In the Bazaars of Hyderabad
by Sarojini Naidu
The Poem :
"What do you sell, O ye merchants?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and silver,
Tunics of purple brocade,
Mirror with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade.
What do you weigh, O ye vendors?
Saffron and lentil and rice.
What do you grind, O ye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna, and spice.
What do you call, O ye pedlars?
Chessman and ivory dice.
What do you make, O ye goldsmiths?
Wristlet and anklet and ring,
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons,
Frail as a dragon-fly's wing,
Girdles of gold for the dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king.
What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?
Citron, pomegranate and plum.
What do you play, O musicians?
Cithar, sarangi and drum.
What do you chant, O magicians?
Spells for the aeons to come?
What do you weave, O ye flower-girls
With tassels of azure and red?
Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed.
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead."
The Summary of the poem :
In this poem, Sarojini Naidu describes the colours and sounds of the various stalls in the bazaars of Hyderabad, the city where she was born and spent her childhood. In the first para the poet lets us know that the merchants are selling crimson and silver colour turbans. They are also selling purple brocade tunics, mirrors with panels of amber and daggers with handles of jade.
In the second para the poet describes that the vendors are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The maidens are grinding sandalwood, henna and spice. The pedlars are calling to sell chessman and ivory dice.
In the third stanza, the poet tells us that the goldsmiths are making wristlets, anklets and rings. They are also making bells for the feet of the blue pigeons, girdles of gold for the dancers and scabbards of gold for the king.
In the fourth stanza, the poet describes that the fruitmen are selling citron, pomegranate and plum. The musicians are playing cithar, sarangi and drum. The magicians are chanting the spells for the aeons to come.
In the last stanza, the poet describes that the flower girls are weaving crowns for the brow of a bridegroom with the threads of bright blue and red colour. They are also weaving strings of flowers to decorate the bed of the groom. They are also weaving sheets with fresh white flowers for the burial of the dead.
Making Connections
1. Say whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) about the bazaars of Hyderabad.
a. The merchants sell lentil and rice. [F]
b. Merchants are different from vendors. [T]
c. The fruitmen sell fruits and vegetables. [F]
d. Musicians play the guitar and the drum. [F]
e. Magicians wake the dead from sleep. [F]
2. Read these lines and answer the questions that follow.
a. "What do you sell, O ye merchants?"
i. The stanza that this line is taken from describes different things being sold. What are the things mentioned?
= The things mentioned are - crimson and silver colour turbans, purple brocade tunics, mirrors with panels of amber and daggers with handles of jade.
ii. Who is selling the wares?
= The merchants are selling the wares.
iii. What are the colours and shades mentioned in this stanza? Why do you think the poet has used these colours to describe the wares?
= The colours and shades mentioned in this stanza are - crimson, silver and purple.
I think the poet has used these colours to describe the wares as she wants to represent various colours of the bazaar of Hyderabad.
b. "Bells of the feet of blue pigeons
Frail as a dragon-fly's wing
Girdles of gold for the dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king."
i. Who is the speaker addressing in these lines?
= The speaker is addressing to the goldsmiths in these lines.
ii. Apart from a girdle and scabbards, what else is made from gold?
= Apart from a girdle and scabbards, wristlet, anklet, ring and bells for the feet of blue pigeons are made from gold.
iii. Pick out a simile from the above lines.
= A simile from the above lines is - 'Frail as a dragon-fly's wing."
c. "Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed,
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead."
i. What floral ornaments are woven for the bridegroom?
= Floral ornaments are woven for the bridegroom are - crowns for his brow and strings of flowers to decorate his bed.
ii. What is the significance of the white blossoms?
= The white blossoms signify death and peace of the last sleep.
iii. The lines talk about two contrasting events in human life. What are these events?
= The lines talk about two contrasting events in human life - Marriage and death. Marriage is an event of happiness in our life. On the other hand, death is the saddest event of life. The first is full of cheers and the later is a mournful event.
3. What are the vendors, maidens and pedlars doing in the bazaar?
= The vendors are weighing saffron, lentil and rice. The maidens are grinding sandalwood, henna and spice. The pedlars are calling to sell chessman and ivory dice.
4. Name the fruits and musical instruments displayed in the bazaar.
= The fruits displayed in the bazaar are - Citron, pomegranate and plum.
The musical instruments displayed in the bazaar are - cithar, sarangi and drum.
5. Mention two things that fascinate the poet about the bazaars of Hyderabad. What fascinates you when you go to a bazaar?
= Two things that fascinate the poet about the bazaars of Hyderabad are -
i. The daggers with handles of jade. Jade is a hard stone that in usually green and is used in making ornaments and jewellery.
ii. Scabbards of gold for the king. Hyderabad is called 'the city nawabs'. So this type of covers for swords made of leather or metal are special in the bazaar of Hyderabad.
When I go to a bazaar, I get fascinated by the street foods. Though street foods are not good for our health, I can not resist myself to get attracted by them. They are with various colours and various tastes. They have tremendous types of aromas which attracts people.
About the poet :
Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was one of India's best known political figures and a freedom fighter closely involved with the Indian Independent Movement. She was also a great orator and one of India's most talented poets, known for the diversity of her writings. Naidu was given the title of the Nightingale of India. 'The Palanquin Bearers' is one of her noted works.