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In the Bazaars of Hyderabad by Sarojini Naidu

" In the Bazaars of Hyderabad" is an English poem, written by Indian independence activist and poet, Sarojini Naidu. The poem was originally published in 1902 from London, in Naidu's book of poetry "The Bird of Time".
   Written in five stanzas, not only does the poem describe the exuberant ambiance of a traditional Hyderabadi bazaar, it also encourages the Swadeshi movement. This was a  movement that played a huge role in the fight for India's independence. "Swadeshi" allowed Indians to buy products made and sold in India, rather than those made in India, then exported back to the country. This helped reduce the amount of money being collected by the British.



  Naidu paints the bustling trade of merchants, vendors, flower girls, peddlers, goldsmiths and fruit-men with a pictorial brush. She also adds auditory imagery to the poem as she describes the playing of the "sitar, saraangi, and the drum" by the bazaar's musicians, along with the chanting of magicians. Her use of rich imagery in each stanza draws the reader into the poem, helping their inner eye to see the azure, crimson and purple that she describes.
   Each stanza begins with a curious customer inquiring into what the day's special goods are. The repetition of the words " what do you" and "O ye" in these inquiries add a rhythm to the poem. These queries also add a more personal touch to the poem, allowing the reader to feel present in the bustling bazaar.
   This piece of literature contains six lines in each of the five stanzas that form it. The poem has vibrant  rhymes, but does not always follow a rhyme scheme. It starts of with the scheme of a-b-c-b-c-b and in the next stanza, goes on to be a-b-c-b-a-b.
  The main theme of Naidu's poem is the description of her beloved bazaar. However, as mentioned earlier, the poem also encouraged the Swadeshi movement. In each stanza, Naidu vividly describes the goods sold in the market, silently encouraging the people of our country to buy things that come from our lands, rather than wasting money on foreign objects.

  The poem made me want to visit a Hyderabadi bazaar, though I don't know if I'll enjoy the bazaar as much as I enjoyed the poem. That's the true beauty of writing.
   
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Comments

  1. TilakAugust 24, 2015 at 9:53 AM

    It's a great poem, and nice review! As you expect, the bazaars are quite different now, but all bazaars are good to go to, and you will find things to write about. Do take your parents and walk around Chandni Chowk if you haven't done that so far.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vedika @ Poems and PoetsDecember 20, 2015 at 2:27 PM

    We have been to Chandni Chowk, but I found that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did this poem:). That's just the beauty of writing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 12, 2019 at 1:58 PM

    Thank tp sorojini naidu for poem and fought for freedom

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMarch 12, 2019 at 2:00 PM

    Thank tp sorojini naidu for poem and fought for freedom

    ReplyDelete

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