Authors

Khoob Ladi Mardaani, or Bravely Fought the Warrior Queen

The sentiment of heroism in poetry has always been a profound and stirring theme, resonating through the ages. This literary trope, often steeped in grandeur and nobility, captures the essence of the human spirit in its most valiant form. Heroic poetry, from the ancient epics of Homer to the chivalric tales of medieval times, encapsulates the ideals of courage, sacrifice, and honor. These verses not only recount the physical deeds of their protagonists but also delve into the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by these larger-than-life figures. The lyricism in such poetry is not merely about glorifying battles or victories; it’s an exploration of what it means to be truly heroic – which often involves inner battles of virtue, selflessness, and the pursuit of a greater good. The enduring appeal of heroic poetry lies in its ability to inspire, uplift, and remind us of the potential for greatness that lies within each of us.

The theme of heroism in poetry has long captured the imagination of the young, myself included, especially in the pre-modern era. Recently, I’ve found myself nostalgically recalling one of the poems from my childhood that has remained etched in my memory. I took a journey back in time and revisited “Jhansi Ki Rani,” or the Queen of Jhansi. This poem stands out as one of my earliest and most vivid recollections of the poetry I read during those formative years.

It is beautifully penned by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, who was born in 1904, in the Nihalpur village of Allahabad. An eminent Indian poet, Chauhan holds a distinguished place in Hindi literature. She is not only remembered for this poem but also her impassioned nationalism and poignant portrayal of women’s struggles. She was an active participant in India’s freedom movement.

“Jhansi Ki Rani,” an evocative and rousing ballad, vividly brings to life the bravery of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a symbol of resistance against British colonialism. Chauhan’s poetry, marked by its directness and lyrical quality, often drew from her personal experiences and the sociopolitical milieu of her times. Her work resonates with the themes of patriotism, valor, and the challenges faced by women, making her an inspirational figure in Indian poetry and a voice of empowerment for many generations.

Enjoy the poem below in all its glory captured in Devanagari script, with a Romanized version to serve as pronunciation guide, and the translation.

झाँसी की रानी (Jhansi Ki Rani) or, The Queen of Jhansi

1
सिंहासन हिल उठे राजवंषों ने भृकुटी तनी थी,
(Sinhasan hil uthey raajvanshon ney bhrukuti tani thi,)
The throne got shook, and the tension erupted among the Raajvanshs, the royal heirs of the throne,
बूढ़े भारत में आई फिर से नयी जवानी थी,
(budhey Bharat mein aayee phir se nayi jawani thi,)
In aged India, a new wave of youth was spreading,
गुमी हुई आज़ादी की कीमत सबने पहचानी थी,
(gumee huee azadi ki keemat sabney pehchani thi,)
All the inhabitants of India had realized the worth of their lost freedom,
दूर फिरंगी को करने की सब ने मन में ठनी थी.
(door phirangi ko karney ki sab ney man mein thani thi.)
All of them had decided to get rid of the British rule,
चमक उठी सन सत्तावन में, यह तलवार पुरानी थी,
(Chamak uthi san sattavan mein, yeh talwar purani thi,)
The old swords started glittering again like new ones in the form of the freedom movement in 1857.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

2
कानपुर के नाना की मुह बोली बहन छब्बिली थी,
(Kanpur key Nana ki muhn boli bahen chhaveeli thi,)
She was as dear to the Nana (Nana Ghunghupant ) of Kanpur as her real sister,
लक्ष्मीबाई नाम, पिता की वो संतान अकेली थी,
(Lakshmibai naam, pita ki woh santaan akeli thi,)
Her name was Laxmibai and she was the only daughter of her parents,
नाना के सॅंग पढ़ती थी वो नाना के सॅंग खेली थी
(Nana key sangh padhti thi woh Nana key sangh kheli thi)
She had been with Nana from her early childhood, since she was a school student.
बरछी, ढाल, कृपाण, कटारी, उसकी यही सहेली थी.
(barchhi, dhal, kripan, katari, uski yehi saheli thi.)
Spear, knife, sword, axe (all different types of weapons used in her time) were her companions all the time.
वीर शिवाजी की गाथाएँ उसकी याद ज़बानी थी,
(Veer Shivaji ki gaathaayen uski yaad zabani thi,)
She had learned by heart the valorous stories of shivaji (a renowned king of Maharashtra).
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

3
लक्ष्मी थी या दुर्गा थी वो स्वयं वीरता की अवतार,
(Lakshmi thi ya Durga thi woh swayan veerta ki avatar,)
No one could guess whether she was Laxmi or Durga devi ( Durga Goddess , also called Bhavani ) or reincarnation of Devi durga,
देख मराठे पुलकित होते उसकी तलवारों के वार,
(dekh Marathey pulkit hotey uski talwaron key vaar,)
Her expertise in using a sword made the people of Marathward (Pulkit) wonder,
नकली युध-व्यूह की रचना और खेलना खूब शिकार,
(nakli yudh-vyuh ki rachna aur khelna khub shikar,)
They learned the war strategy of how to attack the prey,
सैन्य घेरना, दुर्ग तोड़ना यह थे उसके प्रिय खिलवाड़.
(sainya gherna, durg todna yeh they uskey preeya khilwad.)
To ambush her prey and to break the vanity were among her favorite supports,
महाराष्‍ट्रा-कुल-देवी उसकी भी आराध्या भवानी थी,
(Maharashtra-kul-devi uski bhi aaradhya Bhavani thi,)
Maharashtra-kul-Devi (The goddess of the Maharashtra ) was as dear to her as Bhavani (Durga Devi )
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

4
हुई वीरता की वैभव के साथ सगाई झाँसी में,
(Huee veerta ki vaibhav key saath sagai Jhansi mein,)
With valor in a grand festival, she got married in Jhansi,
ब्याह हुआ बन आई रानी लक्ष्मी बाई झाँसी में,
(byah hua ban aayee Rani Lakshmi bai Jhansi mein,)
After her marriage, Laxmibai came to Jhansi as a queen with shower of joy,
राजमहल में बाजी बधाई खुशियाँ छायी झाँसी में,
(rajmahal mein baji badhai khushiyan chhaee Jhansi mein,)
A grand celebration took place in the royal palace of Jhansi. That was a good luck for Bandelos that she came to Jhansi,
सुघत बुंडेलों की विरूदावली-सी वो आई झाँसी में.
(sughat Bundelon ki viroodaavalee-si woh aayee Jhansi mein.)
That was as Chitra met with Arjun or Shiv had got his beloved Bhavani (Durga).
चित्रा ने अर्जुन को पाया, शिव से मिली भवानी थी,
(Chitra ney Arjun ko paya, Shiv sey mili Bhavani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

5
उदित हुआ सौभाग्या, मुदित महलों में उजियली च्छाई,
(Udit hua saubhagya, mudit mahalon mein ujiyali chhayee,)
She came as a good luck to the royal palace of Jhansi and for a log time the palace remained decorated with lighting candles in celebration.
किंतु कालगती चुपके-चुपके काली घटा घेर लाई,
(kintu kaalgati chupkey-chupkey kali ghata gher laayee,)
But as days passed the dark clouds of misfortune covered the royal palace.
तीर चलाने वाले कर में उसे चूड़ियाँ कब भाई,
(teer chalaaney vaaley kar mein usey choodiyan kab bhaayee,)
She stopped wearing bangles for that was the time for a battle.
रानी विधवा हुई है, विधि को भी नहीं दया आई.
(Rani vidhva huee hai, vidhi ko bhi nahin dayaa aayee.)
The queen got widowed and her fate was very unkind to her.
निसंतान मारे राजाजी, रानी शोक-सामानी थी,
(Nisantan marey Rajaji, Rani shok-samani thi,)
The royal king had no children when he died and the queen was grief stricken.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

