7 verses · ~1 min
अपनेपन का मतवाला था भीड़ों में भी मैं खो न सका चाहे जिस दल में मिल जाऊँ इतना सस्ता मैं हो न सका
देखा जग ने टोपी बदली तो मन बदला, महिमा बदली पर ध्वजा बदलने से न यहाँ मन-मंदिर की प्रतिमा बदली
मेरे नयनों का श्याम रंग जीवन भर कोई धो न सका चाहे जिस दल में मिल जाऊँ इतना सस्ता मैं हो न सका
हड़ताल, जुलूस, सभा, भाषण चल दिए तमाशे बन-बनके पलकों की शीतल छाया में मैं पुनः चला मन का बन के
जो चाहा करता चला सदा प्रस्तावों को मैं ढो न सका चाहे जिस दल में मिल जाऊँ इतना सस्ता मैं हो न सका
दीवारों के प्रस्तावक थे पर दीवारों से घिरते थे व्यापारी की ज़ंजीरों से आज़ाद बने वे फिरते थे
ऐसों से घिरा जनम भर मैं सुखशय्या पर भी सो न सका चाहे जिस दल में मिल जाऊँ इतना सस्ता मैं हो न सका
इति
The Poet
गोपाल सिंह नेपाली
Gopal Singh Nepali
1911 · 1963
Gopal Singh Nepali lived a life divided between the quiet beauty of nature and the demanding glare of the Hindi film industry. Born in 1911 in Bettiah, Bihar, he emerged as a prominent voice in the post Chhayavaad era of Hindi poetry. Collections like Umang and Panchhi captured a profound love for the natural world, freedom, and the Himalayan landscapes. However, financial struggles eventually pushed him toward Mumbai, where he achieved tremendous success as a lyricist. He wrote roughly three hundred songs for over fifty films, crafting immortal melodies that blended high poetic dignity with popular appeal. During the national crisis of 1962, he wrote stirring patriotic verses that roused the conscience of the nation. Yet, despite his massive contributions to literature and cinema, the literary establishment often treated him with undeserved neglect. He passed away suddenly at the Bhagalpur railway station in 1963, completely unrecognized in his final moments. His life stands as a poignant reminder of the heavy price often paid by independent artists.
Paired Painting
To the Temple
In this evocative piece, the artist captures a moment of profound serenity and cultural grace. A woman of Maharashtra, dressed in the traditional nine yard sari, steps softly through the ancient corridors of a temple. She carries a small offering vessel with a quiet, meditative poise that bridges the gap between the mundane and the divine. The light catches the folds of her deep green sari and illuminates the stone pillars, evoking a sense of timelessness that has defined Indian spiritual architecture for centuries. This is more than a portrait: it is an ode to the silent, steady devotion that sustains the soul of a culture.
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