Henry Derozio Harp of India | A Critical Analysis
Henry Derozio Harp of India | A Critical Analysis is
Henry Derozio Harp of India | A Critical Analysis
‘The Harp of India’ is a sonnet by Henry Derozio, the first Indo-Anglian poet. The title word ‘Harp’ means a musical instrument. It had been considered the heritage of India for so long. But the poet saw that this age-long heritage had come to an end. So he has composed this piece of a charming sonnet in an elegiac tone. In this poem, the harp stands as an emblem of glorious Indian heritage.
The poet sees that the harp has lost its prestigious position in society and has been hanging in the boughs of trees. Now, none plays on it. Once, while the minstrels sang songs and played on it then everybody listened to its tune attentively and eagerly. It created an environment of peace, joy and merriment. But now none plays on it and none is eager to listen to it. The poet figuratively says that the breeze blows over the harp; not in joy but in lamentation and this breeze becomes sighs. Now silence has bound the chain of it forever. It has been laid neglected, mute and desolate like a ruined monument in the desert. The poet reminds us that once the minstrel sang songs playing on it with a worthy hand than the hand of the poet. Playing on it with a worthy hand, they gave rise to a harmonious sweet song and by means of it, the minstrel achieved fame both at home and abroad. The minstrels were honored by all and everywhere. Now the minstrels are dead. They are no more today to play on the harp or to keep up the old heritage of India. At last, the poet wishes that he would try to revive the lost heritage.
The poem is full of Indian sensitiveness. This poem shows the poet’s love for Indian heritage as well as for rustic culture and even more his love for India, his motherland.
The language of the poem is simple no doubt, but the charm of the poem lies in the vivid, life-like imagery. The imageries of bough, breeze, and of the ruined monument in the desert are charming and appropriate to the matter.
”Why doth the breeze sigh over thee in vain;
Silence hath bound thee with her fatal chain;
Neglected, mute and desolate art thou;
Like ruined monument on desert plain.”
How vivid and striking these images are!
To compare this sonnet with other sonnets by the same poet, it is appropriate to say that it is, both in matter and manner, superior to the rest. 0 0 0
Henry Derozio Harp of India | A Critical Analysis
Read More: The Poetry of Henry Derozio-Chief Features
N. B. This article entitled ‘Henry Derozio’s ‘Harp of India’-A Critical Analysis’ originally belongs to the book ‘Indian English Poetry Criticism‘ by Menonim Menonimus. Henry Derozio Harp of India | A Critical Analysis
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