The Harp of India is a poem written by Indian poet, Henry Louis Vevian Derozio. The poem was originally published in 1837. The Harp of India is 14 lines sonnet poem.
The Harp of India By Henry Derozio
Summary of The Harp of India By Henry Derozio
Harp is a musical instrument which has strings like a guitar. By ringing the strings of Harp, melodious sound comes out. In poem, “Harp of India”, Harp denotes an Indian poets, Indian Culture, Indian Sanskriti and it take us indirectly to the glorious past of India, a time when India was free. And how British rule destroyed the glory of India. The poem is divided into two sections, first section lament on the glory of India. In second section, poet hope for the return of glory.
The story of poem begins with poet who is wondering by looking at Harp, why are you hang alone on dried branches ? Here poet is denoting Indian poet who used to denote Indian culture are now alone. That means no one cares about their sweet poetry anymore.
The Indian poet who used to be glory of India has loses their hope after the interference of Britishers and their rules and regulations. The poet say once upon a time your voice was very sweet but listen to your voice now. Poet means there was time when our country culture, Sanskriti and poetry was very rich and it was very expandable and people used to appreciate it a lot. But who remembers it now ? No one does.
The poet says even a strong air can’t produce a music from Harp who has no strings left in it. Here poet means, Our Indian culture is ending slowly-slowly from our life and it has no hope for its revival.
The poet is talking to Harp and says silence has bound you with fatal chain as you have no string left. Here silence is representing the death of Indian poetry and the death of Indian culture and its glorious past. You are neglected, no one cares about you and you are completely mute. You aren’t producing any sweet melody and you are alone.
Your situation is like a monument of desert plain. The poet is comparing harp condition with ruined monument on desert plain. Harp is symbolizing Indian culture, Indian poetry and Indian traditions. Many poets were like whose poetry were far better than me, worthy than me and successful than me are still alive through their works and poems. People still knows them as their work are immortal.
Here poet is giving us a hope that we can’t forget past Indian poets as they are alive because of their immortal work. The great poets have died but if their works are divine and wakened then they are still alive among us. Harp of my country, Let me put all my effort to make you alive again.