The bards pen chant which inspires civil rights activists across the world. One such chant, penned by an Indian bard Dwijendralal Roy, fired the imagination of the students of Bangladesh where an agitation led to the government’s ouster. When thousands of students were marching to their national capital, Dhaka, they were carolling that song: “Dhano Dhanno Pushpe Bhora Amader Ei Basundhara Tahar Majhe Achhe Desh Ek Sakol Desher Sera (Lavished with a wealth of grains and flowers is our Mother Earth.
.. In the midst of this is a land, more splendid than all other lands).
” The last line of the song is highly motivational, “Aamar Ei Deshete Janmo Jeno Ei Deshetei Mori (I was born in this beautiful country; I wish to die into her lap.” If ‘Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Bhalobasi’ was the theme song of the Bangladesh freedom struggle in 1971, Roy’s song was the anthem of the students’ movement in 2024. Many Indian freedom fighters embraced death with a smiling face chanting this composition.
The writer of this song, Roy, was posted in the then Central Province, now Madhya Pradesh. After studying agriculture in England, he was appointed Deputy Magistrate in the departments of survey and settlement, excise, land records, agriculture, administration and judiciary in different parts of Bengal, Bihar and Central Province. Another revolutionary song that motivated the students of Bangladesh was Karar Oi Lauh Kapat Benghe Phel Kar Re Lopat .
.. (Break the iron gates of priso.