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looklook 84M
4553 posts
6/2/2018 12:17 am

Last Read:
10/31/2023 5:21 am

As I Travel......

‘As I travel’ has been picked up as the title of the blog from the last line of the first paragraph of a Bengali Bhatiali song (One type of Bengali folk music) translated by me in English to tell someone something that remains still untold!

Bhatiali song tells about the lonely boatmen mainly of downstream of our rivers! It is based upon their lives on the water!

It is a form of folk music of the country where I grew up. Usually these songs were composed by boatmen themselves that covered everything about their life long sufferings, situations of love, their struggles, and the river itself---its beauty and flowing waters and the boats too!

If my readers carefully read the English translation of the song posted below, they will surely understand what the boatman wanted to tell the listeners! In spite of everything they encounter to survive with their boats on the river, they never loose faith in their God whoever he may be!

Bhatiali is a part of our tradition, culture and life that opens our past and present!

The song was written in Bengali by a famous Actor, Movie and Music director, Khan Ataur Rahman and was used in a Bengali Movie by him! He might not be a boatman himself but he grew up with them here in this country like me! If anyone feels like listening the song then he may please Google, “Pothe Pothe Dilam Choriya …” first!


The tears caused by sorrows
That rolled down the cheeks from my eyes
Are sprinkled on the ways as I travel......

O I have no eyes.
O how long I couldn’t see
O I have no eyes.

I see no coast, the river has no edge
Have no home, none to look after,
Yet, I began the journey by a damaged boat
Cutting the waters of the fathomless river!

The tears caused by sorrows
That rolled down the cheeks from my eyes
Are sprinkled on the ways as I travel......

O I have no oar.
No wind on my torn sails either.
O I have no oar.
I have no joy,
No sleep-none in my eyes.

Oh God, there is no end of your humors
You are not kind, not compassionate
Yet I consider you as my own master
Even though I am a life long sufferer!

The tears caused by sorrows
That rolled down the cheeks from my eyes
Are sprinkled on the ways as I travel......













looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/2/2018 1:03 am

'O my boatman'!


Rocketship 79F
18531 posts
6/2/2018 6:14 am

Very poignant, Look~~ Thank you for sharing this!


MrsJoe 76F
17309 posts
6/2/2018 7:16 am

I really enjoy your blogs and those of ltw222 because they show me a part of the world and a lifestyle of which I have no knowledge. Thank you.

Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/2/2018 7:17 am

    Quoting Rocketship:
    Very poignant, Look~~ Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you so much for your post, Rocketship. I appreciate.
Have a nice weekend.


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/2/2018 8:14 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    I really enjoy your blogs and those of ltw222 because they show me a part of the world and a lifestyle of which I have no knowledge. Thank you.
You are always welcome to my blog pages, Mrs. Joe. The comments you usually leave on my blog pages, make my blogs richer and meaningful too. I may add here for your information that this type of song is also known as river song mostly sung by boatmen of Bangladesh and West Bengal of India while going down streams of the rivers in both countries. The name ‘Bhatiali’ comes from the Bengali word “Bhata” meaning “ebb” in English!
Enjoy your weekend and take care of yourself.


Archer62 83F
7051 posts
6/2/2018 9:07 am

A BIT SAD DON'T YOU THINK? WE HAVE SIMILAR SONGS SUNG BY BOATMEN ON THE BIG RIVERS, THE LIFE IS NOT AN EASY ONE BE IT HERE OR THERE;


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/2/2018 10:46 am

    Quoting Archer62:
    A BIT SAD DON'T YOU THINK? WE HAVE SIMILAR SONGS SUNG BY BOATMEN ON THE BIG RIVERS, THE LIFE IS NOT AN EASY ONE BE IT HERE OR THERE;
You are absolutely right, Archer. You know our country is a part of greater riparian Bengal delta and this is the region where such song is mostly sung and its lyrics are traditionally about boating, fishing and rivers! Thanks for passing by and your informative comments. Have a pleasant weekend


starwomyn 70F
8871 posts
6/2/2018 9:04 pm

Colorful, Insightful Photos

Abracadabra


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/2/2018 9:24 pm

    Quoting starwomyn:
    Colorful, Insightful Photos

Yes, It's life! But a hard one, Starwomyn. Thanks for stopping by and for your meaningful post! I appreciate,
Happy Sunday.




GLUMO 88F
9730 posts
6/3/2018 6:07 pm

A sad song, for sure. Life must have been hard to those boatmen...


Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.(Khalil Gibran)


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/3/2018 7:39 pm

    Quoting GLUMO:
    A sad song, for sure. Life must have been hard to those boatmen...
No doubt about it. Glumo! These boatmen of Ganges Delta, especially those who live in our part of the sub-continent survive the cruel world struggling every minute of their lives! As Archer said in her post that life of a boatman is not an easy one wherever they may live! Please stay well and cheerful always!


traveler56 77F
9560 posts
6/6/2018 8:25 pm

Those large nets are amazing.
I am wondering what happens to those poor boatmen in times of floods or cyclones? Is there any place they can try to seek safe harbor?


looklook 84M
3925 posts
6/7/2018 5:32 am

    Quoting traveler56:
    Those large nets are amazing.
    I am wondering what happens to those poor boatmen in times of floods or cyclones? Is there any place they can try to seek safe harbor?
Traveler,
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and for the post that you have left there.
Yes, those nets are really amazing! They are known as Khara Jal or Veshal Jal.
In English, we can call it as Lift Net. Net is called Jal in Bengali.
The Shape of this particular net is rectangular.
Length and width: 30--50 ft and 15--25 ft.
Mesh size: 5 and 10 mm
The Fishermen of this country use various types of nets for catching fishes either in the Bay of Bengal or in inland fishing grounds that includes our mighty rivers!
Fishing is not allowed when Cyclone warning is issued. Fishermen are required to stay anchored at ports during cyclones. During floods all are taken to Flood shelters built by the Government in flood prone areas of our country!
Thanks once again, traveler for your post. Stay well and safe always.