The Harp of India

Educational Content

1. Welcome PowerPoint Presentation By Rekha E ( Sl.No 307)

2. Poem - The Harp of India This is a poem by one of the earliest Indian English poets, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio . Derozio was attached to his homeland, Bengal. He is regarded as the first modern Indian English poet. His patriotism is evident in the poems that he wrote during his brief life. Despite being half British, Derozio longed for the freedom of India.

3. Summary The poet is lamenting the loss of India’s past glory. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet. The “harp” is symbolic of the old poets who dedicated their lives for the emancipation of India. The harp has now turned into something devoid of purpose, indicating that the past poets have been prevented from using their writing talents.

4. Summary The poet mourns the dearth of talent which has come about due to the suppressive British regime. It is silence that now pervades and the poet makes use of personification to describe silence. Similes are also employed and one example is the comparison of the old poets to ruined monuments. The poet is humble when he acknowledges the greatness of the ancient poets.

5. Analysis The poem has two parts – the first is a lamentation while the second expresses hope. The second part focuses on the glorious poetry that was written in the past. Many such poets became famous and their poetry is like beautiful flowers. Their fame has preserved their honour, thus living even after death. The poet concludes with the desire of reviving the past literature and exhorts the harp to bring back India’s lost glory.

6. Themes The predominant theme is nostalgia for the past glory of Indian poetry that is sadly lost. The poet exhorts his fellow-poets to rise up and pursue writing with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. The poet’s patriotic zeal is manifested along with his sadness at the silencing of poetic voices.

7. Poetic Techniques The poet, Derozio engages himself with the predicament of Indian poets who have been muted under the oppressive British regime. Sonnet is the form used here. It means a fourteen-lined poem with an octave and a sestet, or two parts of eight and six lines each. The poet compresses his thoughts and feelings regarding the British atrocities in this poem. Similes, personification and imagery are employed to heighten the feelings of despair and hope.

8. Conclusion The poet is critical of the practices employed by the British in silencing the voices of protest and revolt. Derozio’s strong patriotism augments his poetic sensibility. The poem is a clarion call to all Indian poets to resume writing and not resort to defeat. The poet salutes the dead poets whose greatness cannot be erased by the oppressive machinery.

9. Thank You