Question- What is the critical appreciation of "The Palanquin Bearers'?

Answer - 

This beautiful poem Palanquin Bearers' has been composed by Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a well known poetess of India. The themes of all the poems are Indian specially consistent with Indian rural life.

About eight decades ago the palanquins were used to carry mostly ladies of upper castes in rural and semi-urban areas where the means of transport were not sufficient. In this beautiful poem, the poetess comments upon activities of the palanquin bearers who are carrying the palanquin happily and joyfully. The poetess gives expression to her thoughts in well chosen words in an impressive manner.

Sarojini Naidu is rightly remembered as the Nightiangle of India'. Her poems have a bird like quality. She is really a singer of delicate fancy and haunting melody. Sarojini mostly drew her inspiration from Indian atmosphere. The same is true with the poem.

Development of Thought - The poem deals with a very nominal subject i.e. the activities of palanquin bearers. But there is sufficient charm in it draw our attention. Sarojini comments upon the movements and activites of the bearers who are carrying palanquin happily, easily and enjoying it whole heartedly. In order to carry palanquin quite safe and sound, they express their views through song which shows their cheerful mood. In that song like wind, the palanquin sways here and there. It seems to them as if it lies upon the foam of a small river like a bird, and sometimes it seems as cheerful as a smile on someone's lips who is dreaming.

"She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string"

Again it is compared to a star, a ray of light; a tear from the eyes of a newly wedded girl. Singing a song with joy, they are carrying palanquin "like a pearl on" a chord which is expensive for them like a precious stone. So they take a great care of it and move lightly. All the activities of the bearers, while they are working, are presented in the poem in an impressive manner.

Expression of Her Feeling - The poetess is an Indian woman. She has a close contact with Indian rural life. The poem 'Palanquin Bearers' is also about an Indian scene. The Palanquins were used when the poetess was a child where in hill side they are also used even today. Thus, the feeling of "Palanquin Bearers" is her true imagination. It is a real Indian Scene.

Her Imagination - The poetess has used very significant images of a flower, of a flying bird, of a star moving in the sky, of a bride laughing in the palanquin. Palanquin bearers are carrying the palanquin very gladly. Through these images the poetess on the one hand proposes to convey the beauty, tenderness are youthfulness of a maiden being carried in the palanquin and on the other hand she describes the palanquin bearers carrying the heavy palanquin with great joy.

Style and Diction - The poem is only twelve lines. Its style is very striking. Words chosen by the poetess are very simple and impressive. The emotion expressed in the poem is quite simple. The palanquin Bearers sing the songs and the main purpose of their songs is to lighten the burden of palanquin. Their songs are very folk songs. The language of the poem is figurative. Simile and hyperbole are used specially in the language. The theme of the poem is real which has been made beautiful by diction used by the poetess. The two stanzas do not present any real development of thoughts but do constitute a sort of balanced whole.

Poetic Qualities - Sarojini Naidu's poetry is essentially lyrical. So the poet in 'Palanquin Bearers" is. It is marked by asweet melody and a vision of the colourful, natural world. The poetess has expressed her views in a simple and impressive manner. The theme has familiarily with Indian context, which describes the joyful mood of palanquin bearers during their work. Flower, wind, bird, foam of stream, star, beam etc. are directly drawn from nature which is very dear to Sarojini. The compassions of palanquin to various objects are charming. Simile is used in a large measure all through the poem. Exquisite music, similes and rhythm make it a fine poem.

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