Uttaranchal Women's Song

This woman from Uttaranchal writes a song of encouragement for the women in her village. This song was inspired by her involvement in a Future Generations training program. Read on for the english translation...

  English Translation

I’m sounding the war cry
And I’m lighting an eternal flame
Study and learn my sisters
This is the new song I’m singing now to you.
If you don’t learn now you’ll never get the chance.
Spoken words:
Forgive me for speaking to sisters only
But in our homes and villages there are 4 or even 5 sons in a family and they are all encouraged to study as
much as they want, but this education is not yet given to our sisters. That is why I’m addressing this song to
“you” my “sisters.”
Now the 21st century is yet to begin
Learn to read and write my sisters
I’m sounding the war cry
And I’m lighting an eternal flame
Learn to read and write my sisters
This is the new song I’m singing now to you.
Push exploitation and poverty far away
Happiness we have yet to find
We have to decide to get that now.
I’m sounding the war cry and I’m lighting an eternal flame
Learn to read and write my sisters
This is the new song I’m singing now to you.
Don’t curse the darkness
Together we will light a new lamp;
In this darkness we will light the lamp of literacy.
Learn to study yourself and teach others
In your mind repeat this always.
I’m sounding the war cry and lighting an eternal flame
Learn to read and write my sisters
This is the new song I’m singing now to you