I Shall Return To This Bengal আবার আসিব ফিরে – Jibanananda Das | Bengali Poem with English Translation, Line by Line Meaning & Word Notes | PKGWAY

 

আবার আসিব ফিরে – জীবনানন্দ দাশ
(Abar Ashibo Phire – Jibanananda Das)

Poem with English Translation (Line by Line)

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বাংলা:
আবার আসিব ফিরে ধানসিঁড়িটির তীরে- এই বাংলায়

English:
When I return to the banks of the Dhansiri, to this Bengal,

Explanation:
The poet says that he wishes to return again to Bengal, especially to the bank of the river Dhansiri, because he deeply loves his motherland.

Word Notes:
ধানসিঁড়ি = A river in Bengal
তীরে = bank/shore

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বাংলা:
হয়তো মানুষ নয়- হয়তো বা শংখচিল শালিখের বেশে,

English:
Not as a man, perhaps, but as a salik bird or white hawk,

Explanation:
The poet imagines that he may not return as a human being. He may come back as a bird to stay close to Bengal’s beauty.

Word Notes:
শংখচিল = white hawk
শালিখ = myna bird
বেশে = in the form of

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বাংলা:
হয়তো ভোরের কাক হয়ে এই কার্তিকের নবান্নের দেশে

English:
Perhaps as a dawn crow in this land of autumn’s new harvest,

Explanation:
The poet may return as a crow during the harvest season of Kartik when Bengal becomes joyful with new rice and festivals.

Word Notes:
কার্তিক = Bengali autumn month
নবান্ন = new harvest festival

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বাংলা:
কুয়াশার বুকে ভেসে একদিন আসিব এ কাঁঠাল ছায়ায়।

English:
I’ll float upon the breast of fog one day in the shade of a jackfruit tree.

Explanation:
The poet imagines himself floating through the misty morning and resting under the shade of a jackfruit tree in Bengal.

Word Notes:
কুয়াশা = fog
কাঁঠাল = jackfruit

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বাংলা:
হয়তো বা হাঁস হব- কিশোরীর- ঘুঙুর রহিবে লাল পায়

English:
Or I’ll be some young girl’s pet duck – ankle bells upon her feet –

Explanation:
The poet imagines becoming a duck belonging to a village girl whose feet wear red anklets.

Word Notes:
কিশোরী = teenage girl
ঘুঙুর = anklet bells

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বাংলা:
সারাদিন কেটে যাবে কলমীর গন্ধভরা জলে ভেসে ভেসে।

English:
And I’ll spend the day floating on duckweed-scented waters,

Explanation:
The poet dreams of peacefully floating all day in the fragrant waters filled with aquatic plants.

Word Notes:
কলমী = water plant
গন্ধভরা = full of fragrance

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বাংলা:
আবার আসিব আমি বাংলার নদী মাঠ ক্ষেত ভালোবেসে

English:
When again I come, smitten by Bengal’s rivers and fields,

Explanation:
The poet says he will surely return because of his endless love for Bengal’s rivers, fields, and natural beauty.

Word Notes:
মাঠ ক্ষেত = fields and farmlands
ভালোবেসে = loving deeply

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বাংলা:
জলাঙ্গীর ঢেউয়ে ভেজা বাংলার এই সবুজ করুণ ডাঙ্গায়।

English:
To this green and kindly land, Bengal, moistened by Jalangi river’s waves.

Explanation:
The poet lovingly describes Bengal as green, peaceful, and touched by the waters of the Jalangi river.

Word Notes:
জলাঙ্গী = a river of Bengal
ডাঙ্গা = land

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Second Stanza

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বাংলা:
হয়তো দেখিবে চেয়ে সুদর্শন উড়িতেছে সন্ধ্যার বাতাসে।

English:
Perhaps I’ll watch the buzzard soar on sunset’s breeze.

Explanation:
The poet imagines watching birds flying freely in the evening sky of Bengal.

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বাংলা:
হয়তো শুনিবে এক লক্ষ্মীপেঁচা ডাকিতেছে শিমূলের ডালে।

English:
Perhaps I’ll listen to a spotted owl screeching from a simul tree branch.

Explanation:
The natural sounds of Bengal, like the cry of an owl from a tree branch, attract the poet deeply.

Word Notes:
লক্ষ্মীপেঁচা = owl
শিমূল = silk cotton tree

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বাংলা:
হয়তো খইয়ের ধান ছড়াতেছে শিশু এক উঠানের ঘাসে।

English:
Perhaps a child scatters puffed rice upon the grass of some home’s courtyard.

