Pioneer Asian Immigration to the Pacific Coast

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Gadar Party

POEMS: The Soul Of The Gadar Movement.

Introduction
The following three poems are written by gadarites. The original poems were written in Punjabi but have been translated into English by Isemonger & Slattery. Kartar Singh Sarabha wrote the first poem. He sang it when he was led to his execution. The second four-line poem was written by Pandit Jagat Ram. It was recited by prisoners as a farewell poem for Sarabha. The third poem is also by Sarabha and it became popular among the gadarites. These three poems can be called the soul of the Gadar Movement, as they depict the depth of their conviction and dedication.

Source: Ved Prakash Vatuk, Director Folklore Institute

ON THE WAY TO THE GALLOWS (1)
By: Kartar Singh Sarabha

On the judgment day
Before the gods
These will be my words, my statement:
I am a servant of Indians
India belongs to me
Yes, Indian I am
One hundred percent Indian
Indian is my blood and my caste
This is my only religion
My only tribe, my only clan
I am a particle of the ravaged India's ruins
This is the only name I have
The only hallmark, the only address
Oh, Mother India this was not be my fate
My good fortune
That with every movement of mine
I could have worshipped your feet
O Mother India
If my head is offered
My life is sacrificed
In your service
Then, I would understand
Even in my death
I will attain
A life of eternity.

FAREWELL POEM FOR SARABHA (2)

By: Pandit Jagat Ram

India is so proud of you, O Kartar,
That you are marching on the path of sacrifice
Along with you
You are talking Jagat and Pingle
Dear friends, every Indian today
Swears to your blood
That we will complete your mission.

WHO WE ARE (3)

By: Kartar Singh Sarabha

If anyone asks who we are
Tell him our name is rebel
Our duty is to end the tyranny
Our profession is to launch revolution
That is our namaz, this is our sandhya
Our puja, our worship
This is our religion
Our work
This is our only Khuda, our only Rama.
Gadar Poems
Page from [An Account of the Ghadar Conspiracy (1913-1915)]

Songs of the Gadar Movement
[Songs of the Gadar Movement (front cover) in Punjabi]
Ghadar di gunj: desh bhugtan di bani. Jalander: Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall,1993.

Source:

Isemonger F.C., Slattery J. An Account of the Ghadar Conspiracy (1913-1915). Berkeley: Reprinted by Folklore Institute, 1998.

Contact T.S. Sibia
tssibia@sikhpioneers.net
Bio/Ag Dept.
Shields Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, California 95616
USA