In the Bazars of Hyderabad Poem Notes – Summary, Central Idea & Poetic devices

In the Bazars of Hyderabad Poem Notes include summary, meanings, themes, central idea and literary devices used in the poem. The poem was written by Sarojini Naidu presenting very lively picture of traditional bazars in India. Enjoy free learning here.

Poem Text: In the Bazars of Hyderabad

What do you sell O ye merchants ?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and silver,
Tunics of purple brocade,
Mirrors with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade.

What do you weigh, O ye vendors?
Saffron and lentil and rice.
What do you grind, O ye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna, and spice.
What do you call , O ye pedlars?
Chessmen and ivory dice.

What do you make,O ye goldsmiths?
Wristlet and anklet and ring,
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons
Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing,
Girdles of gold for dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king.

What do you cry,O ye fruitmen?
Citron, pomegranate, and plum.
What do you play ,O musicians?
Cithar, sarangi and drum.
what do you chant, O magicians?
Spells for aeons to come.

What do you weave, O ye flower-girls
With tassels of azure and red?
Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,
Chaplets to garland his bed.
Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered
To perfume the sleep of the dead.

Sarojni Naidu

Stanza-wise Summary

1. First Stanza:
   • The poet asks the merchants what they are selling.
   • The merchants describe their richly decorated items, including crimson and silver turbans, purple brocade tunics, amber-framed mirrors, and jade-handled daggers.
   • This stanza highlights the luxurious and artistic craftsmanship of the market.
2. Second Stanza:
   • The poet then asks the vendors, maidens, and peddlers about their goods.
   • The vendors sell saffron, lentils, and rice, while the maidens grind sandalwood, henna, and spices.
   • The peddlers sell chessmen and ivory dice.
   • This stanza focuses on the daily necessities and beauty products available in the bazaar.
3. Third Stanza:
   • The goldsmiths describe their ornaments and decorative items, such as wristlets, anklets, rings, girdles for dancers, and golden scabbards for kings.
   • The poet highlights the fine artistry and royal grandeur of Indian jewelry and metalwork.
4. Fourth Stanza:
   • The fruit sellers, musicians, and magicians are introduced.
   • The fruitmen sell citron, pomegranates, and plums, the musicians play cithar, sarangi, and drums, and the magicians chant spells for eternity.
   • This stanza adds vibrancy and entertainment to the market, showing that it is not just a place for shopping but also for cultural experiences.
5. Fifth Stanza (Last Stanza):
   • The poet asks the flower-girls what they are weaving.
   • They weave garlands and crowns for weddings but also white flower sheets for funerals.
   • This stanza contrasts joy and sorrow, life and death, showing how the market serves all aspects of life.

Theme of the Poem “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad”

The poem captures the essence of a traditional Indian marketplace and conveys multiple themes:

1. Cultural Richness and Heritage
   • The poem celebrates India’s traditional crafts, music, and trade, highlighting the skills of merchants, goldsmiths, fruit vendors, and musicians.
   • It presents a vivid picture of Hyderabad’s markets, full of colors, sounds, and fragrances.
2. Joy in Simple Things
   • The poem finds beauty in everyday life, showing how simple things like fabrics, spices, and jewelry add richness to life.
   • The lively descriptions make ordinary markets seem magical and poetic.
3. Contrast of Life and Death
   • The last stanza contrasts wedding celebrations (flower garlands for a groom) with funeral rituals (white flowers for the dead).
   • This suggests that life is a mix of happiness and sorrow, and both are natural parts of existence.
4. Nationalism and Swadeshi Movement
   • Sarojini Naidu, a freedom fighter, subtly promotes Indian goods and markets instead of foreign products.
   • The poem reflects the Swadeshi spirit, encouraging people to appreciate and support local artisans and businesses.

Message of the Poem:

• Cultural Beauty: The poem highlights India’s rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship.
• Celebration of Everyday Life: The poet glorifies simple aspects of life, making them seem poetic and beautiful.
• Life and Death: The contrast between wedding decorations and funeral flowers reminds us of the natural cycle of joy and sorrow in life.

