 23 January 2026


"Ekla Cholo Re"
Song
LanguageBengali
PublishedSeptember 1905
GenreRabindra Sangeet
Songwriter(s)Rabindranath Tagore
Composer(s)Rabindranath Tagore
"Ekla Chôlo Re"
Tagore c. 1905, the year he wrote "Akla Cholo Re"
Single by Rabindranath Tagore[1]
from the album Record no 357[1]
Releasedsometime between 1905 and 1908[1]
LabelH. Bose Swadeshi Records[1]
Songwriter(s)Rabindranath Tagore
This album is now lost.

Jôdi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ase Tôbe Ekla Chôlo Re ("If no one responds to your call, then go your own way alone"[2]), commonly known as Ekla Chôlo Re, is a Bengali patriotic song written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905.[2]

Originally titled as "EKLA", the song was first published in the September 1905 issue of Bhandar magazine.[1] It was based and influenced by the Vaishnavite song Harinaam Diye Jagat Matale Amar Ekla Nitai Re, which was a popular Bengali Kirtan song of Dhapkirtan[1] or Manoharshahi gharana[3] praising Nityananda, disciple of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.[1] Ekla Chalo Re was incorporated in the "Swadesh" (Homeland) section of Tagore's lyrical anthology Gitabitan.[1]

The song exhorts the listener to continue their journey, despite abandonment or lack of support from others. It is often quoted in the context of sociopolitical change movements and was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi.[4][5]

Lyrics[edit | edit source]

Bengali[edit | edit source]

The verses of Ekla Chalo Re read as follows:[6]

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 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, ওরে ওরে 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 ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে—
তবে বজ্রানলে
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলো রে॥

Roman transliteration[edit | edit source]

Jodi tor dak shune keu na eshe tobe ekla cholo re.
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re.

Jodi keu kotha na koe, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi shobai thake mukh phirae shobai kore bhoe, jodi shobai thake mukh phirae shobai kore bhoi—
Tobe poran khule
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re.

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

Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duar dae ghore—
Tobe bojranole
Apon buker pajor jalie nie ekla jolo re.

English[edit | edit source]

[7]

If they answer not to thy call;
Walk alone.

If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall;
O thou unlucky one! ,
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall;
Open thy mind,
And speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness;
O thou unlucky one! ,
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness;
Trample the thorns under thy tread,
And along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm;
O thou unlucky one! ,
If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm;
With the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart,
And let it burn alone.

History[edit | edit source]

Writing[edit | edit source]

"Ekla Chalo Re" was written at Giridih town in modern-day Jharkhand, India.[8] It was one of the 22 protest songs[9] written during the Swadeshi period of Indian freedom movement and along with "Amar Sonar Bangla", it became one of the key songs for the Anti-Partition Movement in Bengal Presidency in 1905.[9]

Titled as "Eka" ("Alone") the song was first published in the September 1905 issue of Bhandar magazine.[1] "Eka" was first included in Tagore's song anthology Baul in 1905.[8] In 1941, it was incorporated into the "Swadesh" ("Homeland") section of Gitabitan, the complete anthology of Tagore's music.[10]

The musical notation of "Ekla Chalo Re" was prepared by Indira Devi, a niece of Tagore.[1] 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.[1]

Recording[edit | edit source]

"Ekla Chalo Re" was first recorded by Rabindranath Tagore sometime between 1905 and 1908.[1] The cylinder record labelled H. Bose Swadeshi Records is now lost.[1] 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.[1]

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 sarod being played as background music, by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, from the album Tribute to Tagore.[11]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

In 2004, "Ekla Chalo Re"'s tune was used with Hindi lyrics composed by A.R Rahman and sung by Sonu Nigam in the movie Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. In the 2012 Bollywood film Kahaani, it is sung by actor Amitabh Bachchan under music direction of Vishal–Shekhar. Earlier, it was sung by Kishore Kumar, under the direction of Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. It was recorded by Hemanta Mukherjee in 1989.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Mukhopadhyay, Suren (2009) [2001]. Rabindra-Sangeet-Kosh [Encyclopedia of Rabindranath Tagore’s Songs] (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Kolkata: Sahitya Prakash. p. 290.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Som, Reba (2009). Rabindranath Tagore: The Singer and His Song (1st ed.). New Delhi: Penguin Books India. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-670-08248-3.
  3. ↑ Basu Mallick, Dr Ashis (2004). Rabindranather Bhanga Gaan [Transcreated Songs of Rabindranath Tagore] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata: Pratibhas. p. 166.
  4. ↑ "Rabindranath Tagore". Germany: Embassy of India Berlin. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  5. ↑ Monish R. Chatterjee:Sadhaka of Universal Man, Baul of Infinite Songs. "Rabindranath Tagore". Rochester, NY, USA: Bengali Association of Greater Rochester. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "Song jodi tor dak shune | Lyric and History". www.geetabitan.com. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Choudhury, Subhas (2006) [2004]. Gitabitaner Jagat [The World of Gitabitan] (in Bengali) (3rd ed.). Kolkata: Papyrus. p. 740. ISBN 81-8175-087-X.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Choudhury, Subhas (2006). Gitabitaner Jagat. p. 33.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ghosh, Santidev (1987) [1942]. Rabindra Sangeet [Songs of Tagore] (in Bengali) (6th ed.). Kolkata: Visva-Bharati. p. 108. ISBN 978-81-7522-302-8.
  10. ↑ Choudhury, Subhas (2006). Gitabitaner Jagat. p. 122.
  11. ↑ Mitra, Suchitra (2008) [1995]. "Suchitra Mitrer Record" [Discography of Suchitra Mitra (appendix)]. Mone Rekho [Autobiography of Suchitra Mitra] (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). Kolkata: Ajkaal Publishers Pvt Ltd. pp. 65 & 72. ISBN 978-81-7990-084-0.

External links[edit | edit source]

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