Yesterday, on 26th January, India has celebrated its Republic Day. The republic day is reminder of becoming a republic nation, a country with constitution after long desired independence. Though, India gained independence from British rule in 1947, it was only in 1950 that it had a constitution in force. Today, on this occasion, I will share an inspiring patriotic poem in Hindi. The poet is defining what a country should mean to its people.

Below is the poem in Devanagari fonts (Hindi) with the literal translation in English. I hope that you will try to comprehend the poem with the given explanation. So, here it is.

कविता (Kavita – Poem) : देश (Desh – Country)
कवि (Kavi – Poet) : शेरजंग गर्ग (Sherjang Garg)

ग्राम, नगर या कुछ लोगों का काम नहीं होता है देश
संसद, सड़कों, आयोगों का नाम नहीं होता है देश

Country is not a work of a village, city or some people,
Country is not a name of a parliament, streets and commissions.

देश नहीं होता है केवल सीमाओं से घिरा मकान
देश नहीं होता है कोई सजी हुई ऊँची दूकान

Country is not only a house surrounded by the boundaries,
Country is not a nice decorated famous shop.

देश नहीं क्लब जिसमें बैठ करते रहें सदा हम मौज
देश नहीं केवल बंदूकें, देश नहीं होता है फौज

Country is not a club where we can enjoy forever,
Country is not rifle, country is not a army.

जहाँ प्रेम के दीपक जलते वहीं हुआ करता है देश
जहाँ इरादे नहीं बदलते वहीं हुआ करता है देश

Country is where the light of love are lit,
Country is where the notion does not changes.

सज्जन सीना ताने चलते वहीं हुआ करता है देश
हर दिल में अरमान मचलते वहीं हुआ करता है देश

Country is where the gentlemen walk with their shoulders high,
Country is where every heart is moved by desires,

वही होता जो सचमुच आगे बढ़ता क़दम-क़दम
धर्म, जाति, भाषाएँ जिसका ऊँचा रखती हैं परचम

only that is, which really moves ahead together,
where the religions, castes, languages holds its flags high,

पहले हम खुद को पहचाने फिर पहचानें अपना देश
एक दमकता सत्य बनेगा, नहीं रहेगा सपना देश

first we must recognize ourselves, then our country,
it will become a radiating truth, and will not remain a dream country.