6
बुझा दीप झाँसी का तब डॅल्लूसियी मान में हरसाया,
(Bujha deep Jhansi ka tab Dalhousie man mein harshaaya,)
So the candle of the royal castle blew off and Dalhousie (a British governor) became very happy in his heart about the situation (that the royal palace had no king or someone strong to defend the throne).
ऱाज्य हड़प करने का यह उसने अच्छा अवसर पाया,
(Raajya hadap karney ka yeh usney achhaa avsar paaya,)
He thought that the time was right to usurp the kingdom.
फ़ौरन फौज भेज दुर्ग पर अपना झंडा फेहराया,
(fauran fauj bhej durg par apna jhandaa phehraya,)
He sent his soldiers to Citadel and raised the British flag on the royal palace.
लावारिस का वारिस बनकर ब्रिटिश राज झाँसी आया.
(lawaris ka waris bankar British Raj Jhansi aaya.)
The British rule came to Jhansi as the guardian of an orphan.
अश्रुपुर्णा रानी ने देखा झाँसी हुई वीरानी थी,
(Ashrupurna Rani ney dekha Jhansi huee birani thi,)
The Rani saw everything with tears in her eyes that how Jhansi got deserted.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

7
अनुनय विनय नहीं सुनती है, विकट शासकों की मॅयैया,
(Anunay vinay nahin sunti hai, vikat shaasakonki maaya,)
Strong (and Cruel) kings do not care about the cajoling.
व्यापारी बन दया चाहता था जब वा भारत आया,
(vyapari ban daya chhahta tha jab wah Bharat aaya,)
They (The British Rulers) came to India in the disguise of poor merchants.
डल्हौसि ने पैर पसारे, अब तो पलट गयी काया
(Dalhousie ney pair pasaarey, ab to palat gayee kaaya)
The British governor (Dalhousi) then extended his influence in India and so the fate of India turned over.
राजाओं नव्वाबों को भी उसने पैरों ठुकराया.
(Rajaon Nawwabon ko bhi usney pairon thukraaya.)
He insulted even the feudal and heads of state of India.
रानी दासी बनी, बनी यह दासी अब महारानी थी,
(Rani daasi bani, bani yeh daasi ab Maharani thi,)
The queen took the gesture of a maidservant; the maid was the real queen.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

8
छीनी राजधानी दिल्ली की, लखनऊ छीना बातों-बात,
(Chheenee rajdhani Dilli ki, Lucknow chheena baaton-baat,)
First of all Indian rulers lost the capital of India, Delhi and subsequently they lost the control of Lucknow.
क़ैद पेशवा था बिठुर में, हुआ नागपुर का भी घाट,
(Qaid Peshwa tha Bithur mein, hua Nagpur ka bhi ghaat,)
Peshwa was imprisoned in Bithur and then the Nagpur tragedy occurred.
ऊदैपुर, तंजोर, सतारा, कर्नाटक की कौन बिसात?
(Udaipur, Tanjore, Satara, Karnatak ki kaun bisaat?)
After the fall of Nagpur, it was not a big task for the intruders to take the control of Udaipur, Tanjore satara and Karnatak.
जबकि सिंध, पंजाब ब्रह्म पर अभी हुआ था वज्र-निपात.
(jabki Sindh, Punjab Brahm par abhi hua that vajra-nipaat.)
They already had the control of Sindh, Punjab and Assam.
बंगाले, मद्रास आदि की भी तो वही कहानी थी,
(Bengaaley, Madras aadi ki bhi to vahi kahani thi,)
The tale of fall of Bengal, Madras and many other states was also the same.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

9
रानी रोई रनवासों में, बेगम गुम सी थी बेज़ार,
(Rani royee rinvason mein, Begum gum se thi bezaar,)
Rani(the queen) wept in her quarter for all that disaster. She was rather lost and was sick of the situation.
उनके गहने कपड़े बिकते थे कलकत्ते के बाज़ार,
(unkey gehney kapdey biktey they Calcutta key bazzar,)
Her ornaments and royal clothes were being sold in the markets of Calcutta.
सरे आम नीलाम छपते थे अँग्रेज़ों के अख़बार,
(sarey aam nilaam chhaptey they angrezon key akhbar,)
The advertisements for the sale of the royal stuff were being published in the daily newspapers of the British Government.
“नागपुर के ज़ेवर ले लो, लखनऊ के लो नौलख हार”.
(“Nagpur key zewar le lo, Lucknow key lo naulakh haar”.)
“Buy the ornaments of Nagpur, Buy the Naulakha locket of Lucknow” had been the highlights of such advertisements.
यों पर्दे की इज़्ज़त परदेसी के हाथ बीकानी थी
(Yon pardey ki izzat pardesi key hath bikani thi)
In this manner the honor of the royal ladies had to be sold to foreigners.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

10
कुटियों में भी विषम वेदना, महलों में आहत अपमान,
(Kutiya mein bhi visham vedna, mahalon mein aahat apmaan,)
The cottages of poor were full of grief and the royal houses were also full of insult (the royal ladies were maltreated and insulted by the British intruders whereas the poor folk were also in the clutches of the atrocities by the British rulers).
वीर सैनिकों के मान में था अपने पुरखों का अभिमान,
(veer sainikon key man mein tha apney purkhon ka abhmaan,)
Brave soldiers of India had in their mind the prestige of their ancestors.
नाना धूंधूपंत पेशवा जूटा रहा था सब सामान,
(Nana Ghunghupant Peshwa joota raha tha sab saamaan,)
The name of Ghunghupant and Nana, the titles of the great warriors and their weapons, they have lost all such treasure as well.
बहिन छबीली ने रण-चंडी का कर दिया प्रकट आहवान.
(bahen chhaveeli ney Ran-Chandi ka kar diya prakat aahvaan.)
The beloved sisters of Nana (queen of Jhansi- Rani) invited Nana to visit Ran-Chandi.
हुआ यज्ञा प्रारंभ उन्हे तो सोई ज्योति जगानी थी,
(Hua yagna prarambh unhey to soyee jyoti jagani thi,)
The ritual of the holy war of freedom started because they had to awake the divine spirit of the people of India, which had been sleeping so far.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

11
महलों ने दी आग, झोंपड़ी ने ज्वाला सुलगाई थी,
(Mahalon ney di aag, jhonpdi ney jwala sulgayee thi,)
The fire of revolt started from royal palace, which became hot like burning sun when reached to the houses of the poor or common folk.
यह स्वतंत्रता की चिंगारी अंतरतम से आई थी,
(yeh swatantrata ki chingari antratam sey aayee thi,)
This spark of freedom started from the inner soul of the people.
झाँसी चेती, दिल्ली चेती, लखनऊ लपटें छाई थी,
(Jhansi cheti, Dilli cheti, Lucknow laptey chhayi thi,)
It captured Jhansi first then spread in Delhi and also engulfed Lucknow.
मेरठ, कानपुर, पटना ने भारी धूम मचाई थी,
(Merat, Kanpur, Patna ney bhari dhoom machayi thi,)
The freedom struggle was also in full swing in Merat, Kanpur and Patna.
जबलपुर, कोल्हापुर, में भी कुछ हलचल उकसानी थी,
(Jabalpur, Kolhapur, mein bhi kuchh hulchul uksani thi,)
The people of Jabalpur, Kolhapur were also being inspired from others.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