The poem encourages appreciation for India’s traditional markets and the simple joys of daily life, making it a powerful tribute to Indian culture.

Vocabulary Notes

Stanza 1:

O ye – A poetic way of saying “Oh, you” (अरे तुम लोग); Richly – In a grand or beautiful way (समृद्ध रूप से, शानदार ढंग से); Wares – Goods or items for sale (वस्तुएँ, बिकने वाला सामान); Tunics – A long, loose-fitting garment (चोगा, कुर्ते जैसा परिधान); Panels of amber – Decorative pieces made of golden-colored precious stone (ऐंबर (सुनहरा पत्थर) से सजी हुई सजावट); Daggers – Small, sharp knives used as weapons (कटार, छोटे चाकू); Jade – A precious green stone used in ornaments (हरा कीमती पत्थर (जेड), गहनों में इस्तेमाल होने वाला पत्थर).

Stanza 2:

Weigh – To measure the weight of something (तौलना); Vendors – Sellers in a market (फेरीवाले, विक्रेता); Lentil – A type of pulse used in cooking (दाल); Grind – To crush something into powder or paste (पीसना); Maidens – Young women, often unmarried (कुँवारी लड़कियाँ); Pedlars – Sellers who move from place to place (फेरीवाले); Ivory dice – Dice made of elephant tusk material, used in games (हाथी दाँत से बने पासे).

Stanza 3:

Frail – Very delicate and weak (नाजुक, कमजोर); Dragon-fly’s wing – The thin, transparent wing of a dragonfly (used as a comparison for lightness) (व्याघ्र-मक्खी का पंख, हल्केपन का प्रतीक); Girdles – Decorative belts worn around the waist (करधनी, कमर में पहने जाने वाली बेल्ट); Scabbards – A sheath for holding a sword (म्यान, तलवार रखने का खोल).

Stanza 4:

Citron – A large citrus fruit like a lemon (नींबू जैसा फल); Chant – To sing or say something in a rhythmic tone (जपना, गाना, मंत्रोच्चार करना); Spells – Magical words or chants (मंत्र, जादू के शब्द); Spells for aeons to come – Magic words that will last for many generations (ऐसे मंत्र जो युगों तक प्रभावी रहेंगे).

Stanza 5:

Weave – To make something by twisting or braiding threads or flowers (बुनना, गूंथना); Flower-girls – Girls who sell or arrange flowers (फूल बेचने या सजाने वाली लड़कियाँ); Tassels – Decorative hanging threads (झूमरनुमा फूलों या धागों की सजावट); Azure – A bright blue color (आसमानी नीला); Brow – Forehead (माथा); Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom – A floral crown placed on the groom’s head (दूल्हे के माथे के लिए फूलों का मुकुट); Chaplets – Wreaths or garlands made of flowers (फूलों की माला); Sheets of white blossoms – White flowers arranged as a covering (सफेद फूलों की चादर); New-garnered – Recently collected or freshly picked (नव-संग्रहित, हाल ही में एकत्र किए गए); To perfume the sleep of the dead – To provide fragrance to the deceased person’s body (symbolizing respect and peace in death) (मृतकों की शांति के लिए सुगंध देना).

Poetic Devices in “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad”

Sarojini Naidu’s poem uses a variety of poetic devices such as imagery, alliteration, repetition, metaphor, simile, personification, rhyme scheme, and symbolism to create a rich, sensory experience for the reader. These devices enhance the beauty of the poem and help convey its themes of cultural richness, life’s contrasts, and the vibrancy of the market.

Rhyme Scheme

Definition: The rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem.
The poem follows an ABABCC pattern in most of the stanzas.

Imagery

Definition: Imagery is the use of vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).
The poem is full of sensory imagery that makes the reader feel like they are in the marketplace.

Examples:

• Visual Imagery (Sight):
  • “Turbans of crimson and silver” → Creates a vivid image of bright, colorful turbans in the marketplace.
  • “Mirrors with panels of amber” → The use of “amber” gives a warm, golden color to the mirrors.
  • “Girdles of gold for dancers” → Enhances the sense of richness and grandeur.
  • “Sheets of white blossoms” → Creates a beautiful image of fresh white flowers.
• Auditory Imagery (Sound):
  • “What do you play, O musicians? Cithar, sarangi, and drum.” → Creates the sound of music in the bazaar.
• Olfactory Imagery (Smell):
  • “What do you grind, O ye maidens? Sandalwood, henna, and spice.” → Brings the fragrance of spices to life.

