Hira Dom ki Kavita

This piece of poetry is written by Hira Dom way back in 1913 in Hamsa. It was written in Bhojpuri. At that time, Premchand was the editor of Hamsa. Even though the language used is unfamiliar to many, still the sorrow which pervades all through this poem is striking. I translate it into English so that people who don’t know Bhojpuri can appreciate it. 

हमनी के रात दिन दुखवा भोगत बानी
हमनी के सहेबे से मिनती कराइबी । 
हमनी के दुख भगवनवो न देखत जे
हमनी के कबले कलेसवा उठाइबी ॥

 

पदरी साहब की कचहरी में जाइबजा । 
बेधरम हो के अंगरेज बन जाइबी ॥ 
हाय राम धरम न हमसे छोड़त बाजे । 
बेशरम होके कहाँ मुहवाँ दिखाईबी ॥

 
खंभवा को फारी प्रह्लाद के बचवले जा । 
ग्राह के मुंह से गजराज के बचवले ॥ 
धोती जुरजोधना के भइया छोरत रहे । 
परगट होके तहां कपड़ा बढ़वले ॥

मारले खानवा के पत ले विभीखना के ।
कानी उंगली पे धैके पथरा उठाइबे ॥
कहाँ लो सुतल बाटे सुनत न बाटे अब ।
डोम जानी हमनी के छुए से डेरइले ॥

 

हमनी के इनरा के निगीचे ना जाइबजा ।
पांकि में से भरी भरी पियतानी पानी ॥
पनही से पीटी पीटी हाथ गोड़ तोड़ ले हों ।
हमनी के इतना काहेको हलकानी॥

 

हमनी के रात दिन दुखवा भोगत बानी
हमनी के सहेबे से मिनती कराइबी…
(1913 में हंस में प्रकाशित)

Day and night we are languishing in deep pain and sorrow. We keep on requesting one and all. Even God is not caring for our grief and we are in this condition for times unknown. 

If we go to the Court of English priest, we will be forced to convert into Englishman. O Ram, I can’t leave my religion. Whom will I show my face after leaving my religion?

O Lord, you came tearing out the pillar to protect your devotee Prahlada, you saved the Elephant from the crocodile when he called your name. You kept Draupadi intact by coming there.

It is you who protected Vibhishana, it is you who lifted mountain Gobardhana on your small finger. O Bhagwan, where are you sleeping that you are not listening to us. Or is it the case that even you also have started fearing in touching us, knowing us to be Dom?

We are prohibited to go even near a well and we are drinking the water from the mud. We are beaten and our hands and legs are broken. Why it is that we are so much tortured?

Day and night we are languishing in deep pain and sorrow. We keep on requesting one and all. Even God is not caring for our grief and we are in this condition for times unknown. 

(Published in Hamsa in 1913)