12
इस स्वतंत्रता महायज्ञ में काई वीरवर आए काम,
(Is Swatantrata Mahayagna mein kayee veervar aaye kaam,)
In that great freedom struggle, many brave brothers lost their lives.
नाना धूंधूपंत, तांतिया, चतुर अज़ीमुल्ला सरनाम,
(Nana Ghunghupant, Tantya, chatur Azeemullah sarnam,)
Among them were Nana GhunGhupant, Tantya, great Azeemullah,
अहमदशाह मौलवी, ठाकुर कुंवर सिंह, सैनिक अभिराम,
(Ahmedshah Moulvi, Thakur Kunwar Singh, Sainik Abhiram,)
And many others like Ahmedshah Moulvi, Thakur Kunwar singh, Sainik Abhiram.
भारत के इतिहास गगन में अमर रहेंगे जिनके नाम.
(Bharat key itihaas gagan mein amar rahengey jinkey naam.)
Their names will always be shining in the heavens of the ancient history of India,
लेकिन आज जुर्म कहलाती उनकी जो क़ुर्बानी थी,
(Lekin aaj jurm kehlati unki jo Qurbani thi,)
but they were considered rebels at that time and their great sacrifice was considered a crime against the state of British India.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

13
इनकी गाथा छोड़, चले हम झाँसी के मैदानों में,
(Inki gaatha chhod, chaley hum Jhansi key maidanon mein,)
Well, leave the tale of the bravery of those great men and let us go to the battlefields of Jhansi,
जहाँ खड़ी है लक्ष्मीबाई मर्द बनी मर्दनों में,
(Jahan khadi hai Lakshmibai mard bani mardanon mein,)
Where Laxmibai is standing boldly like a man among the other brave men.
लेफ्टिनेंट वॉकर आ पहुँचा, आगे बड़ा जवानों में,
(Lieutenant Walker aa pohoncha, aagey bada jawanon mein,)
Lieutenant Walker reached there and proceeded further in the people’s army of the brave men,
रानी ने तलवार खींच ली, हुआ द्वंद्ध आसमानों में.
(Rani ney talwaar kheench li, hua dhandh asmanon mein.)
Rani drew her sword, the beating of the drums started in the heavens,
ज़ख़्मी होकर वॉकर भागा, उसे अजब हैरानी थी,
(Zakhmi hokar Walker bhaga, usey ajab hairani thi,)
Walker ran away from the battlefield as Rani defectively wounded him. He was astonished on the agility of Rani.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

14
रानी बढ़ी कालपी आई, कर सौ मील निरंतर पार,
(Rani badhi Kalpi aayee, kar sau meel nirantar paar,)
Rani preceded further and reached Kalpi after taking a hard journey of hundreds of miles.
घोड़ा थक कर गिरा भूमि पर, गया स्वर्ग तत्काल सिधार,
(ghoda thak kar gira bhoomi par, gaya swarg tatkaal sidhaar,)
The horse got exhausted and fell to the ground and the rider (Walker) also fell down immediately .
यमुना तट पर अँग्रेज़ों ने फिर खाई रानी से हार,
(Yamuna tat par angrezon ney phir khayee Rani sey haar,)
In the field of Yamuna again Rani was defeating the British.
विजयी रानी आगे चल दी, किया ग्वालियर पर अधिकार.
(vijayee Rani aagey chal di, kiya Gwalior par adhikar.)
The victorious Rani proceeded further and took the control of Gawalior.
अँग्रेज़ों के मित्र सिंधिया ने छोड़ी राजधानी थी,
(Angrezon key mitra Scindia ney chhodi rajdhani thee,)
The British thus left the Vsindia (capital of Gawalior) and their rule ended in Gawalior.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

15
विजय मिली, पर अँग्रेज़ों की फिर सेना घिर आई थी,
(Vijay mili, par Angrezon ki phir sena ghir aayee thi,)
Although the freedom fighters had won, the British army was again getting organized.
अबके जनरल स्मिथ सम्मुख था, उसने मुंहकी खाई थी,
(Abkey General Smith sammukh tha, usney munhki khayee thi,)
This time, general smith was in command but he was also being defeated by the brave freedom fighters – he had to be defeated.
काना और मंदरा सखियाँ रानी के संग आई थी,
(Kaana aur Mandra sakhiyan Rani key sangh aayee thi,)
Kaana and Mandra (the associates of Rani) were also accompanying her in the war zone.
यूद्ध क्षेत्र में ऊन दोनो ने भारी मार मचाई थी.
(Yudh kshetra mein un dono ney bhari maar machayi thi.)
In the battlefield they both were fighting furiously.
पर पीछे ह्यूरोज़ आ गया, हाय! घिरी अब रानी थी,
(par peechey Hughrose aa gaya, Hai! gheeri ab Rani thi,)
But a British commander, Hughrose came from the backside to help his soldiers – Alas! The British soldiers surrounded the Rani from all sides.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

16
तो भी रानी मार काट कर चलती बनी सैन्य के पार,
(To bhi Rani maar kaat kar chalti bani sainya key paar,)
Though Rani was deeply wounded, still she was fighting and had managed to get through the British army,
किंतु सामने नाला आया, था वो संकट विषम अपार,
(kintu saamney naala aaya, tha woh sankat visham apaar,)
But she got stuck because a sewerage canal was there on the other end and she was in deep trouble,
घोड़ा अड़ा, नया घोड़ा था, इतने में आ गये अवार,
(ghoda adaa, naya ghoda tha, itney mein aa gaye avaar,)
Her horse got stuck there – the horse was untrained, in the mean time, the British soldiers, riding on their horses reached there.
रानी एक, शत्रु बहुतेरे, होने लगे वार-पर-वार.
(Rani ek, shatru bahuterey, honey lagey vaar-par-var.)
Rani was all alone while enemies were numerous who were attacking her with their sword from all sides,
घायल होकर गिरी सिंहनी, उसे वीर गति पानी थी,
(Ghayal hokar giri Sinhni, isey veer gati paani thi,)
Rani, who was fighting like a lioness, succumbed to the wounds and fell down. She had to achieve a glorious death in war ( Martyrdom ).
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

17
रानी गयी सिधार चिता अब उसकी दिव्य सवारी थी,
(Rani gayee sidhaar chita ab uski divya sawaari thi,)
Rani was martyred in the battlefield.Her departed soul was then riding a divine vehicle, moving towards heavens
मिला तेज से तेज, तेज की वो सच्ची अधिकारी थी,
(mila tej se tej, tej ki woh sachchi adhikaari thi,)
the Light of her divine soul met with the divine light in the heavens, she was the real heir of divinity,
अभी उम्र कुल तेईस की थी, मनुज नहीं अवतारी थी,
(abhi umr kul teis ki thi, manuj nahin avtaari thi,)
She was only thirty years of age. She was not a human; rather she was divine spirit (a holy being),
हमको जीवित करने आई बन स्वतंत्रता-नारी थी,
(humko jeevit karney aayee ban Swatantrata-naree thi,)
Who did come, in the gesture of a female freedom fighter, to give us a respectable life of light and freedom ,
दिखा गयी पथ, सीखा गयी हमको जो सीख सिखानी थी,
(dikha gayee path, sikha gayee humko jo seekh sikhani thi,)
She showed us the path of freedom, and taught us the lesson of courage, she taught us what we might have learned.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

18
जाओ रानी याद रखेंगे ये कृतज्ञ भारतवासी,
(Jao Rani yaad Rakhengey yeh krutagna Bharatwasi,)
The people of India will remember this debt of yours (O! Rani Laxmaibai), may you be blessed, dear Rani,
यह तेरा बलिदान जागावेगा स्वतंत्रता अविनासी,
(yeh tera balidaan jagavega Swatantrata avinasi,)
Your this life sacrifice will awake an indestructible soul of freedom in the people,
होवे चुप इतिहास, लगे सच्चाई को चाहे फाँसी,
(hovey chup itihaas, lagey sachchai ko chahey phansi,)
History may be made silent or if truth is hanged or killed,
हो मदमाती विजय, मिटा दे गोलों से चाहे झाँसी.
(ho madmaati vijay, mitaa dey golon sey chahey Jhansi.)
Or if the drinkers become victorious or if they destroy jhansi with cannonballs,
तेरा स्मारक तू ही होगी, तू खुद अमिट निशानी थी,
(Tera Smarak tu hi hogi, tu khud amit nishaani thi,)
You, by yourself be the memorial of Rani (queen of Jhansi) because you had been an eternal token of courage.
बुंदेले हरबोलों के मुँह हमने सुनी कहानी थी,
(Bundeley Harbolon key munh hamney suni kahani thi,)
From the mouths of the Bandelas and the Harbolas (Religious singers of Bandelkhand), we heard the tale,
खूब लड़ी मर्दानी वो तो झाँसी वाली रानी थी.
(Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi.)
Of the courage of the Queen of Jhansi relating how gallantly she fought like a man against the British intruders: such was the Queen of Jhansi.

