Summary: The Bangle sellers | English Class 10 ICSE PDF Download

About the Poet

Sarojini Naidu (1879–1949), known as the "Nightingale of India," was a prominent Indian poet, freedom fighter, and political activist. Born in Hyderabad, she was a child prodigy who excelled in literature and began writing poetry at a young age. Educated in India and England, she blended her love for Indian culture with her mastery of the English language, creating vivid, lyrical poetry that celebrated Indian traditions, landscapes, and people. Her notable works include collections like The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912), and The Broken Wing (1917). Naidu was also a key figure in India’s independence movement, working closely with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. Her poetry, rich in imagery and rhythm, reflects her deep connection to Indian heritage and her ability to evoke universal emotions.

Summary

"The Bangle Sellers" by Sarojini Naidu is a lyrical poem that celebrates the beauty and cultural significance of bangles in Indian society. The poem describes bangle sellers at a temple fair, calling out to sell their colorful bangles, which symbolize various stages of an Indian woman’s life—maidenhood, marriage, and motherhood. Each stanza highlights the colors and types of bangles suited for women at different life stages, reflecting their emotions, roles, and societal importance. The poem vividly captures Indian traditions, the vibrancy of its markets, and the deep connection between adornments and a woman’s identity.

Stanza-wise Explanation with Lines

Stanza 1

Lines:

Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair...
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.

Explanation: The poem opens with the bangle sellers introducing themselves, carrying their "shining loads" (bangles) to a temple fair, a bustling place of cultural and religious significance. They call out to attract buyers, describing the bangles as "delicate, bright" and "rainbow-tinted circles of light," emphasizing their beauty and allure. The bangles are not mere ornaments but "lustrous tokens" symbolizing the joyful lives of daughters and wives, highlighting their emotional and social value in Indian culture.

Stanza 2

Lines:

Some are meet for a maiden's wrist,
Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves.

Explanation: This stanza focuses on bangles suitable for young, unmarried girls (maidens). The bangles are described with nature-inspired imagery: "silver and blue as the mountain mist" suggests purity and calmness, while "flushed like the buds" evokes the delicate blush of youth. The "bloom that cleaves to the limpid glory of new born leaves" symbolizes freshness and the promise of new beginnings. These colors and comparisons reflect the innocence, beauty, and aspirations of young girls.

Stanza 3

Lines:

Some are like fields of sunlit corn,
Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart's desire,
Tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

Explanation: This stanza describes bangles for a bride, symbolizing the transition to married life. The colors are vibrant and passionate: "fields of sunlit corn" (golden) represent prosperity, while "flame of her marriage fire" (red/orange) signifies the sacred marital bond. Bangles "rich with the hue of her heart’s desire" reflect love and longing. The bangles’ sound and appearance—"tinkling, luminous, tender, and clear"—mirror the bride’s mixed emotions of joy ("bridal laughter") and sorrow ("bridal tear") as she embarks on a new journey.

Stanza 4

Lines:

Some are purple and gold flecked grey
For she who has journeyed through life midway,
Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest,
And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,
And serves her household in fruitful pride,
And worships the gods at her husband's side.

Explanation: The final stanza is dedicated to bangles for a mature woman, likely a mother and wife, who has reached middle age. The colors "purple and gold flecked grey" symbolize wisdom, dignity, and experience. This woman has fulfilled her roles with devotion—she has "cherished" her family, raised children, and served her household with pride. Her spiritual role is highlighted as she "worships the gods at her husband’s side," reflecting her enduring partnership and piety. The bangles celebrate her fulfilled life and respected status.

Themes

1. Cultural Significance of Bangles: The poem underscores the importance of bangles as symbols of Indian womanhood, marking key stages of life—maiden, bride, and mother.
2. Stages of Womanhood: Each stanza represents a phase of a woman’s life, celebrating her evolving roles, emotions, and responsibilities.
3. Beauty and Tradition: The vivid imagery and vibrant colors reflect the richness of Indian traditions and the aesthetic appeal of bangles.
4. Joy and Fulfillment: The poem conveys the happiness and pride associated with a woman’s journey through life, from youth to maturity.
5. Nature and Symbolism: Naidu uses nature imagery (mist, buds, corn, leaves) to draw parallels between the beauty of bangles and the natural world.

Important Word Meanings

• Lustrous: Shining or radiant.
• Tokens: Symbols or signs.
• Radiant: Bright and glowing, full of joy.
• Meet: Suitable or appropriate.
• Flushed: Slightly red, like blushing.
• Limpid: Clear or transparent.
• Cleaves: Sticks closely to.
• Tinkling: Making a light, ringing sound.
• Luminous: Bright or glowing.
• Cherished: Loved and cared for deeply.
• Fruitful: Productive or rewarding.
• Flecked: Spotted or streaked.

Conclusion

"The Bangle Sellers" is a vibrant and evocative poem that beautifully captures the essence of Indian womanhood through the symbolism of bangles. Sarojini Naidu skillfully weaves together vivid imagery, cultural traditions, and the emotional journey of women across different stages of life. The poem not only celebrates the aesthetic appeal of bangles but also highlights their deeper significance as markers of identity, love, and fulfillment. Through its lyrical quality and rich descriptions, the poem leaves a lasting impression of the joy, pride, and reverence associated with Indian women and their roles in society.