Tagore Song Translation: Mone Robe Kina Robe Aamare – I do not recall if you will quite remember me or not

Composer Rabindranath Tagore

Singer: Hemanta Mukherjee

Notes:

Rabindra Jayanti 2025: As we celebrate Rabindranath Tagore on Rabindra Jayanti (the anniversary of his birth) as a poet, song writer, novelist, and a philosopher, it is important to clear up the confusions as to when the day is celebrated in the Bengali speaking world. According to the Bengali calendar, Tagore was born on 25 Boishakh, 1422. As per the Georgian calendar, Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary falls on May 7. However, Rabindra Jayanti in West Bengal and other Bengali speaking places, including Bangladesh, is celebrated on 25 Baishakh. Following the Bengali calendar this year, Rabindra Jayanti is on 9 May, reports Indian Express. We the probashi Bengali diaspora are celebrating Rabi Thakur’s 164th birthday on the 9^th (Friday) with an evening soiree where Tagore will be remembered with his popular songs, and recitations of his poems. Some local singers will present songs on piano. I have chosen the song Mone Robe Ki Na Robe Aamare to be sung in the program by a family friend.

For the audio to accompany with this translation, I have chosen Hemanta Mukherjee for his unique vocal and powerful rendition, not to mention its deeply moving quality.

Parjaay: Prem (10)

Upa-parjaay: Gaan

Taal: Kaharwa

Raag: Khambaj

Written on: 1927 (19 Phalgun)

Place: Santiniketan

মনে রবে কি না রবে আমারে সে আমার মনে নাই ।
ক্ষণে ক্ষণে আসি তব দুয়ারে, অকারণে গান গাই ॥
চলে যায় দিন, যতখন আছি পথে যেতে যদি আসি কাছাকাছি
তোমার মুখের চকিত সুখের হাসি দেখিতে যে চাই–
তাই অকারণে গান গাই ॥
ফাগুনের ফুল যায় ঝরিয়া ফাগুনের অবসানে–
ক্ষণিকের মুঠি দেয় ভরিয়া, আর কিছু নাহি জানে ।
ফুরাইবে দিন, আলো হবে ক্ষীণ, গান সারা হবে, থেমে যাবে বীন,
যতখন থাকি ভরে দিবে না কি এ খেলারই ভেলাটাই–
তাই অকারণে গান গাই ॥

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English Translation:

I do not recall if you will quite remember me or not.

I appear on your door sporadically, sing a song for no reason.

Life floats by, still alive and well          

                                                     If we come close during our journeys

I want to see the sudden flash of glee in your face –

Hence sing a song for no reason.

The flowers of Fagun (Spring) wither away as the season ends –

Enriches the soul for an instant, knows nothing else.

The days will get shorter, light dimmer

                                                              The songs will be sung, the flute will die away

For moments alive, richer will be this floating boat of life’s game –

Hence sing a song for no reason.

Zeenat Khan is a contributor to South Asia based journals and magazines. She writes from Maryland, USA