About the Author
Rabindranath Tagore was a famous Indian writer and poet. He was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata, which was called Calcutta back then. He came from a big family that loved books and music. From a young age, Tagore wrote poems and stories in Bengali, his mother tongue. He did not like boring school lessons, so he learned a lot on his own by reading and watching the world around him. He wrote many books, plays, and over 2,000 songs. One of his big dreams was to teach kids in a fun way, so he started a school called Shantiniketan, where classes happened under trees. In 1913, he won the Nobel Prize for his book of poems called Gitanjali. People called him "Gurudev" because he was like a wise teacher. He loved nature, freedom, and simple joys in life. Tagore passed away on August 7, 1941, but his words still make us smile and think.
What’s the Story About?
This is a sweet poem, not a story with big fights or magic, but it shows the happy dreams of a little boy. The boy is like you – going to school every day, but his mind wanders to fun things he sees on the way. He wishes he could be free like the grown-ups he watches, without rules or books to study.
In the morning, as he walks to school, a hawker comes along. A hawker is like a street seller who carries a big tray of shiny glass bangles on his head. He calls out loudly, "Bangles, crystal bangles!" to sell them to anyone who wants. The hawker walks anywhere he likes, from street to street, with no one telling him to hurry or sit still. The boy thinks, "Wow, he is so free! No school bell rings for him. I wish I could be a hawker too, just wandering and calling out all day."
Then, in the afternoon, when the boy goes to the market, he sees a gardener. The gardener digs the earth with a spade, making the soil turn over like brown waves. He gets his hands and clothes all dirty with mud, but he does not care. He plants seeds and flowers that will grow big and pretty. The boy watches and says to himself, "He can play in the dirt all day without anyone scolding him. No homework or clean clothes rule for him! I want to be a gardener, digging and making the ground happy."
At night, when the boy should be sleeping, he peeks out the window. The roads are dark and empty, like a quiet dream. There comes the watchman with his lantern, swinging it like a yellow star. He walks up and down the lanes, making soft sounds with his stick on the ground. No one wakes him up early or makes him go to bed on time. The boy whispers, "He roams when everyone else sleeps. What a lucky life! I wish I could be the watchman, guarding the night with my light."
The poem ends with the boy hiding his secret wishes from his mom and dad. He knows they want him to study and grow up proper, but in his heart, he dreams of that free, joyful life. It makes us remember how kids love to imagine and play, seeing magic in everyday jobs. The poem feels like a warm hug, showing how the world looks big and exciting through a child's eyes.
Who’s Who in the Story
This poem has no kings or animals, just simple people from daily life that the boy sees and admires. Here they are, like friends in his dreams:
- The Boy (the speaker): A young school kid, full of wonder. He walks to school and market, watching everything with bright eyes. He is you – curious, playful, and wishing for no rules.
- The Hawker: A cheerful seller who carries glass bangles in a tray. He shouts to sell them and roams streets freely, like a bird with no cage.
- The Gardener: A happy worker who digs soil with a spade. He loves the earth, gets muddy, and helps flowers grow without anyone bossing him around.
- The Watchman: A night guard with a lantern and stick. He walks quiet streets in the dark, keeping watch while others sleep, swinging his light like a secret star.
- Mother and Father: They are at home, caring and strict. The boy hides his wishes from them because they want him to study and be good.
These people are like colorful pictures in the boy's mind. They show him what freedom looks like, even if he doesn't know their hard work.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
The poem talks about a child's love for freedom and how they see joy in simple jobs. It shows the wonder in everyday things, like selling bangles or digging dirt. Another idea is dreaming big – kids imagine lives without school bells or bedtimes. It also celebrates different kinds of work, big or small, that make the world go around.
Moral: The lesson is to follow your heart and find what makes you truly happy, like a real calling in life. It teaches us to value all jobs, no matter how small they seem, because they bring freedom and fun in their own way. And remember, it's okay to dream as a child – those wishes help us grow into who we want to be. Be like the boy: look at the world with open eyes and a playful spirit!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some special words and phrases from the poem. I explain them like telling a story to a friend, using easy words:
- Hawker: A person who walks around selling things from a tray or basket. Like the uncle who sells toys or balloons on your street.
- Bangles: Round glass rings worn on wrists by girls and women. They make a tinkling sound and come in bright colors like red or green.
- Crystal: Clear and shiny like glass or diamonds. Here, it means the bangles sparkle like jewels in the sun.
- Gardener: Someone who takes care of plants and flowers. He digs soil, waters them, and makes gardens look pretty.
- Spade: A tool like a big spoon for digging earth. It's flat and strong, used to turn over soil for planting.
- Watchman: A guard who keeps an eye on things at night. He walks around with a light to check if everything is safe.
- Lantern: A small lamp with a handle, often with glass sides. It gives a soft yellow light in the dark, like a portable Diwali diya.
- Desolate: Empty and quiet, like a playground with no one playing. The streets at night feel lonely without people.
- Wishes for myself: Secret dreams about what you want to be or do. Like wanting to fly a kite all day instead of doing math.
- Keeps them to himself: Hides his thoughts inside, not telling anyone. Like keeping a favorite candy in your pocket.
These words make the poem come alive, like colors in a drawing. Say them out loud to feel the boy's excitement!