Doodh-Doodh Poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

Doodh-Doodh poem is a heart-wrenching portrayal of hunger, despair, and the innocence of children suffering from poverty. It captures the plight of infants crying for milk, symbolizing their basic need for nourishment in a world that turns a deaf ear to their suffering. The poet contrasts the indifference of society, temples, and the rich, who pamper their pets, with the cries of starving children. The imagery of helpless mothers, empty graves, and silent gods highlights the cruelty and inequality of the world.

The poem ends with a call to action, invoking nature and humanity to rise and fulfill these innocent needs, emphasizing that such suffering is an injustice that must be addressed. It is a powerful cry for compassion and societal responsibility.

Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

Read this post in Hindi

पर, शिशु का क्या हाल, सीख पाया न अभी जो आंसू पीना?
चूस-चूस सुखा स्तन माँ का सो जाता रो-विलप नगीना।

Par, shishu ka kya haal, seekh paya na abhi jo aansoo peena?
Chus-chus sukha stan maa ka so jaata ro-vilap nagina.

विवश देखती माँ, अंचल से नन्ही जान तड़प उड़ जाती,
अपना रक्त पिला देती यदि फटती आज वज्र की छाती।

Viwash dekhti maa, anchal se nanhi jaan tadap ud jaati,
Apna rakt pila deti yadi phatti aaj vajr ki chaati.

कब्र-कब्र में अबुध बालकों की भूखी हड्डी रोती है,
‘दूध-दूध!’ की कदम कदम पर सारी रात सदा होती है।

Kabr-kabr mein abudh balakon ki bhookhi haddhi roti hai,
‘Doodh-doodh!’ ki kadam kadam par saari raat sada hoti hai.

‘दूध-दूध!’ ओ वत्स! मंदिरों में बहरे पाषाण यहाँ हैं,
‘दूध-दूध!’ तारे, बोलो, इन बच्चों के भगवान् कहाँ हैं?

‘Doodh-doodh!’ O vats! Mandiron mein behre paashaan yahan hain,
‘Doodh-doodh!’ Taare, bolo, in bachon ke bhagwaan kahan hain?

‘दूध-दूध!’ दुनिया सोती है, लाऊं दूध कहाँ, किस घर से?
‘दूध-दूध!’ हे देव गगन के! कुछ बूँदें टपका अम्बर से!

‘Doodh-doodh!’ Duniya soti hai, laaun doodh kahan, kis ghar se?
‘Doodh-doodh!’ He dev gagan ke! Kuch boonden tapka ambar se!

‘दूध-दूध!’ गंगा तू ही अपने पानी को दूध बना दे,
‘दूध-दूध!’ उफ़! है कोई, भूखे मुर्दों को जरा मना दे?

‘Doodh-doodh!’ Ganga tu hi apne paani ko doodh bana de,
‘Doodh-doodh!’ Uf! Hai koi, bhookhe murdon ko zara mana de?

‘दूध-दूध!’ फिर ‘दूध!’ अरे क्या याद दुख की खो न सकोगे?
‘दूध-दूध!’ मरकर भी क्या टीम बिना दूध के सो न सकोगे?

‘Doodh-doodh!’ Phir ‘doodh!’ Are kya yaad dukh ki kho na sakoge?
‘Doodh-doodh!’ Mar kar bhi kya team bina doodh ke so na sakoge?

वे भी यहीं, दूध से जो अपने श्वानों को नहलाते हैं।
वे बच्चे भी यही, कब्र में ‘दूध-दूध!’ जो चिल्लाते हैं।

Ve bhi yahin, doodh se jo apne shwanon ko nahlaate hain.
Ve bachhe bhi yahi, kabr mein ‘doodh-doodh!’ jo chillaate hain.

बेक़सूर, नन्हे देवों का शाप विश्व पर पड़ा हिमालय!
हिला चाहता मूल सृष्टि का, देख रहा क्या खड़ा हिमालय?

Bekasoor, nanhe devon ka shaap vishwa par pada Himalaya!
Hila chahta mool srishti ka, dekh raha kya khada Himalaya?