Explanation:
The poet remembers simple village life where children play happily in courtyards.

Word Notes:
খই = puffed rice
উঠান = courtyard

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বাংলা:
রূপসার ঘোলা জলে হয়তো কিশোর এক সাদা ছেঁড়া পালে

English:
On the Rupsa river’s murky waters a youth perhaps steers his dinghy with its torn white sail.

Explanation:
The poet imagines a village boy sailing a small boat on the river with an old white sail.

Word Notes:
ঘোলা জল = muddy water
পাল = sail

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বাংলা:
ডিঙ্গা বায়; রাঙ্গা মেঘ সাঁতরায়ে অন্ধকারে আসিতেছে নীড়ে

English:
Reddish clouds scud by, and in the darkness, coming to their nest,

Explanation:
The evening sky becomes dark as red clouds move across and birds return home.

Word Notes:
নীড় = nest/home
রাঙ্গা মেঘ = red clouds

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বাংলা:
দেখিবে ধবল বক; আমারেই পাবে তুমি ইহাদের ভীড়ে।

English:
I shall see white herons. Among them all is where you’ll find me.

Explanation:
The poet finally says that he will always remain among the natural beauty and birds of Bengal even after death.

Word Notes:
ধবল বক = white heron
ভীড়ে = among the crowd

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Theme of the Poem

The poem expresses the poet’s deep love for Bengal. Jibanananda Das wishes to return to his motherland again and again, even after death, in different forms of nature like birds, animals, or natural elements. The poem beautifully presents Bengal’s rivers, fields, birds, fog, trees, and village life.

About the Poet

Jibanananda Das was one of the greatest modern Bengali poets. His poetry is famous for beautiful nature imagery, deep emotion, and love for Bengal.

Easy Long Summary of "I Shall Return to This Bengal

“Abar Ashibo Phire” is a beautiful poem written by Jibanananda Das. In this poem, the poet expresses his deep love for Bengal. He wishes to come back again to this land even after death.

The poet says that he may not return as a human being. He may come back as a bird or another living creature. This shows his strong emotional attachment to Bengal.

He imagines becoming a shalik bird or a hawk. By becoming birds, he can freely fly over the rivers, fields, and villages of Bengal.

The poet also thinks that he may return as a crow during the harvest season of Kartik. The season of Nabanna fills Bengal with joy and happiness.

He dreams of floating through the fog and resting under the shade of a jackfruit tree. These natural pictures make the poem calm and beautiful.

The poet imagines becoming a duck belonging to a village girl. He wants to spend the whole day floating in the water filled with the smell of water plants.

The poet says that he loves Bengal’s rivers, green fields, and peaceful villages very much. The waves of the Jalangi river make Bengal more beautiful and attractive.

In the second part of the poem, the poet imagines evening scenes of Bengal. He sees birds flying in the sky and hears the cry of an owl from a tree branch.

He also imagines a child scattering puffed rice in the courtyard and a village boy sailing a small boat on the river. These simple village scenes make the poem lively and realistic.

At the end, the poet says that people will find him among the birds and natural beauty of Bengal. The poem shows the poet’s endless love for his motherland and the beauty of nature.

Long Summary of "Abar Ashibo Phire" by Jibanananda Das

“Abar Ashibo Phire” is one of the most famous poems written by Jibanananda Das. In this poem, the poet expresses his deep love for Bengal and its natural beauty. He says that even after death he wants to return again to his beloved land. The poem shows the strong emotional attachment of the poet to his motherland.

The poet imagines that he may not return as a human being. He may come back as different birds or animals of Bengal such as a shalik, a hawk, a crow, or even a duck. Through these images, the poet shows his endless desire to remain close to the rivers, fields, trees, and villages of Bengal. Nature is presented in a very beautiful and peaceful way.

The poet also describes the rural beauty of Bengal. He talks about foggy mornings, jackfruit trees, green fields, rivers, and the smell of water plants. These natural scenes create a calm and magical atmosphere. The poet feels happiness and peace when he thinks about the simple village life of Bengal.

In the second part of the poem, the poet imagines different evening scenes of Bengal. He sees birds flying in the sky, hears the call of an owl from a tree, and watches children playing in the courtyard. He also imagines a young boy sailing a small boat on the river. These pictures make the poem lively and full of emotion.

At the end of the poem, the poet says that people will find him among the birds and natural beauty of Bengal. This shows that his soul will always remain connected with his motherland. The poem is full of love, imagination, and beautiful nature imagery. It teaches us to love our land and respect the beauty of nature.