Birha: When a Bird Calls Across the Ocean
There is a kind of pain that does not scream. It just sits quietly in the courtyard.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, thousands of Indians — mostly from Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh — were taken away to unknown lands: Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Fiji… plantations owned by the British and the French.
Many were tricked. Many were promised work. Many did not even understand where they were going. Families woke up one day and someone was just… gone.
Those who were left behind did what our people have always done in unbearable times: they sang.
This genre came to be called Birha — from viraha — separation, longing, grief. Sometimes it is also called Nirgun, because the pain is so vast, it feels beyond form, beyond religion, beyond ritual.
The song below is written in the voice of a bird searching for its life partner. But listen carefully — it is not just a bird. It is a husband searching for a wife. A wife searching for a husband. A mother calling for a son. A courtyard waiting for footsteps that may never return.
If you belong to the diaspora — especially from the Bidesia lands — this is your song. Listen to it not just with your ears. Listen with your blood.
Romanized Lyrics (Singing Friendly)
Kauna birichhiya ae chirai, khotwa lagawalu jaake, Soon karke aangna hamar ho, Ud gailu pankhiya pasaar ho… Nehiya ke dori tori, chal gailu chhupe chori, Kaune nagariya, kaune gaon? Khojta phiru man ban me, Dhaai dhaai ghar-aangan me, Dharti-aakaash thaav-thaav ho… Deke na paata gailu, Kahwan na paata bhailu, Ho gailu kaahe faraar ho? Soon karke aangna hamar ho, Ud gailu pankhiya pasaar ho… Suruj aa chanwa se, badri pawanwa se, Poochta rahin kaun khor ho? Talwa-talain se, nadiya-tarai se, Kehu na de la kauno jor ho… Kekra se poochi jaai, Tohra ke kaise paayi? Kekra se kari ab guhaar ho? Soon karke aangna hamar ho, Ud gailu pankhiya pasaar ho… Kaahe tu aisan kailu? Kuchhuo na kah ke gailu, Batiya ke lagal kaun thes ho? Kahlu jaisan jab jaise, Kaili ham turate taise, Tabo de gailu kales ho… Apne ta langh gailu Lamhar sagarwa ke, Hamra ke chhor gailu paar ho… Ud gailu pankhiya pasaar ho…
Hindi Lyrics (Original)
कौना बिरिछिया ऐ चिरई खोतवा लगावलु जा के, सून कई के आँगना हमार हो, उड़ गइलू पंखिया पसार हो। नेहिया के डोरी तोरी, चल गइलू छुपे चोरी, कौने नगरिया, कौने गाँव? खोजी ले मन में बन में, धाई घर आँगन में, धरती आकाश ठाँवें-ठाँव हो। देके न पाता गइलू, कहँवाँ न पाता भइलू, हो गईलू काहें फरार हो? सून कई के आँगना हमार हो, उड़ गइलू पंखिया पसार हो। सुरुज आ चनवा से, बदरी पवनवा से, पूछी ले गईलू कौन खोह हो? तलवा-तलाईन से, तरैयन से, केहु नाही देता कौनो जोह हो। काहें तू अइसन कइलू? कुछुओ न कह के गईयलु, बतिया के लागल कौन ठेस हो? अपने ता लांघे गईलू लमहर सगरवा के, हमरा के छोर अईलु पार हो। उड़ गइलू पंखिया पसार हो।
English Song Version (Rhyming)
On which tree, little bird, did you build your home so far? You left my courtyard empty, like a sky without a star. You spread your wings in silence, without a word to say, You broke the thread of love… and quietly flew away. Oh why did you fly away, leaving my skies so gray? I call your name in the wind, but you don’t hear me pray. My home is filled with echoes where your song used to stay, You spread your wings, my love… and you flew away. I asked the sun and moonlight, I asked the clouds above, I asked the restless rivers, “Where has gone my love?” Through forests of my memories, through every night and day, I search for your soft footsteps… fading far away. Did I ever hurt you, did my words cause you pain? I walked the path you showed me, again and again. You crossed the endless ocean, left me on the shore to stay, Holding broken dreams… as you sailed away.