Ekla Chalo Re
একলা চলো রে
Ekla Chalo Re, "walk alone", is a song by Rabindranath Tagore that begins Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe, "if no one answers your call". Written during the Swadeshi movement of 1905, it became one of the most quoted songs of courage in India.
- Written by
- Rabindranath Tagore (died 1941)
- Music
- Rabindranath Tagore
- In the video
- Kishore Kumar
- Context
- Swadesh song by Rabindranath Tagore (Gitabitan, Swadesh 3), known by its refrain Ekla Chalo Re
- Year
- 1905
- Language
- Bengali
Ekla Chalo Re lyrics with English translation
Full text from Gitabitan (Swadesh, song 3) as transcribed on Bengali Wikisource.
যদি তোর ডাক শুনে কেউ না আসে তবে একলা চলো রে। একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো, একলা চলো রে॥
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re Ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re
If no one answers your call, then walk alone. Walk alone, walk alone, walk alone, walk alone.
যদি কেউ কথা না কয়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা, যদি সবাই থাকে মুখ ফিরায়ে সবাই করে ভয়— তবে পরান খুলে ও তুই মুখ ফুটে তোর মনের কথা একলা বলো রে॥
Jodi keu kotha na koy, ore ore o obhaga, Jodi shobai thake mukh phiraye shobai kore bhoy— Tobe poran khule O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re
If no one speaks a word, O unlucky one, if everyone keeps their face turned away and all are afraid, then open your heart and speak your mind aloud, alone.
যদি সবাই ফিরে যায়, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা, যদি গহন পথে যাবার কালে কেউ ফিরে না চায়— তবে পথের কাঁটা ও তুই রক্তমাখা চরণতলে একলা দলো রে॥
Jodi shobai phire jay, ore ore o obhaga, Jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire na chay— Tobe pother kanta O tui roktomakha choronotole ekla dolo re
If everyone turns back, O unlucky one, if no one looks back as you take the deep, dark road, then the thorns along the path crush them alone beneath your bleeding feet.
যদি আলো না ধরে, ওরে ওরে ও অভাগা, যদি ঝড়-বাদলে আঁধার রাতে দুয়ার দেয় ঘরে— তবে বজ্রানলে আপন বুকের পাঁজর জ্বালিয়ে নিয়ে একলা জ্বলো রে॥
Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga, Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duyar dey ghore— Tobe bojranole Apon buker panjor jaliye niye ekla jolo re
If no one holds up a light, O unlucky one, if on a night of storm and rain they shut their doors, then with the fire of lightning set your own ribs alight and burn alone.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Ekla Chalo Re
Tagore wrote the song in 1905, at the time of the movement against Lord Curzon's Partition of Bengal. Originally titled Ekla, it was first published in the September 1905 issue of the magazine Bhandar and later included among the Swadesh (patriotic) songs of his collected songbook Gitabitan.
Mahatma Gandhi was deeply fond of the song and often quoted it. It has been sung by generations of Rabindra Sangeet artists and reused in films and public campaigns. Its opening line is often quoted on its own as a motto for anyone who must act on conviction without support.
After its magazine appearance the song was included in Tagore's 1905 song collection Baul, named after the wandering folk singers of Bengal whose music he admired. The linked recording is by Kishore Kumar, released by INRECO.
What Ekla Chalo Re means
The song speaks to someone who stands alone for what is right. If no one answers the call, the singer says, walk on alone. If people stay silent, turn their faces away and are afraid, then open your heart and speak your mind on your own.
Each stanza raises the cost. If everyone turns back on the hard road, trample the thorns with your own bleeding feet; if on a stormy night no one holds up a lamp and every door is shut, set your own ribs alight with the fire of lightning and burn alone as the light. The repeated cry ore o obhaga, O unlucky one, is tender rather than scornful: it acknowledges the pain of loneliness while urging the listener not to give up.
Quick facts
- It was first published in the September 1905 issue of the magazine Bhandar, under the title Ekla.
- It was written during the Swadeshi movement against the 1905 Partition of Bengal.
- It is listed among the Swadesh songs in Tagore's Gitabitan.
- Mahatma Gandhi often quoted the song.