ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>PR&#256RTHAN&#256T&#298TA D&#256N</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<i>PR&#256RTHAN&#256T&#298TA D&#256N</i>, poem in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore on the Sikh martyr Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh. Written on 2 Agrah&#257ya&#7751,1306 Bs/18-19 November 1899 and included in <i>Kath&#257</i>, a collection of Tagore's poems published in October-November 1899, the poem refers to Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh's arrest along with some other Sikhs "who had surrendered after a stiff resistance making the battleground of Sh&#257h&#299dgañj crimson red," and who were presented before the Naw&#257b for execution. The Naw&#257b [Zakar&#299y&#257 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, the Mu<u>gh</u>al governor of the Punjab] said that he would be happy to excuse T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh. T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh asked the Naw&#257b why he was showing this indulgence especially towards him. Expressing his appreciation of Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh's qualities as a warrior, the Naw&#257b said that he bore him no ill will, adding that he would spare his life, but would expect him to cut off his <i>be&#7751&#299</i> (long hair tied into a knot and kept under his turban). Bh&#257&#299 T&#257r&#363 Si&#7749gh spoke with a touch of sarcasm that he was impressed by the Naw&#257b's kindliness, but would rather sacrifice his head with the <i>be&#7751&#299</i> intact. Upon this the Naw&#257b ordered his head execution. Notable for its terse style, the poem makes the point how important for Sikhs are their religious symbols, especially <i>kesa</i>, their long, unshorn hair.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Him&#257dr&#299 Banerjee<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>