Lyric and background history of song klanto jakhon amrokolir

Parjaay: Prakriti (250)

Upa-parjaay: Basanta (63)

Taal: Dadra

Style: Kirtan

Anga: Kirtan

Written on: 1931

Collection: Nobin

Swarabitan: 5

Notation by: Dinendranath Tagore

Notes: This song was a part of the play ‘Nobin’, that was first staged at Shantiniketan on 4th March, 1931, on the occasion of Dol-purnima.

After an extensive travel across Europe, America and Soviet Russia Rabindranath had returned to Shantiniketan on 31st January, 1931. Exploring his painting skills which seemd to have touched its peak; exhibitions had been organized all around Europe where artists and viewers have been enthralled. He had gained in his confidence as a painter from the encouragement he had obtained from criticism of his learned viewers; although this side of his creativity is still not known among his countrymen but a few very close ones. In this mental situation ‘Nobin’ was written in haste and on 4th March, 1931, on the occasion of Dol-purnima it was staged. He has written nineteen songs within the month of Phalgun. His letter dated 7th March to Indira debi reads –

… I am busy with my songs now – somewhat frenzy. Paintings have been shelved for the time being – poems forgotten. It seems like a number of wives – to manage them all in the same go isn’t possible. … We have seen a skull-cracking hail storm yesterday. Accompanied by rain, thunder, lightning, and gust of wind all ravaging. Mejo-bouthan was scheduled to arrive –it would have been unsettleing for her. …

Practically he was not content with his obsession for writing songs even after ‘Nobin’ had been staged. A few more songs were included before it was staged on ‘The New Empire’, Kolkata for four days in succession starting from 16th March.

Amita Sen had danced on this song with ‘ektara’in her hand. She writes in her book ‘Aanondo Sarbo-kaje’ -

… When Rabindranath was consulted before the dance-moves were finalized he said – ‘Can you step in a brisk way when you are tired? Your moves, the rhythm in your feet must reflect your fatigue … your body is exhausted.’

I had restarted following his directions, when he came up, took the ektara from me, started showing how to manage the moves. Explaining – ‘You must go down, crouching, as if you are too exhausted to stand upright. However when singing – ‘Sourabho dhane’ stand as erect as possible to reach high with the ektara – as now you’re talking to the Shaal tree. …