As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, today’s quote celebrates one of the stalwarts of the Indian independence movement, Sarojini Naidu. A poet, feminist, and political activist, Naidu was a woman of many talents.
Born in a Bengali family in Hyderabad, she went on to become the Indian woman president of the Indian National Congress, and later the first woman governor of a state after independence. Her poetry, which is as vivid as it is lyrical, earned her the nickname Nightingale of India from Mahatma Gandhi.
Naidu’s poems were generally on the themes of patriotism, Indian culture, natural beauty and romance. Today’s quote by her reads: “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.”
What is the meaning of Sarojini Naidu’s quote?
Sarojini Naidu’s quote tells us that the only reasonable way to deal with oppression is to stand up against it, not to side with it, or worse, stand in silence. One must demand freedom from oppression, because only then can justice prevail. And the right to justice is a fundamental right.
The power dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed is such that the strong are the oppressor and the weak are oppressed. Thus, it is the onus of other strong individuals to stand up for those who need their help.
If an individual considers themselves strong, it is their duty to support those who are not in situations that can be a part of either a formal or an informal setting. What is important is that they do not miss the opportunity to lend a hand and take a stand against oppression and injustice.
What is the relevance of Sarojini Naidu’s quote?
In today’s world, where the power structures are getting increasingly disconnected from the ground level, as the gulf between those with socio-economic capital and those without is getting wider by the day, the words of Sarojini Naidu ring truer than ever.
Oppression, be social, economic, political, religious, or otherwise, continues to be a reality of modern India, even 79 years after being independent from British dominion. As people try to make their voices heard in many spheres against such situations, the Nightingale’s words lend strength to the fight of the downtrodden against the powers that be.
