Tumi ashbe bolei ...

I found this song one someone else’s orkut profile. It’s a song by Nachiketa Chakraborty about Durga Puja. It struck a deep chord with me – especially on Christmas eve, when Seoulites were getting ready to celebrate a festival that seems to have transcended religious boundary. It reminded me of that spirit in Bengal and especially Kolkata, on the eve of Durga Puja. There is nothing great or monumental about this song but I found the simplicity and the tune very refreshing. Here it goes

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei akash meghla bristi ekhono hoyni

Tumi ashbe bolei krishnachurar phul gulo jhore jaye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei ondho kanai boshe ache gaan gaye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei ondho kanai boshe ache gaan gaye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei chourastar police ta ghush khaye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei Zakir Hussain bhul kore fele taale

Tumi ashbe bolei mukkho montri chumu khelo stri r gale

Tumi ashbe bolei shonali swapno bhir kore ashe chokhe

Tumi ashbe bolei agami bolchhe dekhte ashbo toke

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei amar didha ra uttor khuje paye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei deshta ekhono Gujrat hoye jaye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei shontrash bad gutye niyechhe thaba

Tumi ashbe bolei jyotish chherechhe koto na bhondo baba

Tumi ashbe bolei parar meyera much kore ache baar

Tumi ashbe bolei ishan kone te jomechhe ondhokar

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei bokhate chhele ta shish dite dite deye ni

Tumi ashbe bolei amar kolom ekhono bikri hoy ni

Tumi ashbe bolei …

Tumi ashbe bolei Tumi ashbe bolei …

I have heard it a few times since I found it this afternoon and each time I hear it, it makes me happy. It reminds me of my Bengali roots and how inspite of staying thousands of miles away from Bengal, inspite of all my 'vices' :), inspite of all my openess to new ideas and culture, deep within my heart, I'm still a Bong and always will be ...

Here is the original YouTube video:

Tumi ashbe bolei ...