By Bishnu Prasad Rava

The temple of melody
  The silver fetters of which
    You’ve torn apart and opened
      The golden doors
        O’ Priest!
          O’ Priest!!
            You worshipper of beauty!!!
             The enduring 
            Dulcet Borgeet
           Melodious Bongeet
          Sing, O’ the Assamese people
        Filling your heart and mind
     O’ Priest!
    O’ Priest!!
   You worshipper of beauty!!!
In your touch
  The ecstasy of the heart
    Shakes off slumber
      Attains freedom
       Contours of ragas
         Move on wafting
          O’ Priest!
            O’ Priest!!
              You’ve set up the altar
                  You’ve placed the idol
                      Performed the worship too
                 Shaping the idol of freedom
            O’ Priest!
      O’ Priest!!
 O’ Priest!!!
Blow the conch
   Strike the cymbals
       Begin the rituals of prayer
           Light up the lamp
              Welcoming with elation
                 O’ Priest!
                   O’ Priest!!
                      You worshipper of beauty.

[Translated by Uttam Duorah]

Click here to read original Assamese poem

Bishnu Prasad Rava (1909-1969) was a renowned artist, writer, actor, song writer and politician of Assam.

Uttam Duorah, the translator, retired as the HoD, English, Women’s College, Tinsukia and is based in Tinsukia, Assam.