Shanti Khalkho, "Green Jharkhand" (translated poem; 2019)
Our Jharkhand state is beautiful,
The whole land is filled with sal trees.
The forests and hills are overflowing —
Come, let’s go wander through Kharta.
To the east lie the Rajmahal hills,
To the west, the Netarhat range.
In the south, the valley of Tebo,
In the north, the valley of Patratu.
Hills of every shape — deep, high, uneven,
Mahua trees grow all across the state.
Sal trees stand face to face,
And sarai, sarjom appear in Jharkhand's literature.
The palash flower blooms everywhere,
The state is filled in abundance.
Tendu, mahua, jamun, mango —
Roam freely, eat your fill.
Putus, thethar, sinduwar shrubs —
Cut them, sweep them, clean the land.
Yet they never leave us completely,
Always following the prints of our feet.
So many kinds of trees and plants,
All gifted to us by nature.
Let us sing the glory of Dharamesh (the divine),
Let us offer him our thanks.
May this greenery always remain,
Let every Jharkhandi live in joy.
So many kinds of trees and plants,
All gifted to us by nature.
Let us sing the glory of Dharamesh,
Let us offer him our thanks.
May this greenery always remain,
Let every Jharkhandi live in joy.
Translated from Hindi with the assistance of ChatGPT
Originally published in Kavi Man Jani Man anthology