{"id":3012,"date":"2013-07-13T01:45:21","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3012"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:45:21","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:21","slug":"21-satirical-poem-published-in-1907-vol-02-collected-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/02-collected-poems\/21-satirical-poem-published-in-1907-vol-02-collected-poems","title":{"rendered":"-21_Satirical Poem Published in 1907.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/td>\n

\n<\/p>\n

Part Four<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tCalcutta and Chandernagore<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n1907 \u00ad 1910<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nSatirical Poem Published in 1907<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\nReflections of Srinath Paul, Rai Bahadoor,
\n<\/a><\/b>
\n\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\non the Present Discontents<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n(The Address of a Perspiring Chairman Rendered<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFaithfully into the Ordinary English Vernacular.<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nCouncillors, friends, Rai Bahadoors and others,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tGentlemen all, my bold and moderate brothers!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis Conference’s revolutionary course<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t(By revolution, sirs, I mean of course<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe year’s,  \u2014  not anything wicked and Extremist;)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHas brought us here, and like a skilful chemist<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMixed well together our victorious batches<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBearing triumphant scars and famous scratches<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf a year’s desperate fight. Behold, the glooms<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAre over! See, our conquering Suren comes!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDream not that when I talk of scars and fighting,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI really mean King Edward to go smiting<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd bundle dear Sir Andrew out of Ind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNothing, nothing like that is in the wind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh no! what has not Britain done for us?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWere we not savage, naked, barbarous?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas she not snatched and raised us from the mire?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTaught us to dress, eat, talk, write, sneeze, perspire,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike Europeans, giving civilisation<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo this poor ignorant degraded nation?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWas not our India full of cuts and knocks?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t‘Twas Britain saved us from those hideous shocks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo matter if our poor of hunger die,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tUs she gave peace and ease and property.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWere’t not for Clive, Dalhousie, Curzon, all,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tYou never would have heard of Srinath Paul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut is this then good cause we should not meet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKiss their benevolent and booted feet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRemonstrate mildly, praise and pray and cry,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 267<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n“Have sympathy, great Minto, or we die”?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIf he’ll not hear, let then our humble oration<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTravel with Gokhale to the British nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo be industrious, prayerful, tearful, meek<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs the sole end for which we meet this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tYet are there men, misunderstanding whites,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho much misconstrue these our holy rites<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDeeming it a bad criminal consultation<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow best to free  \u2014  O horrid thought!  \u2014  our nation,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd send the English packing bag and baggage,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPolo and hockey stick, each scrap of luggage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThey think we are rank and file and proletariat<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFit to be throttled with the hangman’s lariat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFie, sirs! that we should be confused with the mob,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWe who with Viceroys and great men hobnob!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo be mistook, 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  Oh faugh! for the mere people,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThings that eat common food and water tipple,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMere men, mere flesh and blood! 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  we, the elect,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe aristocracy of intellect<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo be thus levelled with the stinking crowd!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo, sirs, I dare pronounce it very loud,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWe are the sober, moderate wise men, needing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nScope only to be famed for light and leading,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFull of co-operative amorous loyalty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo Minto, Morley and Britannic Royalty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tO some there are impatient and too wild,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo that Curzonian lash unreconciled,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRepudiate with violence unchancy<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOur gospel proud of futile mendicancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tStrange that they can’t perceive the utility<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd nobleness of absolute futility!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tO sirs, be moderate, patient, persevering;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShun, shun the extremists and their horrid sneering.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tO sirs, from loyalty budge not an inch;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat if your masters love your throats to pinch?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIt’s pure affection. Even if they kick,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs that sufficient reason to feel sick?<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
\nPage \u2013 268<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo, though they thrash and cudgel, kick and beat,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCling like the devil to their sacred feet!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere are we? Is this the French Revolution<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tInfects our sacred Ind with its pollution?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs Minto Louis? Kitchener Duke Broglie?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAway, away with revolutionary folly!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat, is this France or Russia? Are we men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tServitude to reject and bonds disdain?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo, we are loyal, good religious dogs,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBorn for delightful kicks and pleasant shogs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIt is a canine gospel that I preach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBe dogs, be dogs, and learn to love the switch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhatever the result, be loyal still<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo Minto, Morley and their mighty will.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBe loyal still, my prosperous countrymen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor heed the moaning of the million’s pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor serfdom in our very bones is bred,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd our religion teaches us to dread,  \u2014
\n\t\t\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nShivaji’s creed and Pratap’s though it be,  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore than the very devil disloyalty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO constitutionally agitate your tails<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd see whether that agitation fails.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe course of true love never did run smooth!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMorley will still relent, 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  that gracious youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBeg for new Legislative Councils, sirs,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOr any blessed thing your mind prefers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe Shah’s agreeable, why not the British?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThen there’s Mysore 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  Great Scott! I feel quite skittish.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLocal self-government we’ll beg that’s now<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tA farce, 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  (I’m getting quite extreme, I vow!)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd many other things. Prayers let us patter;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhether we get them or not, can’t really matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut one thing let me tell you, countrymen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat clubs a boon and blessing are to men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere white with black and black can mix with white<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd share a particoloured deep delight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGreat thanks we owe then, loyalists, to “Max”,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 269<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nWho his capacious brain the first did tax.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBehold the great result! Apollo Paean!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe holy club, the Indo-European!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tApproach, approach the holy precincts, come<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd chat with Risley of affairs at home;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWith Fraser arm-in-arm like friends we’ll walk,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo Luson and to Lee familiarly talk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMind! trousers and a hat. They keep good whiskey<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd we shall feel particularly frisky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAs for Comilla, it was sad and bad,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut Minto’s sympathy o’er that fell raid<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDropped like the gentle dew from heaven to heal;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo longer for our injured kin we feel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd now think not of politics too much.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThree days or four is quite enough for such.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMuch better done to store substantial honey<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf commerce, taste the joys that roll in money.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBe rich, my friends! who cares then to be free<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn hard uncomfortable liberty?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOf boycott talk but not of Swaraj, sirs,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd if of independence you’ld discourse,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLet it of economic independence be.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor that the law proscribes no penalty,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor will your gentle hearts grow faint and sick<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAt shadow of the fell policeman’s stick.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhat folly to disturb our comfort fatty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd cudgelled be with regulation lathi<\/i>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSuch the reflections, sirs 
\n\t\t\t\u2014  Well, let it drop.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDon’t hiss so much, dear friends! for here I stop.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 270<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Part Four Calcutta and Chandernagore 1907 \u00ad 1910     Satirical Poem Published in 1907     Reflections of Srinath Paul, Rai Bahadoor, on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-collected-poems","wpcat-57-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3012\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}