Sarojini Naidu, famously known as The Nightingale of India, was an Indian freedom fighter and poet. Born on 13th February 1879 in Hyderabad, she belonged to a Bengali family.
She fought for the freedom of India and played a key role in the National Movement of India where she started following Mahatma Gandhi. Naidu is known for her poems on patriotism, love, and death. The title of ‘Nightingale of India’ was given to her for her work in poetry. Sarojini was also a part of politics when she joined the Indian Congress party and got appointed as the Governor of the United Provinces. Sarojini Naidu was India’s first women governor and also famous as ‘Bharat Kokila’.
To mark her contribution, India celebrates Sarojini Naidu’s birthday i.e. February 13th, as National Women’s Day of India. Here are some of Sarojini Naidu’s inspiring quotes that show how strong and dedicated she was towards the nation.
“We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech, and earnestness in action.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“A country’s greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“When there is oppression, the only self-respecting thing is to rise and say this shall cease today, because my right is justice. If you are stronger, you have to help the weaker boy or girl both in play and in the work.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“The new has come and now the old retires. And so the past becomes a mountain cell. Where lone apart old hermit memories dwell.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“Shall hope prevail where clamorous hate is rife, Shall sweet love prosper or high dreams have place Amid the tumult of reverberant strife ‘Twixt ancient creeds, ‘twixt race and ancient race, That mars the grave, glad purposes of life, Leaving no refuge save thy succoring face?” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“I say it is not your pride that you are a Madrasi, it is not your pride that you a brahmin, it is not your pride that you belong to south India, it is not your pride that you are a Hindu, that it is your pride that you are an Indian.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“A country’s greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice that inspire the mothers of the race.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“Once in the dream of a night, I stood Lone in the light of a magical wood, Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang; And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang, And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed, And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed In that magical wood in the land of sleep.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“Oh, we want a new breed of men before India can be cleansed of her disease.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“One needs a Seer’s Vision and an Angel’s voice to be of any avail. I do not know of any Indian man or woman today who has those gifts in their most complete measure.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
“I am not ready to die because it requires infinitely greater courage to live.” ~ Sarojini Naidu
Â
Happy National Women’s Day!
Â
