Lyric and background history of song phaguner nabin anande

Parjaay: Prakriti (245)

Upa-parjaay: Basanta (58)

Taal: Kaharwa

Raag: Kafi

Written on: 1926 (15 Phalgun 1332)

Published in: Sabujpatra

Swarabitan: 5

Notation by: Shailajaranjan Majumdar

Notes: This song was written on 23rd February, 1926 at Agartala.

Reba (Babli), younger sister of Prashanta Chandra Mahalanabish was married to Sushobhan Sarkar, a historian, on 27th February, 1926. The marriage was arranged on the day of Dol-purnima. Reba was a student of the Visva Bharati since 1923 and Sushobhan Sarkar, a member of the Brahmo Samaj and a close associate of Sukumar Roy. Hence both of them had enjoyed the connection with Rabindranath. His book ‘Prosango Rabindranath’, he has mentioned two songs while discussing about their marriage. One is ‘Dole Premer Dolon-chnaapa …’, and the other is ‘Phagunero Nobino Aanonde …’. He writes –

… As soon as Rabindranath was informed about the marriage he asked Prashanta-chandra – ‘Well, then let me conduct the marriage of Babli. However, I do not know the traditions involved for the ceremony, would you explain me.’

Prashanta-chandra was baffled with the option as registration of the marriage was not in the plan and it would follow the orthodox Brahmo tradition, as it had been in the marriage ceremonies of Prashanta-chandra himself and Kalidas Nag as well. The elderly and orthodox members of the Samaj had a serious objection and to see Rabindranath, a non-Brahmo as the Acharya might further flair up the excitement. Fortunately Ramananda Chattopadhyay had agreed to take the responsibility of the Acharya. So he replied to Rabindranath – ‘You need not take the trouble of conducting while Ramananda-babu had agreed for it.’

Rabindranath then expressed his inability to Babli – ‘I could not manage to conduct your marriage in person, dear. I would better move to Agartala.’

On the special day of the marriage two songs arrived from Rabindranath as blessings from him to his affectionate Babli. The songs are - ‘Dole Premer Dolon-chnaapa …’, and ‘Phagunero Nobino Aanonde …’. They were printed on the last page of the Chayanika, although the context of writing of these songs were absent. …

There was a reason for branding Rabindranath as non-Brahmo, in fact – the orthodox elderly members of the Brahmo-samaj had never considered him as a true follower of Brahmo religion. They had considered Rabindranath to be a moderate idol-worshipper because he used to write love poems. He had been selected by voting to be awarded an honorary membership of Brahmo-samaj by means of a movement led by young people like Sukumar Roy and Amal Hom in 1920-21. He had 496 votes in favour and 232 against his selection. The fact that one-third of the votes were casted against him confirms the existence of a lobby against him within the Brahmo-samaj.

The song sent by Rabindranath as a to Reba and Sushobhan Sarkar as a gift on the occasion of their marriage that started with ‘Phaguner Nobin Aanonde …’ had some differences with the one we find today in Geetabitan. Sushobhan Sarkar has referred to this –

… This song ‘Phaguner Nobino Aanonde …’ is a valued asset for us for a personal reason as it was a special version that was sent to us –

Phaguner nobino aanonde

Baani mor gnaathilam chhonde

Poth hote nik tuli

Paakhir kakoliguli

Bhora hok bokuler gondhe.

Chole jaak miloner paantho

Dokhiner batas ashanto.

Taari haate hok lekha

Palasher raanga rekha

Subhagini tomar simonte. …

When compared it reveals that this song was primarily written for the marriage of his loving Reba and the application of the lines like – ‘Subhagini tomar simonte’ affirms that. These sections were later replaced by the poet for a universal version.

Phagunero nobino aanonde
Gaankhani gnaathilam chhande.
Dilo taare bonobithi kokilero kalogiti,
Bhori dilo bakuler gandhe.
Maadhobiro modhumay montro
Range range raangalo diganto.
Baani mamo nilo tuli palashero koliguli,
Bnedhe dilo tabo monibandhe.