I am Proud By Neena Dighe Translated by Sushama Karnik

I Am Proud

Neena Dighe

Translated by Sushama Karnik

I am proud of you, my Motherland,

There is none who can compare with you on this earth.

For abundance of colors, go to Rajasthan;

And if you go to Rajputana you have the abundance of the grandeur of honor.

Manipur and Assam will send you into ecstasy with the magic of their dance.

A single tap on the dholak in hand will fill your steps with the beat of the dance.

Punjab is altogether a different story.

When they greet you with their ‘balle balle’, you will take on their lust for life,

And you will sing,’Gorgeous and plentiful is the soil of Punjab.’

Maharashtra will make you wonder at the at the naughtiness they hide

Behind the bashfulness of the lavani:

Which is a marvelous blend of drama and the teasing stance of veiled love.

The art of the tribals has no rival in the entire world.

The lilt and the melody of the classical music surprises us with the maturity and the depth,

Without which the ancient dance-forms are incomplete—

Be they the Katthak of the North or the Bharat Natyam of the South,

Or the Odissi and Mohini Attam divine.

The entire world can step up to the rhythm of the Indian beat of the dance.

We who are born and brought up by the land and the aroma of the rain-soaked soil—

We sing the praises of our Motherland

In our many different tongues, but bound by the single strand of love!

We are forever in the debt of gratitude to you O Motherland,

And this debt can never be redeemed.

The cool winds from your plains

Bring to us the breath of life.

O my beloved Motherland, may you live for millions of years

And may you inspire the world forever

With the message of Karma embedded in the Geeta and the lesson of non-violent pursuit of action in Bapu’s life.

Take the world along on the path of Peace and Love.

I am proud of you, O my Motherland!