Lyric and background history of song sarthak janam amar

Parjaay: Swadesh (24)

Taal: Ektaal

Raag: Bhairavi

Written on: 1905

Swarabitan: 46

Notation by: Indira Debi Chowdhurani

Notes: This song was published in Autumn 1905.

A case was filed at the Alipore court against a few people in charge of running an arms factory and conspiring a armed mutiny and its proceedings had followed for a long time around 1908-09. People present on the 113th day of the proceeding, the 26th day of March 1909, had witnessed an amazing event – that was described on the pages of ‘The Bengali’, a daily on the next day.

… The court proceedings were yet to start; the undertrials were yet to be freed from their handcuffs; the heavy boots of the guards did not fall silent – a delightful and high-pitched voice was heard from the cage. The noise within the courtroom silenced at once, the corridor too turned quiet. Despite Indian tunes did not please the ears of European Sergeants in general, they too stood still savouring the taste of exquisite articulation. –

Saarthak Janom Aamar, Jonmechhi Ei Deshe.

It did not mention the name of the singer, although in his book ‘Europe Bharotiyo Biplober Sadhona’ Abinashchandra Bhattacharjee writes –

… In fact, Shri Ullaskar (Dutta) stood within the cage and had sung the famous song written by the Great Poet - Saarthak Janom Aamar, Jonmechhi Ei Deshe.

Justice John Beechcroft had signed hanging order against him on 6th of May 1909.

Thirty three years after this incident Banaphul (Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay) had once been to Shantiniketan to see Rabindranath. Their conversation, as he has mentioned in his book ‘Rabindra-smriti’, reads –

… - Do you wish to listen to my songs? I can still sing, although in a low and hushed voice. Should I do it right now –

I hesitated; I hope it won’t be a trouble.

- No, would you pick a song?

- The choice is yours, I don’t have any preference.

Rabindranath sang – ‘Saarthak Janom Aamar…’. A wonderful veil of illusion mushroomed; as it appeared, by a passing high-pitched bumble bee.

We both sat speechless for sometime after the song was finished.

The date of this incedent was not recorded in the book, however he had mentioned that after receiving the invitation letter on 17.9.1938 he had moved on the next Tuesday to see Barsha-mangal celebration.