Ekla Chalo Re

Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ashe (Lang-bn|যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে "Jodi tor đak shune keu na ashe" "If they answer not to thy call") , often shortened to Ekla Cholo Re (Lang-bn|একলা চলো রে "Êkla Chôlo Re" Walk Alone) is a song written by Rabindranath Tagore, part of the Rabindra Sangeet canon. It exhorts the listener to continue his or her journey, despite abandonment or lack of support from others. The song is often quoted in the context of political or social change movements; Mahatma Gandhi cited it as one his favorite songs.

Lyrics

In Bengali script

যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে।
একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো রে॥

যদি কেউ কথা না কয়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি সবাই থাকে মুখ ফিরায়ে সবাই করে ভয়---
তবে পরান খুলে
ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে॥

যদি সবাই ফিরে যায়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি গহন পথে যাবার কালে কেউ ফিরে না চায়---
তবে পথের কাঁটা
ও তুই রক্তমাখা চরণতলে একলা দলো রে॥

যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা,
যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে---
তবে বজ্রানলে
আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলো রে॥

=In Bengali Romanization=

Jodi tor đak shune keu na ashe tôbe êkla chôlo re,
Êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo, êkla chôlo re.

Jodi keu kôtha na kôe, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi shôbai thake mukh firaee shôbai kôre bhôe---
Tôbe pôran khule
O tui mukh fuţe tor moner kôtha êkla bôlo re.

Jodi shôbai fire jae, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi gôhon pôthe jabar kale keu fire na chae---
Tôbe pôther kãţa
O tui rôktomakha chôrontôle êkla dôlo re.

Jodi alo na dhôre, ore ore o ôbhaga,
Jodi jhôŗ-badole ãdhar rate duar dêe ghôre---
Tôbe bojranôle
Apon buker pãjor jalie nie êkla jôlo re.

Tagore's English translation

If they answer not to thy call walk alone, If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou of evil luck,
open thy mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
O thou of evil luck,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled withstorm,
O thou of evil luck,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
and let it burn alone.

In popular culture

* A part of the song was used in the 2005 film . It was sung by Sonu Nigam and composed by A R Rehman.
* "Ekla Chalo Re" is the title of a book by the Jain Acharya Mahaprajna
* The song was famously sung by Vinoba Bhave during the beginnings of his Bhoodan movement, with "blessed" substituted for "unfortunate".

External links

* [http://www.calcuttaweb.com/gaan/rabindra/index.shtml যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে] Audio from calcuttaweb.com
* [https://lists.cs.columbia.edu/pipermail/ornet/2002-September/005350.html Private Oriya translation]
* [http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:2PXr-5sr3sMJ:www.meghdutam.com/authtemp.php%3Fname%3Dauth26.htm%26%26printer%3D0+yadi+te+ahvanato+nayati&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 Sanskrit translation]
* [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0012.htm Tagore Songs] Banglapedia