I first studied this poem in Standard 6 in 1995 but the words of this poem by Vinay Mahajan always stayed in my heart. Although many years have gone by, the message of it is still relevant even today. The words of the poem are so simple yet very powerful that it does not need any elaboration.
Here is a very rare interview of poet Vinay Mahajan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX5-oSfsj98
In the interview, he elaborates on an origin of this very powerful poem. Basically, Vinay Mahajan is a singer and an activist. After witnessing the horrors of communal violence in Ahmedabad as a young student of prestigious institution IIM Ahmedabad in 1985, he wrote this poem for street play. People looting and burning homes, killing each other moved him to the core. He also gives credit to filmmaker Anand Patawardhan for this. In 1992, he started Loknaad Foundation in Ahmedabad along with his partner, Charul Bharwada. Loknaad works on the issues of peace, dignity and democracy through reflective music, peace products and educational workshops. Some call it a progressive music band; for some others it is a progressive cultural space trying to revive the waning sensitivity and dignity. Please visit Loknaad Foundation website for further information.
His main objective was to show that we should never divide humans on the basis of religion like nature. Today, the message of this poem has so powerful that it has reached all corners of the world wherever Indian lives.
मंदिर-मस्जिद-गिरजाघर ने
बाँट लिया भगवान को |
धरती बाँटी सागर बाँटा
मत बाँटो इंसान को ||
अभी राह तो शुरू हुई है
मंजिल बैठी दूर है |
उजियाला महलों में बंदी
हर दीपक मजबूर है ||
मिला न सूरज का संदेसा
हर घाटी-मैदान को |
धरती बाँटी सागर बाँटा
मत बाँटो इंसान को ||
अब भी हरी-भरी धरती है
ऊपर नील वितान है |
पर न प्यार हो तो जग सूना
जलता रेगिस्तान है ||
अभी प्यार का जल देना है
हर प्यासी चट्टान को |
धरती बाँटी सागर बाँटा
मत बाँटो इंसान को ||
साथ उठें सब तो पहरा हो
सूरज का हर द्वार पर |
हर उदास आँगन का हक़ हो
खिलती हुई बहार पर ||
रौंद न पाएगा फिर कोई
मौसम की मुसकान को |
धरती बाँटी सागर बाँटा
मत बाँटो इंसान को ||
– विनय महाजन
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