‘दूध-दूध!’ फिर सदा कब्र की, आज दूध लाना ही होगा,
जहाँ दूध के घड़े मिलें, उस मंजिल पर जाना ही होगा!

‘Doodh-doodh!’ Phir sada kabr ki, aaj doodh lana hi hoga,
Jahan doodh ke ghade milen, us manzil par jaana hi hoga!

जय मानव की धरा साक्षिणी! जाय विशाल अम्बर की जय हो!
जय गिरिराज! विन्ध्यगिरी, जय-जय! हिंदमहासागर की जय हो!

Jai maanav ki dhara saakshini! Jai vishal ambar ki jai ho!
Jai Giriraaj! Vindhyagiri, Jai-Jai! Hindmahasagar ki jai ho!

हटो व्योम के मेघ! पंथ से, स्वर्ग लूटने हम आते हैं,
‘दूध, दूध! …’ ओ वत्स! तुम्हारा दूध खोजने हम जाते हैं!

Hato vyom ke megh! Panth se, swarg lootne hum aate hain,
‘Doodh, doodh! …’ O vats! Tumhara doodh khojne hum jaate hain!
_{~ Ramdhari Singh Dinkar}

Translation of Doodh-Doodh Poem in English

But what about the infant, who has not yet learned to swallow his tears?
Sucking the dry breast of his mother, he falls asleep sobbing, a gem in anguish.

The helpless mother watches, her little one writhing in pain;
If only the heavens would crack open, she would feed him her own blood.

In every grave, the hungry bones of innocent children cry,
At every step, throughout the night, echoes the cry, “Milk! Milk!”

“Milk! Milk!” Oh child, here temples hold deaf stones.
“Milk! Milk!” Oh stars, tell us where the God of these children resides.

“Milk! Milk!” The world sleeps—where shall I bring milk from, which home?
“Milk! Milk!” Oh gods of the heavens, let some drops fall from the skies!

“Milk! Milk!” Ganga, you alone can turn your waters into milk.
“Milk! Milk!” Alas! Is there no one to console these starving corpses?

“Milk! Milk!” Again, “Milk!” Will this pain not stir your hearts?
“Milk! Milk!” Even in death, will these infants lie unsatisfied without milk?

Here are those who bathe their dogs in milk.
And here are the children, crying “Milk! Milk!” in their graves.

The curse of these innocent little gods has fallen upon the world—Himalaya!
The very foundation of creation trembles—do you merely stand and watch, Himalaya?

“Milk! Milk!” The eternal cry from the graves demands action today.
Where the pots of milk are found, we must journey to that destination!

Hail humanity! Witness the testimony of this earth! Hail the vast skies!
Hail the mountains, Vindhyachal! Hail the Indian Ocean!

Move aside, clouds of the heavens, we march to plunder paradise.
“Milk! Milk!” Oh child, we are on our way to find your milk!
_{~ English Translation (Doodh-Doodh Poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar)}

Synopsis of Doodh-Doodh Poem

The poem vividly portrays the harrowing plight of impoverished children suffering from hunger and deprivation. It centers on the cries of infants longing for milk, symbolizing their basic unmet needs in a world of apathy and inequality. The imagery shifts between helpless mothers, starving children, and silent graves, juxtaposed against the wealth and indifference of the privileged. The poet critiques a society that fails to address such suffering, with even divine entities appearing unresponsive. Despite the despair, the poem carries an urgent call to action, emphasizing the moral and human responsibility to alleviate this anguish.

Message of Doodh-Doodh Poem

The poem delivers a profound message about the moral failure of society in addressing the plight of the underprivileged, particularly children. It calls for compassion, action, and equality, urging humanity to rise above indifference and work towards fulfilling the fundamental needs of all. The poet emphasizes that hunger and suffering, especially of innocent children, are unacceptable and that it is humanity’s duty to create a world where every child’s cry for basic sustenance is met with care and support. The message underlines the need for collective empathy and action to eradicate inequality and injustice.