Ritual songs and folksongs of the Hindus of Surinam

[p. 163]

97 Modern ii [Paramaribo, 1967]
1. On Indian migrations because of caste oppressions
2. Reactions to Surinam

dhanya bakhānī bhārata kā, are bāmhana chatriya kā
o raiyata ke chūta lagāye
unahį jora se rāja karata haį, are besavā ke saṅgata kīnha
are raiyata bhāgi kara ṭapuvana ke ā̈ina
hą̄ bhārata karavaṭa līnha
o dhanya bakhāni o gyāni mahatamā ke re, bhārata khaṛā kara dīnha

bhārata bhā̈ī läuṭa jā̈o ghara ką̄
bārahai barasa hama bana mę rahabe, terahe mę ā̈i gaye ghara ką̄,

bhārata bhā̈ī...

sādhu loga ke sevā karihau, naṅgana ke däiho cīra,

bhārata bhā̈ī...

kuliyā ke lobhī bakaravā re, are kamavā ke lobhī saradār
are päisā ke lobhī surināma ke choriyā re, nahį cīnhaį buṛhavā javāna

(I) call India blessed² (and) the Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas (thereof, too),

2 Here, sarcastically.

[p. 164]

II.

(Who) attached (un)touchability to (their) subjects.

III.

They rule by the power of these very (subjects) (while they) keep the company of prostitutes.

IV.

The subjects escaped and came to the islands¹

V.

(And) yes, India turned on her side.²

VI.

O, (I) call the wise great souls blessed (who) made India stand up.

Indian bretheren, return to (your) home(land).
I shall live in the forest for twelve³ years, and in the thirteenth (I) return home.

Indian brethren...

(There) you will serve the good people⁴ and (you) will give clothing to the naked.

Indian brethren...

The whitemen⁵ are greedy for coolies⁶ (and) the drivers⁷ are greedy for work;
The girls of Surinam are greedy for money; (they) discern not old or young.

1 The immigrants called all the foreign countries to which they were recruited islands because when being recruited they were led to believe that they were being taken to some islands not far from Calcutta - so they state.

2 In sleep, about to wake up.

3 Rāma's own exile was for fourteen years. There must be some confusion in the singer's mind. The immigrant's contract was initially for five years.

4 Sādhus, also monks.

5 Bakarā, a term commonly used for white men by the people of all non-white races in Surinam. Its derivation is not clear but it may have some connection with blanc.

6 Coolies, in India ‘porters’; but throughout the countries where the Indian labour was recruited to work in the estates etc. this term denotes an Indian in general.

7 Sardārs, the drivers of the labour gangs.

1 Cp. D. Siṁha ('44: 260); the song is addressed by Rāma to his brother Bharata to return to Ayodhyā, but the Surinam singer lengthening a mora said ‘Bhārata’ instead of Bharata and interpreted it as an advice to return to India.