JPS Nagi
January 2024

Hum Dekhenge, or We Shall See – A Nazm by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Hum Dekhenge (We shall see) is a popular Urdu nazm, written by the Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Originally written as Va Yabqá Vajhu Rabbika (And the countenance of your Lord will outlast all), it was included in the seventh poetry book of Faiz – Mere Dil Mere Musafir.

The nazm was composed as a protest against Zia Ul Haq’s oppressive regime. It gained a rapid cult following as a song of resistance and defiance, after a public rendition by Iqbal Bano at Alhamra Arts Council on 13 February 1986, ignoring the ban on Faiz’s poetry.

In the Nazm, Faiz employs the metaphor of traditional Islamic imagery to subvert and challenge Zia’s fundamentalist interpretation of them; Qayamat, the Day of Reckoning is transformed into the Day of Revolution, wherein Zia’s military government will be ousted by the people and democracy will be re-installed. (Source: Wikipedia)

Here it is with transliteration (scroll down for my favorite renditions).

हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day
लाज़िम है कि हम भी देख़ेंगे
Lāzim Hai Ki Ham Bhī Dekheñge
Inevitably, we shall also see the day
वो दिन के जिस का वादा है
Vo Din Ki Jis Kā Va.Ada Hai
That was promised to us, decreed
जो लोह-ए-अज़ल में लिखा है
Jo Lauh-E-Azal Meñ Likhkhā Hai
On the tablet of eternity
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

जब ज़ुल्म-ओ-सितम के कोह-ए-गरां
Jab Zulm-O-Sitam Ke Koh-E-Girāñ
When dark peaks of torment and tyranny
रूई की तरह उङ जायेंगे
Ruuī Kī Tarah Uḍ Jā.Eñge
Will be blown away like cotton fluff;
हम महकूमों के पाऒं तले
Ham Mahkūmoñ Ke Pāñv-Tale
When the earth’s beating, beating heart
ये धरती धङ-धङ धङकेगी
Jab Dhartī Dhaḍ-Dhaḍ Dhaḍkegī
Will pulsate beneath our broken feet;
और अह्ल-ए-हकम के सर ऊपर
Aur Ahl-E-Hakam Ke Sar-Ūpar
When crackling, crashing lightning
जब बिजली कङ-कङ कङकेगी
Jab Bijlī Kaḍ-Kaḍ Kaḍkegī
Will smite the heads of our tormentors;
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

जब अर्ज़-ए-ख़ुदा के काबे से
Jab Arz-E-Ḳhudā Ke Ka.Abe Se
When, from the seat of the Almighty
सब बुत उळवाये जायेंगे
Sab But Uthvā.E Jā.Eñge
Every pedestal will lie displaced;
हम अह्ले-ए-सफा मर्दूद-ए-हरम
Ham Ahl-E-Safā Mardūd-E-Haram
Then, the dispossessed we,
मसनद पे बिळाये जायेंगे
Masnad Pe Bithā.E Jā.Eñge
We who kept the faith will be installed
सब ताज उछाले जायेंगे
Sab Taaj Uchhāle Jā.Eñge
To our inalienable legacy.
सब तख़्त गिराये जायेंगे
Sab Taḳht Girā.E Jā.Eñge
Every crown will be flung.
हम देख़ेंगे
Ham Dekheñge
We shall see the day

बस नाम रहेगा अल्ला: का
Bas Naam Rahegā Allāh Kā
Each throne brought down.
जो गायब भी है हाज़िर भी
Jo Ġhā.Eb Bhī Hai Hāzir Bhī
Only His name will remain; He,
जो मंज़र भी है नाज़िर भी
Jo Manzar Bhī Hai Nāzir Bhī
Who is both unseen, and ubiquitous; He,
उळ्ळेगा अन-अल-हक का नारा
Utthegā Anal-Haq Kā Na.Ara
Who is both the vision and the beholder.
जो मै भी हूँ और तुम भी हो
Jo Maiñ Bhī Huuñ Aur Tum Bhī Ho
When the clarion call of ‘I am Truth’ (the truth that is me and the truth that is you)
और राज करेगी ख़ल्क-ए-ख़ुदा
Aur Raaj Karegī Ḳhalq-E-Ḳhudā
Will ring out, all God’s creatures will rule,
जो मै भी हूँ और तुम भी हो
Jo Maiñ Bhī Huuñ Aur Tum Bhī Ho
Those like me and those like you.

Glossary:

लाज़िम / Lazim – must/binding/certain
वादा / wada – promise
लोह / lauh – slate/tablet /title page
अज़ल / azal – eternity
लोह-ए-अज़ल / lauh-e-azal – slate of eternity (destiny)
ज़ुल्म / zulm – abuses/victimization/tyranny/oppression
सितम / sitam – injustice/oppression/tyranny
कोह / koh – mountain
गरां / garaan – massive/enormous
महकूम / mehkoom – enslaved/subject
अह्ल / ahl – people
हकम / hakam – ruler/master
अर्ज़ / arz – appeal/request
सफा / safa – clean/pure
मर्दूद / mardood – accursed/outcast/barred
हरम / haram – sanctum/holy site
मर्दूद-ए-हरम / mardood-e-haram – the faithful who were banished from Mecca to Medina
मसनद / masnad – throne
मंज़र / manzar – scene/view/visage
नाज़िर / nazir – spectator/overseer
अन-अल-हक / an-al-haq – I am the truth
ख़ल्क / khalq – creation

Here are audio and videos of Iqbal Bano’s live version, and a few other favorite versions along with a modernized Coke Studio rendition from season 11.

JPS Nagi
February 9, 2023

Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power – Reading Recommendation

With the release of the Amazon Prime show “The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power” many people are looking to return to, or start reading, the books that started it all. Of course, the main books are The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillion. Then there are others like the Unfinished Tales. For those who wish to dig deeper into the core of the Middle Earth lore, you have the 12-volume The History of the Middle Earth and the new The Nature of the Middle Earth.

If you are familiar with the material, I have seen a reference guide put together to get you up and running quickly. Below is the list of essential reading to understand the Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power story.

Please do note that the showrunners have rights to limited material from the Tolkien Estate, and the histories (from The Lord of the Rings appendices) do not always tell a story. In order to tell a cohesive story, there are some original characters introduced, timeline compressions, and other adjustments made for the medium of television. In my opinion, I am glad I am living in an age where an attempt is made to bring the world to this medium to bring new people to the journey through the Middle-Earth.

