This song was a chorus by a group of little boys in the fifth scene of the play ‘Achalayatan’ which was performed in July 1912. Sita Devi recounts in Punyasmriti: “Rabindranath came to Calcutta. I heard that the play would be read out at the residence of scientist Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. It was a Sunday. Some of us were standing at the balcony since afternoon, waiting for Rabindranath to come. He arrived an hour later, accompanied by his elder daughter Madhurilata. The place was overflowing with people. One after another new listeners kept coming and Rabindranath started all over again. He sang many songs in ‘Achalayatan’, all solo renditions. But he sang in a low voice as his throat was a little sore.” Later, Tagore decided to translate this song into English.
English translation (Lyrics) of the Rabindrasangeet: Aalo aamar, aalo ogo
(Translated by Rabindranath Tagore)
Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life;
the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.
Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure.
The heaven’s river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
Some useful information on the Rabindrasangeet: Aalo aamar, aalo ogo
Written in: Ashwin 1318 (September-October 1911) at Shilaidaha
Age of the poet: 50
Published in: 1912, Pravasi- Achalaytan drama
Parjaay (Category): Bichitro (Miscellaneous)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): NA
Taal: Dadra
Raga: Yaman (Iman)
Notation: Music Gitanjali
Swarabitan: Vol. 52
Notation by: Bhimrao Shastri
Purpose of the presentation
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Tagore’s music resonates with people from all walks of life. His songs are performed at cultural events, religious ceremonies and social gatherings, reflecting their enduring popularity. In an effort to bring home this treasure trove to the non-Bengali population and Bengalis around the globe, Brainware University offers a selection of Rabindrasangeet in this presentation. It is enriched with details on the songs and relevant anecdotes.
Sung By
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Sri Phalguni Mookhopadhayay
Chancellor, Brainware University
Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is the founder-Chancellor of Brainware University, founder-Chairman and Managing-Director of Brainware Consultancy Private Limited and founder-Chairman of Webguru Infosystems Private Limited. He did his schooling at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and graduated with honours in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He completed his masters in Economics from Calcutta University and MBA from IISWBM, before joining Hindustan Lever as a management trainee. He worked as a market planner for the ABP group for nearly a decade before striking out on his own and successfully launching two private limited companies and one University. Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is a self-taught digital artist, a versatile photographer, a filmmaker and a weekend singer who has already recorded 78 songs and is now immersed in a project to popularise Tagore songs among a global audience.
