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chalo jai chalo
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Lyric and background history of song chalo jai chalo

Song of Rabindranath Tagore

This page contains lyric of Tagore song chalo jai chalo and its transliteration in English with background history. Background of the song includes the place and date of the song written by Rabindranath, name of the newspaper or magazine the song was first published in and the name of the person who had prepared the notation or swaralipi. This page also contains the musical composition of song like parjaay, taal, raag and ango.

The other related elements of this song like translation in English and Hindi, notation in Bengali (swaralipi), staff notation (western) which are available in other pages, please find the related links below. We have also provided the pdf's of lyric, notation and staff notation with midi with downloadable links so that people may find it easier to get the song and notations in printed format.




Parjaay: Swadesh (39)

Taal: Kaharwa

Raag: Khambaj

Written on: 1937

Swarabitan: 47

Notation by: Shailajaranjan Majumdar

Notes: This song was written on 24th January, 1937. In fact two songs were witten on this day – Chalo Jaai Chalo ... and Shubho Karmopathe Dharo Nirbhay Gaan ... .

Probhatkumar Mukhopadhyay in his biography 'Rabindra-jiboni' as written about these two songs –

... A request has been forwarded by the Vice Chancellor of Kolkata University – Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyay, to the poet for a special song to be sung on 27th February, 1937 observed as the Foundation day of the University. At first the song 'Shubho karmopathe dharo nirbhay gaan ...' was written followed by another song 'Chalo jaai chalo...'. The university authority had selected the second one. Rehearsal for this song continued for a few days at Shantiniketan. Students were seen to follow a queue while moving in and out of the temple where the practice sessions were held under the leadership of Dhirendramohan Sen, the head. However this song did not have the popularity, but the other song 'Shubho karmopathe ...' were seen to have been sung in a few occasions.

The students did sing the song on the foundation day of Kolkata University. However despite utmost endeavour from Shyamaprosad the program was not rendered as unanimous success, as the Muslim students refrained from joining the program. For a period they were pressurising the authority to withdraw the image of a lotus and the word 'Sri' from the official seal of the University as it would depict idol worship. All out accomplishment of the program fell short due to the said agitation. ...

Sushobhan Sarkar, the historian, in his memoire, 'Prosango Rabindranath' has written –

... When Shaymaprosad Mukhopadhyay was the Vice Chacellor of Kolkata University he had sent a request to Rabindranath for a song to be sung by the marching students in a procession. The poet replied him with the song 'Chalo Durjoy Praaner Aanonde ...'. The singing students marched along the street of Kolkata according to the order of the foundation date of their respective colleges gathered at the Maidan. Needless to mention that the Presidency College was the leader. Shayamaprosad welcomed the students entering the Maidan. We too were present there. ...

The song Dr.Sarkar had mentioned seems irrelevant as there is no such song starting with the said words. However the third line of the song 'Chalo jaao chalo ...' reads 'Chalo Durjoy Praaner Aanonde ...' . Why did a personality like Dr.Sarkar mention the third line instead of the first one – does it signify something else? Later the song was accepted to be sung by the girls of the ashram while going to the prayer hall all in a queue.


Lyric in Bengali

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Tagore song chalo jai chalo
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Transliteration in English

Chalo jaai chalo, jaai chalo, jaai chalo, jaai - 
Chalo pade pade sotyero chhande
Chalo durjayo praanero aanonde
Chalo muktipathe,
Chalo bighnobipadojoyi monorathe
Koro chhinno, koro chhinno, koro chhinno - 
Swapnokuhok karo chhinno.
Theko na jorito aborudhho
Jarotar jarjaro bondhe.
Balo joy balo, joy balo, joy -
Muktir joy balo bhaai.
Chalo durgamoduropathojaatri 
Chalo dibaraatri,
Karo joyojaatra,
Chalo bohi nirbhoyo birjer baarta
Balo joy balo, joy balo, joy - 
Sotyer joy balo bhaai.
Dur karo sangshoyosankar bhaar,
Jaao choli timirodigontero paar.
Keno jaay din haay dushchintar dwande -
Chalo durjayo praaner aanonde.
Chalo jyotirloke
Jaagroto chokhe - 
Balo joy balo, joy balo, joy - 
Balo nirmolo jyotir joy balo bhai.
Haw mrityutoron uttirno,
Jaak, jaak bhenge jaak jaaha jirno.
Chalo abhoy amritomoy loke,
Ajar ashoke,
Balo joy balo, joy balo, joy -
Amriter joy balo bhaai.

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