Indian Weavers by Sarojini Naidu - Essay

Introduction:

Sarojini Naidu was an Indian political rights activist and writer. She is remembered for promoting women’s emancipation through her work and her writing. “Indian Weavers” is taken from her first full-length collection, The Golden Threshold, which was published in 1905. The poem explores the finite nature of human life through a series of woven garments. Despite the challenges facing Indian weavers, their work continues to be a testament to the rich history and culture of India.

Structure and Theme:

The poem is written in quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme. The use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality that enhances its themes of art, life, and the inevitability of the passage of time. The poem also uses vivid imagery to create a sense of the beauty and richness of Indian weaving.

Summary:

Sarojini Naidu’s poem “Indian Weavers” is a moving and thought-provoking celebration of the passage of life and eventual death. The poem consists of three stanzas, each describing a different garment woven by Indian weavers at a different time of day. The first stanza describes the weavers making blue clothes for a newborn child in the early morning. The second stanza describes them making green and purple marriage veils in the evening. The final stanza describes them weaving a white shroud for a dead person at night. 

Analysis:

• Symbolism of weaving: The poem uses weaving as a symbol of the cycle of life and death, as well as the creativity and dignity of human labor. The weavers are not only making garments, but also expressing their emotions and experiences through their craft.
• Contrast of colors and moods: The poem contrasts the bright and cheerful colors of the garments for the newborn and the queen with the somber and solemn white of the shroud for the dead. The poem also contrasts the joy and celebration of birth and marriage with the grief and mourning of death.
• Message of empathy and awareness: The poem conveys a message of empathy and awareness for the plight of the Indian weavers, who are often exploited and oppressed by the colonial and capitalist forces. The poem urges the readers to appreciate the beauty and value of their work, as well as their contribution to the culture and history of India.

Conclusion:

This poem is a metaphor for the three stages of human life: birth, youth, and death. The poet depicts Indian weavers who weave tirelessly at Different times, while also describing the three stages of human life, from birth to death, just as the weavers do tonight from dawn to dusk.