Swanatryaveer Savarkar, was a multifaceted personality. As a student of Indian history and literature I am attempting to provide the explanation of his famous song “Sukatatchi Jagi Ya”. It is a song from famous Sangeet Natak (Marathi Musical Play) “Sanyasta Khagda“. Sanyasta Khadga literally means Carus or Forsaken Sword. It was written as a counter argument to non-violence movement. Swatantryaveer Savarakar believed that weak man’s non-violence is futile and cowardice.
It will be injustice to the poetry if I don’t provide the context. We must understand that Savarkar spent most of his young life in prison, away from his family. He never got a chance to live with his family as a normal person would do or dream of. When he and his wife were supposed to picture the dreams for their family, they were separated. No matter how much a person is dedicated to the cause of the nation, he too is a human being. I believe this poem also reflects his suffering.
In the play Sanyasta Khadga, has a backdrop of a war. The protagonist of the play has to decide between defending his country and surrendering to non-violence. Here he is facing the reality of life, departure from his family. Ultimately when he is faced with the thoughts and philosophy of the death. After thinking about it he then realizes the cycle of life at the end of it. In a way this poem is a reflection on the life cycle through its most delicate to most saddening experiences.
Now that I have provided the context let’s understand the poem.
सुकतातचि जगि या । Translation: (Everything) dries in this world. Explanation: Ultimately everything has to perish in this world. Nothing and no one are immortal.
जरी कीं । फुलें गळत पाकळी पाकळी । Translation: Even. Flower falls off petal by petal. Explanation: With reference to the previous sentence about mortality, Savarakar says that even the most delicate and beautiful things like flowers die by falling off every petal. This sentence in a sense describes human life as well which constantly moves towards the death with every second. This is how life is.
उमलति ना त्याहि कलिका । ज्या ॥ Translation: Some buds don't even blossom Explanation: Here Savarkar presents the harsh reality of reality where it's not just the flower that dies. Sometimes even some of the buds never get a chance to blossom. Some buds die as buds. It is harsh truth of life that some humans die before even they grow. In the worst cases a human die inside the womb before even being born or just after being born. This is how life works. It is the reality.
परंतु सुंदर कळ्या पाकळ्या । फुलती ही जगिं या । Translation: But beautiful buds and petals also blossom in this same world Explanation: This is where the cycle of life comes forward. It is not only the death that prevails. Death basically gives way to the new life. Essentially, he is saying that in the same harsh and cruel life and world, most beautiful buds and petals also blossom. In way he is saying even in this world where everything perishes, some of the most beautiful minds are born.
विसर ना हे वैतागीं । तुझीया ॥ Translation: While being irritated (by the situation) in your life don't forget this (that's mentioned in lines above) Explanation: Even though you are irritated by the reality of life, even though you are pessimistic about the current situation, do not forget that the world which has the worst side also has the best side. Life cycles between death and life. Do not forget it. Flowers do die and fresh flowers also blossom in the same place. That's the beauty of it.
The explanation ends here. But, after learning about Swatantryaveer Savarkar’s life, I believe this poem is also a reflection on his own life. Where he never really got a chance to live his life to the fullest. Neither his wife lived the happy life which any normal woman would dream about. So, in a way he is assuring himself and his wife that even if in this life (janma) their life went like a drying flower, in next life we will get a better and happier life provided that only life could happen where there is death. Now this is entirely my understanding so I will request readers to read it as my opinion.
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Thanks for explaining the meaning of this song.
Hope he would live the next lifespan in aasindhu sindhu akhand hindustan