Lyric and background history of song je thake thak na

Parjaay: Puja (357)

Upa-parjaay: Bishwa

Taal: Dadra

Raag: Mishra-Chhayanat

Written on: 1914 (Morning 17 Bhadra 1321)

Place: Surul

Published in: Probasi

Collection: Geetali

Swarabitan: 44

Notation by: Dinendranath Tagore

Notes: This song was written on 3rd September, 1914 at Surul.

Charuchandra Bandyopadhyay in his book ‘Rabirashmi’ has described an incedent related to this song –

… I was present around the poet while the songs of ‘Geetali’ were being composed. Having written quite a few songs He asked me – Charu, if you can make copies of these songs I can forward them for printing.

I had immediately swang into action and made copies of those songs.

He asked me – How did you like the songs?

I replied – One of them, song no.23, appears to be a bit clumsy, the meaning ambiguous.

He was agitated – You do not know, it is good enough. He appeared disturbed.

It was an awkward moment for me – It was my inability I was referring to, not a fault of the poem. I replied.

He stood silent and serious. With a respectful bow I left the place.

I was asleep after my dinner in my apartment ‘Benukunja’ when I could hear His voice – Charu, are you asleep?

Out in a flash I put my mosquito net down and cleared a place for the poet to sit down.

He said softly – You are right, Charu, it has got no meaning at all. I could find any sense after I have read the poem; I could not even recollect what the basic theme was for writing such a poem. I have changed it anyway; have a look, if this makes any sense.

He had put a through cross mark on the song and written a new one beside it. I could well follow that it was a trick to console me after He had rebuked me and He had thought that it might sadden me. Agreed to my point and in order to sooth my depressed heart He had been awake till midnight and written a new song.

The first song was –‘Keno Aar Mithye Aasha Baare Baare…’ written on 17th Bhadra in the morning at Surul.

The changed song was – ‘Je Thaake Thaak Na…’, which was edited several times and at last included in ‘Geetali’ suffixed with 17th Bhadra (3rd September, 1914) in the morning at Surul.

Je thaake    thaak-na dwaare,   je jaabi   ja na paare.
Jodi oi bhorer paakhi   tori naam    jaay re daaki
Eka tui chole ja re.
Knuri chaay    aandhar raate    shishirer rase maate.
Phota phul    chaay na nisha    praane taar aalor trisa,
Knaade se    andhokare.