Symbolism

Definition: Symbolism is when something represents a larger idea or concept.

Examples in the Poem:

• Flowers → Symbolize the cycles of life and death, as they are used in both weddings and funerals.
• Gold → Represents wealth and luxury, reflecting the richness of Indian culture.

Colour Symbolism:

• “Turbans of crimson and silver” → Crimson symbolizes power and festivity, while silver represents wealth and purity.
• “Sheets of white blossoms” → White symbolizes peace and mourning, representing funerals.

Life and Death Contrast:

• The contrast between wedding garlands and funeral flowers symbolizes the cycle of life and death.

Personification

Definition: Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Examples in the Poem:

• “What do you cry, O ye fruitmen?” → The poet gives human qualities (the ability to “cry” or shout) to the fruit vendors.
• “Spells for aeons to come” → The spells are personified as something that can exist forever.
• “To perfume the sleep of the dead” → The flowers are given the ability to provide fragrance, symbolizing respect for the deceased.

Simile

Definition: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Example in the Poem:

• “Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing” → Compares the delicate bells to the fragility of a dragonfly’s wing.

Metaphor

Definition: A figure of speech where a word or phrase is applied to an object or action that is not literally applicable.

Examples in the Poem:

• “To perfume the sleep of the dead” → “Sleep” is a metaphor for death, making it sound peaceful and poetic.
• “Bells for the feet of blue pigeons, frail as a dragon-fly’s wing” → The bells on pigeons’ feet are compared to the delicate wings of a dragonfly. The comparison highlights the lightness and grace of the bells.

Repetition

Definition: The use of a word or phrase multiple times to emphasize an idea or theme.

Examples in the Poem:

• The question format is repeated in every stanza:
  • “What do you sell, O ye merchants?”
  • “What do you weigh, O ye vendors?”
  • “What do you grind, O ye maidens?”
• This repetition makes the descriptions more engaging and lively.

Alliteration

Definition: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity.

Examples in the Poem:

• “Sandalwood, henna, and spice“ → The repetition of the “s” sound
• “Frail as a dragon-fly’s wing” → The repetition of the “f” sound
• “Girdles of gold for dancers” → The repetition of the “g” sound
• “Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom” → The repetition of “b” sound

Conclusion

The use of various poetic devices in In the Bazaars of Hyderabad makes the poem vivid, rhythmic, and emotionally rich. Through imagery, symbolism, and repetition, Sarojini Naidu brings the vibrant marketplace to life, celebrating Indian culture and traditions. The poem’s structure, musical quality, and contrasts between life and death, wealth and simplicity add depth to its meaning, making it a timeless piece of poetry.

More on Literary Devices in “In the Bazars of Hyderabad” Poem

Imagery

The poet vividly depicts a traditional Indian bazaar in Hyderabad, engaging all five senses to bring it to life.

• Visual imagery is created through vibrant colors like silver, crimson, purple, and azure.
• Olfactory imagery (sense of smell) is evoked by the fragrances of sandalwood, henna, and flowers.
• Auditory imagery comes from the music of the sitar, sarangi, and drums, along with magicians’ chants.
• Gustatory imagery (sense of taste) is represented by fruits like lemons, pomegranates, and staple foods like lentils and rice.
• Tactile imagery (sense of touch) appears through delicate bells made for pigeons.

Lyrical Poem

The image explains that In the Bazaars of Hyderabad is a lyric poem—a poem that expresses emotions through rhyme, rhythm, and musicality.

The central emotion in the poem is wonder, as the speaker is mesmerized by the colours, sounds, and aromas of the bustling market.

The poetic structure follows a question-and-answer format, where each stanza begins with a question directed at different vendors, musicians, or artisans, who then respond about their trade. The repetition of “What do you… O ye…” gives the poem a natural rhythm and beat, enhancing its lyrical quality.