11.1 Before You Read
Before You Read Think of the food on your plate. Before it reached you, it needed sunshine, rain, good soil, and a farmer’s hard work. This poem is a joyful “thank you” to all of those — sung by an entire village at harvest time.
About the poet
Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949) was a celebrated Indian poet and a great freedom fighter, lovingly called the “Nightingale of India” for her musical verse. She wrote poems rich in Indian colours, sounds, and traditions. Harvest Hymn shows her gift for turning everyday Indian life — here, a village harvest — into music.
What is a hymn?
A hymn is a song of praise and thanksgiving, usually addressed to God or to a sacred power. Calling this poem a “harvest hymn” tells us at once that it is a devotional song of gratitude — the villagers are praising and thanking the forces of nature for the food the harvest brings.
Harvest festivals of India
Across India, the gathering of crops is celebrated with joyful harvest festivals — Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Baisakhi in Punjab, Makar Sankranti, Onam in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, and many more. In all of them, communities come together to give thanks for a good harvest. This poem captures exactly that spirit of shared joy and gratitude.
About the form
The poem is structured like a community song, with different voices — the men, the women, and all together — offering praise. Watch how the poem addresses the powers of nature directly, as if speaking to living gods, and how repeated lines give it the rhythm of a real, sung hymn.
Key Idea The poem sees the divine in nature. The sun, the rain, and the earth are not just natural forces but generous powers to be thanked. This reflects a deep Indian tradition of gratitude towards, and harmony with, the natural world.
Think and discuss
- Which harvest or seasonal festival does your family or region celebrate, and how?
- Why is it important to feel grateful for food and water?
- How do the sun, the rain, and the soil work together to grow our crops?