The Song of Hindustani Minstrel by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (Summary & Analysis)

The Song of Hindustani Minstrel

by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio

(Summary & Analysis)

 

Derozio was the first Indo-Anglican poet. His father was a Portuguese and his mother was an Indian. He was an intelligent student. He received many prizes for writing verses. At the age of 16 he started showing maturity of ideas and power of expression. He had been appointed a teacher at the Hindu College, Calcutta. He was much influenced by romanticism.

Song of Hindustani Minstrel is Henry’s the most popular poem. It is the love poem in which he talks to his beloved Dildar.  

In this poem, the poet describes the physical beauty of his beloved Dildar. He says that her eyes sparkle like a star, when she puts Surmah in her eyes. Her black hairs are like the black crow. For the poet, his beloved is the most valued pearl in the world and the flower which blows in her cheeks is more beautiful than any other rose of Busrah.

The poet, to her beloved, says that all the young people shall welcome them with their eyes. He says that though they have nothing to enjoy but they will soon dwell in the bright cities. He asks his beloved to cheer-up because in their hearts the hope eternally springs and also because they will be welcomed by the kings and there, they will raise their songs.

   

In the last two stanzas of the poem, the poet asks his beloved not to feel unhappy because the whole world is their home and they will move from place to place together and they shall love each other. He tells her that their mutual love will remain in them, it will not change and like birds they shall move from one place to another and shall keep on loving each other. they will soon dwell in the bright cities. He asks his beloved to cheer-up because in their hearts the hope eternally springs and also because they will be welcomed by the kings and there, they will raise their songs.   

The poem is divided into 9 stanzas, each of 4 lines. The poet has used typical Indian names like, Surmah, Dildar, Sitar, etc. He has used simple similes: like a star etc. In the 5th stanza the poet has used the reverse adjective, effectively. The rhyming scheme in each stanza is alternative one.