Without further adieu, here is your reading list,

The Lord of the Rings:

  • Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 2: “The Shadow of the Past“
  • Volume 1, Book 2, Chapter 2: “The Council of Elrond“
  • Volume 2, Book 4, Chapter 5: “The Window on the West“
  • Appendix A, “The Númenorean Kings“
  • Appendix A, “Durin’s Folk“
  • Appendix B, “The Second Age“
  • Appendix D, “The Calendars“
  • Appendix F I, “Of Men“

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien:

  • Letter 131
  • Letter 144
  • Letter 154
  • Letter 181
  • Letter 211
  • Letter 227

The Silmarillion:

  • Part 4: “Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor“
  • Part 5: “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age“

Unfinished Tales:

  • Part 2, “The Second Age“
    • II “Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife“
    • III “The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor“
    • IV “The Historv of Galadriel and Celeborn“
  • Part 4,
    • I “The Drúedain“
    • II “The Istari“
    • III ‘The Palantíri‘

The History of Middle-Earth:

  • Volume 5: The Lost Road
    • Part 1 The Fall of Numenor.
  • Volume 9: Sauron Defeated
    • Part 2 The Notion Club Paners
    • Appendix on Adûnaic, the language of Númenor
  • Volume 10: Morgoth’s Ring
    • Part 4, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth
  • Volume 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth
    • Part 1, Ch. 5. The History of the Akallabêth”
    • Part 4 Ch. XVII Tal-Elmar

The Nature of Middle-earth:

  • Part 1, Chapter XVII
  • Part 3
    Many chapters touch on Second Age, directly or indirectly in part 3

There are few things as rewarding as losing yourself in a great book series. With its expansive worldbuilding and complex characters, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of those series. If you’re planning on binge-watching the television adaptation or are just looking for background material to expand your knowledge of the lore of the Middle-Earth, you can’t go wrong with the above list.

Happy reading! And Happy Watching.

Update:

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fall of Númenor: And Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth book by Brian Sibley & Alan Lee was released on November 15, 2022. You can get it from the link above.
In this book, editor Brian Sibley has assembled a single-volume chronicling the history of the Second Age of Middle-earth. It is told in the words of Tolkien from above mentioned as well as other published texts, includes new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by Alan Lee.
Brian Sibley has also added extensive footnotes and commentary throughout the book.
This is the one book to rule them for the Second Age History of Middle-Earth.

JPS Nagi
Sept. 6, 2022/ Updated Nov. 20, 2022

Shelving Collector’s Hardcover Books

As a collector of fine books, I love to put them on display on my bookshelves. Stacking a nice leatherbound hardcover book has its own challenges. The out hardcover extends few millimeters beyond the printed paged and when stored vertically, the weight of a nicely printed book will sag, including pulling on the spine that makes me cringe. That can also offset the boxy shape of your book.

There is always an issue of weight that makes the book sag, and stress the spine. One way is to shelve them horizontally, but that has an issue of pulling the books out. 15 years back, I found a way to solve this problem, so the books retain their shape. I made a video that shows the method we use. If you like to store them vertically, here is a way to take care of your books.

Also, check the links below for the supplies and books featured in the video. Your purchases help this channel. I hope you find it useful.

Featured Books

Supplies

Music used in the video – Sunday Groove by Michael Korbin.

JPS Nagi
May 21, 2021

The Mortuary

I was never exposed to Dungeons & Dragons while growing up in India. During my later years, as I came to know about it, I have always been fascinated by the game that plays in the theatre of your mind. My friends at work set up an introductory D&D session for me. Another friend suggested a new campaign “Waterdeep: Dragon Heist” which I am having too much fun playing. My character in the campaign is Neldor, an Elf Druid. The story presented here, “The Mortuary”, is not the beginning but somewhere in the middle of the campaign, where our heroes have brought a Cleric, Loren,  with them who knows how to speak with the recently deceased. This is the version of the story, and how it played in my mind and the dialogs are how I imagined them.

The Mortuary

The torso of the gnome corpse stood upright taking in a deep breath, as Loren Allspark finished her incantation. “You have 5 questions. Make them simple”, she said while turning around to face the group. The group had already determined from the appearance that the gnome was Drakhaal, the spy who was hired to tail Renéer, by his father.

The eeriness of the blank dead eyes of the gnome and charred skin was making everyone uncomfortable. Blue nodded to Tig’rod indicating to go ahead and ask the questions the group had decided. Tig’rod took a step forward while everyone stayed back. Loren was the only one who seemed comfortable. She gave Tig’rod an encouraging smile.

“Hello Drakhaal, my name is Tig’rod. I wanted to know how did you die?”, Tig’rod asked in a shivering voice.

Drakhaal’s blank eyes seemed to look in Tig’rod’s direction, and in a hollow breathy voice, he replies. “I was … coming to deliver … the stone to folks … at the Thunder Ale Tavern. Then I saw an orange glow, there was fire, heat and then I guess … I guess … I died”.

Ersi, Roh’gar, and Neldor were looking at Drakhaal with wide eyes. They knew about the spell. The spell granted the semblance of life and intelligence to a corpse of your choice within the range of the spell, allowing it to answer the questions you pose. The corpse must still have a mouth and can’t be undead. The spell was only effective on the corpses that had died in the last ten days. Until the spell ends, you can ask the corpse up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew in life. The answers are usually brief, cryptic, sometimes repetitive. Seeing the spell in action was unsettling for everyone.

Loren nodded at Tig’rod indicating that he should continue.

“Where did you get the stone, Drakhaal?”, Tig’rod asked his next question.

“I … I stole the stone … from the lair …”, he took another breath, “the layer of the beholder … Xanathar … in the sewers”, Drakhaal continued in his breathy voice.

Neldor’s eyes widened to know that the Xanathar, the head of the Xanathatr’s guild is a beholder. He had not even considered that. Beholders found mostly in the Underdark, are large, orb-shaped beings with ten eyestalks and one central eye, each contains powerful magic. They are powerful and intelligent creatures and are among the greatest threats to the world. Neldor’s elf ears started twitching. Roh’gar put his scaly Dragonborn hand on his shoulder. Neldor looks at Roh’gar who tilts his head towards the gnome. Tig’rod was getting ready with his next question, and his hand was slowly moving towards his whiskey flask around his hip. Blue slaps his hand and indicates him to ask the next question they had decided.

“Do you know who killed you, Drakhaal?”, Tig’rod voice was quivering now.

Drakhaal’s eyes never blinked and in his breathy voice, he started talking again. “No, I do not. I … I saw the fire and then … then I died”.

Loren rolled her eyes, as if Tig’rod had wasted one of the questions. With everyone so quiet, she was the only one who seemed to think, this was not uncanny. Tig’rod continued, “Can you tell us if Xanathar or Zantarum were involved in your death?”

“I think … Xanathar must have me tailed … when he realized … realized the stone was stolen. I heard”, Drakhaal took another breath, “I heard … Xanathar blamed … Zantarum for the robbery. But … but … Zantarum came to know … that it was me… so they started tailing me too … black cloaks … three folks in black cloaks … were from Zantarum… I saw their tattoos. And then … and then … I died”.

Loren winked at Tig’rod, glad that this question got some answers. “The last question”, she said to Tig’rod.

“You had two pouches, we found only one. Did the other pouch with the stone in it; where is it?”

“Yes … yes … the stone of Golorr” Drakhaal seemed to be running out of time and started to struggle to answer. “Just before I died … one of the black cloaks … took the pouch … and then … and … then … I … died”. With these words, the air seemed to leave Drakhaal’s body, his eyelids shut, and the animated torso lost any sign of life and slammed against the table.

Everyone was looking at the dead gnome. Loren voice startled everyone, “This spell doesn’t return the creature’s soul to its body, only its animating spirit. The corpse can’t learn new information, doesn’t comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can’t speculate about future events. So ask the questions accordingly. And yes, remember, the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy”.

Tig’rod face contorted as if he was about to throw up. He took a flask from his hip and took a big sip of his whiskey. That seemed to calm him a bit. Loren notices everyone still looking at the burnt corpse. “He is dead now. Who do we want to talk to next?”

“I can’t, you do it this time. Blue?”, Tig’rod looked at Blue.

“A beholder? Xanathar is a beholder?”, Neldor was muttering.

“Yes. And let’s not discuss this here. Remember where we are. We need to finish what we came here for”, Roh’gar said in his groveling voice. And a small whiff of smoke escaped his nostrils. Neldor composed himself, nodded and looked at Blue.

“Looks like the stone is with the Zantarum. Two out of the three black-cloaked figured are here dead. The third one must have escaped with the stone”, Blue said, thinking out loud.

“We need to find out where was the stone to be taken by Zantarums”, Roh’gar made a point. “We must talk to the dead Zantarum guys”.

“Would they know if we are from Zantarum”, Ersi asks Loren.

“Well, they will know, but they may or may not tell the truth. Keep the questions simple”, she replied, checking the back of her hand, looking bored.

“Okay Blue, it’s time to disguise yourself in the illusion spell. The black cloak and with the tattoo of Zantarum – the flying snakes”, Roh’gar said. “We need to find out where they would have taken the stone”. 

Blue’s eyes sparkle, and he looks at Loren and nods to her to do her spell. Loren starts her incantation under her breath, while Blue starts his illusion spell. As Loren’s spell ends, the Zantarum corpse gets animated, takes a deep breath and turns its head towards the group. Only the white of the eyes is visible, which makes Tig’rod to take another sip from his flask. This time even Ersi takes a step away from the animated corpse.

“I am from Zantarum. We sent three of you to get the stone for us. We haven’t heard from any of you. Where was the stone to be taken?”, Blue asks while making sure the tattoo of the flying snakes is visible as his illusion to the corpse.

“The stone, eh”, this guy’s voice is screechy, like small stones grinding against the metal sheet. “The stone was supposed to be taken back to Gralhund Villa, right after we get it.”

“Did you hire the Nimblewright automaton to help you obtain the stone?”, Blue asks his second question.

“Nimblewright? No, I do not know about any automaton”, everyone flinched at his voice.

“None of you made it to the Gralhund Villa with the delivery. Not sure how many people are supposed to be at the Villa. Do you know?”

“There should be ten or maybe fifteen people there. We were following orders to take the stone and deliver it there”.

“Did you know the gnome Drakhaal and what was the stone?”

“No, we were just following orders. We were asked to take the artifact and deliver it to the Villa”.

“Who gave you the orders?”, Blue shoots his last question.

“We were following Urstul Floxin, he was with us when we were tailing the gnome”. And with that, the corpse lost the air and his torso slammed on the metal table, making a loud clang! sound.

“Well, that was informative” Blue exclaims.

“Yes, very interesting”, Ersi said and seemed to be glad that the interrogation was quick.

“Yeah, it looks like the stone was …” Tigrod said, while raising the flask towards his mouth. Before he could say anything else, Roh’gar jumped in, “Let us not discuss the matters here. We are here for information. Let’s get it and get out”. This time there was a small spark along with the smoke that escaped his nostrils. Everybody got quiet.

Blue nodded to Loren, who smiled, winked at Blue and started her incantation. The third corpse torso stood up, took a deep breath inside turned it’s head slowly towards the group. The upper right side of his face was burned where the red veins were showing. The mouth and jaw were still intact.

“I am from Zantarum. How did you all die? Did the gnome kill you?”

“No. We cornered the gnome, and then, there was fire and I died”, the Zantarum man had a deep throaty voice.

“I am here to find out the whereabouts of the stone you were supposed to deliver to the Gralhund Villa. Where is it?”, Blue asked continuing his illusion.

“We were with Urstul. He pickpocketed the pouch from the gnome. Then there was a fire and I died.”

Blue pretended to be annoyed, “That’s why I am here, man. Urstul did not show up at the Villa. If he escaped, where would he go, if not the Villa?”

“Urstul and we were supposed to take the stone and go straight to the Villa. We died, but I saw him escape the fire with the pouch. If he is not at the Gralhund Villa, he must have gone to the safehouse twenty-three B”.

Blue looked back at the group, and several heads nodded, edging him to continue.

“Did you know what was in the pouch and what was it for?” Loren raised her four fingers at Blue indicating that this would be the fourth question.

“It was a stone of some sort. It was supposed to make us rich beyond our wildest imagination. That’s all I know”, the corpse was slowing down and his voice was fading. Tig’rod was already looking away from the corpse.

“What did the stone look like?” Blue asked his last question.

“It was dark stone … greyish … the size of my palm. And there were …” the voice started to fade, “blue lines were going across it.”

As the torso of the last corpse fell on the table, Blue ended his illusion. Before anyone could say anything, Roh’gar jumped in “Time to go, everyone”. Tig’rod walked in front of everyone, taking another swig from his flask.

The group walked out of the mortuary, through the corridors of the old constabulary station. As they walked past the reception desk, they thanked the older constable whom Renéer had contacted for access to the corpses.

As the group stepped in the daylight, everyone felt like they have come back to the land of the living. Tig’rod handed Loren the twenty-five gold Dragons for her services and donation to her temple. Loren thanked him, “Thank you for your donation. If you ever need any more help, you know where to find me”. With that, she left. Everyone in the group exchanged looks, and with the new knowledge about the Xanathar, Zantarum, and the stone of Golorr, the group starts walking towards the ThunderAle Tavern.

JPS Nagi
April 20, 2020

Prologue

I was never exposed to Dungeons & Dragons while growing up in India. During my later years, as I came to know about it, I have always been fascinated by the game that plays in your mind. After a few discussions during lunch and expressing my curiosity, one of my friends at work decided to set up an introductory D&D session for me. He even created my playable character for me after talking to me and we met after work.
That was last September and I loved it. At present, I am playing in two campaigns. I tend to take very detailed notes and so I decided to write one of the incidents that happened a month back in one of my campaigns. Although it is not the beginning, I am calling it “Prologue” (that may change later).

I do not claim that the story is mine, but it is how it played in my mind. The dialogs are how I heard them and the scenery is how I saw it. It is my retelling of how it went down. I hope my interest stays and I bring more stories like this.

I give you … Prologue …

Prologue

Grommish looks at everyone and speaks in his guttural voice, “I am going to approach the house. You guys should hang back. I do not want to scare the parents”.

Everyone nods except Yolanda, who seems to be annoyed. She grimaces at the suggestion and looks at Grommish, “I will come with you. Last time we talked to them, I was there”.

“Fine. But no threats this time. And I will do the talking”. Grommish stares at Yolanda with his piercing orc eyes. “Are we in agreement, Yolanda?”

She shrugs and gives a slight nod. Grommish starts walking towards the house and Yolanda follows him.

The rest of their company hangs back from the farmer’s home. The golden glow of the dusk sky gives a strange shade to the already harvested fields. It is a small and humble home made of raw clay bricks that give the house its shade. There are small colored decorations on the house in a darker hue along with some handprints around the outer wall. An old door made from oak wood adorns the house. The roof seems to need a new thatch and a small lantern is hanging on the side of the front of the door. A small paddy field extends around the house on the right and transforms into a vegetable garden behind it.

Carna feels a strange eeriness in the air, now that they were closer to the town.

“The town is aptly named Hopeless Fancy. The air is evil. I feel the hope is being drained out of me”, Carna says looking at the rest of them. Everyone seems to agree. Kalyn nods but keeps looking around, scouting the area.

“Would you give it a rest, my dear man. This is a poor farmer’s home”, Carna says.

“Hey, I can’t help it. This is what I do best” replies Kalyn with a smirk on his face.

Everyone turns their head towards the house, as they hear Grommish knock on the door in a friendly manner. A middle-aged woman opens the door. She is wearing simple lighter colored clothes which have seen some seasons. They can’t hear what they are talking from this distance, but it seems that the orc and the halfling are known to the woman. She seems friendly to them.

“Let’s get closer, I can’t hear a thing from here”, Verok suggests. Everyone starts to move a bit closer to the house. The woman looks at the motion beyond Grommish, her eyes widen as they settle on the Dragonborn.

Grommish notices her gaze. “It’s fine Ms. Clairidge, they are my friends. They are with me”, they hear Grommish telling the woman, as they get closer. “That is Verok, and yes he is a Drgonborn”.

The woman looks back at Grommish and sadness seems to creep back in her eyes.

“As I was saying Ms. Clairidge, Yolanda and I are still investigating the disappearance of your son. We caught Mad-Eye the hermit but it seems it was a false lead”. Krowley notices that Yolanda looks bored of all this talk and her hand slides along with her bow. The woman dabs her eye with the edge of her shawl and nods.

“Ms. Clairidge, I have a favor to ask. I know it is painful for you to recall, but I do wish if you could tell us one more time how did your son disappear”, Grommish requests in the friendliest way possible.

“Well, as I told you before”, her voice quivers, “after the day’s work, my husband and my son came back in the house for supper. They both looked tired from tilling the fields and getting ready for the next harvest season. The supper was a quiet affair, and after supper, my son went to bed. And the next morning, he was gone. Gone like the others”.

“Are there any other ways to get out of your house, besides this door?”. The woman shakes her head.

“Any windows in your son’s room where he could use to get out?”. She again shakes her head.

“And the door creaks! How did your son get out of the house without you or your husband knowing, Ms. Clairidge”. Everyone is looking at the woman waiting for her response. Even Yolanda was looking from Grommish to the woman.

Ms. Clairidge’s voice gets agitates a little bit, “What are you trying to say? Our son was kidnapped … kidnapped by that hermit, Mad-Eye … or whatever his name is. My poor son, I wonder where he is, and if he is still …”. She could not finish the sentence and started sobbing.

Grommish looks at her patiently. After a few moments, she composes herself “As I said, he was taken, just like the other children”.

“Ms. Clairidge, who are you afraid of?”. The woman’s face jerks up and she looks at Grommish. “Because you and I both know what you are telling us is not true. I caught up with Mad-Eye and he has not taken your son or any other child. Yes, I know, he was around your home when your son was kidnapped. He told me that he saw two figures walking away from your home that evening. It was a little darker so he did not see who it was. But he said one figure matched the height of your son”, Grommish’s tone was serious now. “Who are you afraid of, Ms. Clairidge? I implore you to please tell me what exactly happened. We need to know, so we can save your son, and other children who have been taken”.

“And this time, please tell us the truth”.

The woman’s eyes tear up and she starts sobbing. Grommish looks at Yolanda who still seemed indifferent and restless. He looks back at the woman who stops crying, takes a deep sigh and in quivering voice tells what happened.

“As I said, my husband and our son came back from the day’s work. After supper, my son went to his room. My husband and I were talking about how much we will be able to save from this harvest when we heard a knock on our door. My husband, David, was the one who answered the door. I was trying to see who was at the door, but my husband was blocking my view. All I could see was someone who was wearing a dark robe. Then my husband called my son. I stood up and walked up to the door. As our son came out of his room, my husband asked him to accompany the man. I tried stepping forward and asking him who is at the door, and why was he asking our son to go with him. But my husband blocked my path with his arm and closed the door behind our son. He stopped me from opening the door behind my son and told me later that it was the Dark Druid who threatened the life of our son. He also said that the druid told him that our son’s life will be spared if he comes with us. That’s all I know”.

Clairidge then drops on her knees, buries her face in her hands and started crying, “My son. Gone. Gone like the others. My poor son”.

Grommish kneels next to her and puts his hand on the woman’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry Ms. Clairidge, we will find your son. I am sorry that you had to relive this again. I do not think it was the Dark Druid who took your son. Dark Druids do not exist anymore, for a few thousand years now”. Ms. Clairidge looks up inquisitively at Grommish.

“You do not think it was the Dark Druid who took my son?”, she asks Grommish.

“No, I do not think so. I think someone is posing as a Dark Druid and I need to find out why. We will try our best to find your son and other children who have been taken. Thank you for telling us the truth. Now we know exactly what happened and can do the right investigation”.

“If it is alright with you, we would like to speak to your husband, David, and ask him if he can give us any clue to who could be the person who was posing as the Dark Druid”, Grommish says standing up.

The woman stops crying and nods. She stands up and points towards the field in the southwest direction beyond where the rest of the party is standing. “David is still working in the fields”.

Everyone turns to look behind at a solitary figure working on the other side of the field. He seemed to be trying to stay oblivious to them all, slowly moving away. As he notices everyone looking in his direction, he stands up.

“Hello there”, Carna calls. David drops the sickle and the scythe from his hands and starts running away from the house. Ms. Clairidge eyes widen in surprise and then she sees everyone running behind David.

JPS Nagi
March 15, 2020

Ishtihaar (Ikk Kudi) by Shiv Kumar Batalvi – Guitar Chords with Translation

Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s poetry stands for it’s heightened passion, separation and lover’s agony. He is indeed Birha da Sultan – the king of separation of a beloved. He has dived into the abyss of pathos and put it in words that have inspired both the lovers and the lovers of Punjabi language.

The beauty of Shiv’s poetry is the simplicity of his words at the surface but pack a punch at a deeper level that has few rivals in the language. At an age of 30, he became the youngest recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, a literary honor by India’s National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi.

For more than 4 decades, his poems have attracted the singers with his poignancy and emotions. Each one has sung his poems with welled eyes to varied music genres. From acapella version by Shiv himself (check my blog here) to modern renditions, every singer has brought their own style, music, and flavor to his poems.

A few months back, as I started to pluck the strings of the guitar, once again Shiv’s poetry beckoned and I looked up to a more modern rendition of my all-time favorite poem – “Ishtihaar“. It is also sometimes called “Ikk Kudi“. The song has been arranged in musical notes by likes of Rabbi Shergill, Hans Raj Hans, and classic, Mahender Kapoor’s version. I had to find a version that a novice guitar player like me could play easily. And I found just the one from the movie Udta Punjab. It is sung by Diljit Dosanjh, with music by Amit Trivedi.

This version attracted me for a number of reasons – the simplicity of music arrangement, modern guitar chords, and of course Shiv’s poetry. As I started dissecting the song, I found that there was not a perfect version that I can play. So I had to create chords for it first before any strings would vibrate on the guitar.

With this blog post, I am sharing the chords for the song along with the English translation of the same.
Download printable version of the chords for the song from Udta Punjab.
Enjoy playing this on a guitar.

JPS Nagi
December 2018

“It’s fictional. You’re real”

Redshirts by John Scalzi is one of those stories which are difficult to review, without spoiling, but I’m going to try.

The story takes place in post-television 25th century future on an elite DubU ship – Intrepid. It is under the command of captain Abernathy, whose crew include science officer Q’eeng, first office Keerensky, medical office Hartnell and chief engineer West among others. Intrepid is on a peaceful mission to boldly go where no man has gone before. Sounds familiar? Well it should. During its explorations the crew encounters some hostile situations on different worlds, and quiet often there are away teams formed to deal with them.

The novel opens with some new crew members assigned to intrepid. They develop a sort of friendship while waiting for the shuttle in the bay that would take them to the ship. On reaching ship, they are take on their assigned tasks in different departments. They continue to meet when they are off duty, and found out that Intrepid has highest casualties for new crew members among any Dub U’s ships during these away missions, statistically. As they dig more and more, they find that there is some sort of space time continuum mix up where realities from different times seem to have intertwined.

I should stop now, because I think I have already said too much.

John has great ability to define his characters well and then develop them throughout his stories. This novel is no different. The new crew members Dahl (who is the protagonist), Duvall, Hester, Henson have characters that one easily understand when they interact while waiting in the shuttle bay. They do not always agree with each other. They also form a part of some of the away missions, and suffer losses. They start to observe a pattern, which the officers of the ship seem to be oblivious to. Over the course of events, their friendship, beliefs and trust for each other is tested. You start to identify with the characters, and can’t help but want them to control their own fate instead of letting the mixed up timelines decide what happens.

Redshirts does not disappoint at any place. It is a must read if you grew up with TV shows like the original Star Trek, or Dr. Who. The book is a nod to these and other cheesy space adventures of yesteryears. There are dozens of moments and in-jokes built around the worlds that are familiar and hilarious. It is darkly funny at times; even when things go wrong, John puts a smile on your face with interactions of his characters. The story moves at a fast pace, and is extremely well edited. There is nothing that does not add to the story or character development and you are drawn in. If you want to read a fun science fiction story during summer try this one.

If you like listening to books, get the audiobook. It is read by Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher from Star Trek – The Next Generation). Wil is very impressive voice actor, and he brings this book alive with his narration. He has collaborated with the author before in Fuzzy Nation and few others.

Both the book and the audiobook are highly recommended. I give this book 5 stars; hey, anything that can keep me up all night deserves 5 stars.

Jatinder PS Nagi
July 4, 2012

Every Light Cast a Shadow…

A good vs. evil story with an elaborate magic system, set on the background of intriguing political & religious landscape with enough twists and turns to keep you occupied. What else could a fantasy fan want?

Brent Weeks brings the first book of his Lightbringer trilogy “into the light” – The Black Prism. He brought it a while back, I just read it.

Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor at Chromeria, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals. It’s been 16 years since the Prism Wars and Gavin Guile who single handedly turned the tide of the war has kept peace with his diplomacy and wits over the seven satrapies.

Things change when the Tyrean head, Garadul, decide to break free from Chromeria, and declare himself the king. In order to make an example and show his power, he burns down the whole city of Rekton within Tyrea (his own kingdom). A 15 year old kid, Kip, is the sole witness to burning of Rekton, who loses all his friends and his mother (who was the only family he knew). Circumstances bring Gavin to Rekton and he meets Kip, whom he saves from Garadul. He also uncovers Garadul’s plot to become the king. And things start rolling from there.

The story works at more ways than one. First there is the elaborate magic system. Personally it took me a while to get the feel for it, but once you understand the magic, it is easy. The magic system is based on the light. Light as energy has seven colors. Each color has a characteristic and particular behavior, and of course light of that color is needed in order to use it. The magicians, called drafters, are known as red, green, blue drafter based on what color they can use in drafting. In the nutshell, it is materializing the light (energy) into physical objects (matter). The Prism (of course) can draft all seven colors (and few others beyond the visible spectrum). If you are intrigued, Check out Brent Weeks site (link below) for candle example he gives.

Another level this story works is the political and religious landscape. Before the Prism Wars, there were many gods (called pagan gods in the book), and the war changed everything. Now there is only one – Orholam. The White and the Prism are the religious heads of the land. Further, they, along with representatives from seven satrapies form the political setup of the land. The great city of Chromeria, is where this seat of power resides. Gavin Guile is considered as the best Prism Chromeria. Garadul on the other hand wants to get out of what he feels as the Chromerian-oppression.

This story has lot of twists and turns and not just here and there. The book reads very smooth considering the complexity of the plot. It flows so well that the reader does not realize how complex the story has gotten. My stomach was twisting as Weeks kept throwing luxen after luxen right till the very end. Last hundred pages had me biting my nails and I was shouting “Come on, don’t throw that in there now, the book is ending”.

The book ends satisfactorily and also keeps few (may be many) threads untied; but satisfactory ending all the same. It is a trilogy (as we know now), so many of the threads had to be left untied.

Now, on Brent’s writing. It has matured from the Night Angel trilogy. His style has improved vastly (for my taste) and is very engaging. He uses simpler language, unlike many high fantasy stories will use (there are pros and cons for both); but it works in this novel.

If you are planning to buy the book, then I would recommend the paperback, as it has couple of introductory chapters from the next book in the series The Blinding Knife. I have both hardcover and paperback versions.
It is also the right time to read this, as you may not have to wait too long for the sequel (it is scheduled for later this year).

For audiobook fans, the book has two options – single narrator version read by Cristofer Jean and audio drama from Graphic Audio. I have Cristofer Jean’s version which is well read from Audible.com. The Graphic Audio version is now available as a complete set (I want to get that box set). Both are great depending upon your taste.

In conclusion, this quick page turner is a must read. As always beg, borrow, or buy this book.

Click Here to visit Brent Weeks website.
Do not forget to sign up on the forums, you can interact with the author there.

Click Here to visit Graphic Audio site for The Black Prism.

Click Here to visit Audible.com page for The Black Prism.

Jatinder PS Nagi
January 6, 2012

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson…

This review is rather late, but the vast reading list I had during later half of 2011 and the release of Battlefield 3 game caused this delay. I was able to finish The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson during my vacations.

Absolutely amazing.

The Alloy of Law takes place 3 centuries after The Well of Ascension in the Mistborn universe. World has changed and Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history or religion. Mistborns (Allomancers who can burn all metals) are now found in legends and stories. Mostly, the world now has Mistings (Allomancers who can burn only one metal) or Feruchemists (who can use the metal to safe keep few traits); and few rare individuals who are both (Twinborns). The line of the allomancy is getting thin in bloodlines.

The cities are on the verge of modernization, railways are coming, horse carts will soon be things of the past. There are beaurocratic governments and few nobles have bigger hand in the government. Things have started to slip; nobel houses are competitive (similar to Lord Ruler’s times, as in Mistborn) and corruption has been creeping in.

The lands beyond the cities are called Roughs. The Roughs is where crime and criminals escape the law (and the cities). Few nobles give up the competitive life of the city, and become lawmen of the Roughs to bring these criminals to justice to create a better safer world.

One such is Lord Waxilliam Ladrian (or Wax), a twinborn of reputed nobel house. The predictability of the Roughs makes him feel safe there. His righteousness and honesty has brought many criminals to justice and that makes him a legend in the cities. An unexpected accidental death of his whole family forces him to retire as a lawman, and return to the city to take the reins of his house, which is undergoing financial troubles. In order to get his house of financial trouble, he starts to consider a mutually beneficial matrimonial alliance with another house.

But the past somehow catches up to him. The curtain is lifted from some criminal activities that are dramatically mysterious and circumstances brings him closer to one of the crimes. The lawman inside him prevails, and in order to solve the mystery of these crimes, he takes alliance with an old ally from the Roughs, Wayne, an allomancer, and a new one, Lady Marasi, a cousin of Wax’s to be betrothed. As they investigate the crime, Wax comes face to face with another lawmen from the Rough, Miles, whom he has worked in the past and who has gone rogue. Needless to say, the soup gets thicker.

Couple of familiar characters from the Mistborn universe makes their tiny appearances towards the end. I won’t tell you who they are, but keep a look out for them. It is almost nostalgic (I felt like going back to Mistborn series one more time).

Once again Sanderson weaves a story which is worth reading. In the traditional Sanderson-esque style, the details are aplenty and as the story progresses, readers get pulled in. The story reads like a fantasy and mystery set in steampunk era. There is allomancy and then there are guns, cranes, steam engines.

The Alloy of Law stands among my top 5 books of 2011, and from the author who is among my all time top 5 writers. The book does fall short – in words. The length of the book is not typical of Sanderson’ books; in fact it is almost a third of his standard books. This was something he wrote to get his mind “cleared” before going back to The Wheel of Time.

The story provides a satisfactory ending, a story set in post-The Well of Ascension, and a great introduction to the upcoming steampunk trilogy set in Mistborn universe. It does leave few strands untied.

If you are a fan of audiobooks, the book is read by Michael Kramer, who has read previous Mistborn series and the Wheel of time series. Michael does a great job and it feels natural continuation from original series. Personally, I like to listen to the book at 1.5 to 2 times the speed, because I find them a bit slower (Apple devices allow you to do that).

If you have not read Sanderson before, and are scared to pick one of his thick books, this is a great book to explore this author (be sure to read the appendix in the back to understand how the magic works in this universe).

In conclusion, I would say this is a great story, and a great book that now finds it sitting next to the other Sanderson books on my bookshelf. A must read, listen, or both for fans of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Steampunk, and Mystery genres.

Click here to visit Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law portal.

Click here to visit Brandon Sanderson’s site.

Please comment, share, and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.

Jatinder PS Nagi
December 26, 2011.