Batohiya


Batohiya is a Bhojpuri poem written by Raghuveer Narayan in 1911. This Purbi song became very popular and George Abraham Grierson also recorded this song for Linguistic Survey of India in 1920.
The title Batohiya is a Bhojpuri word which means means Traveller. In this song an indentured laborer in British colony is explaining to a traveller about India as a heaven on the earth an he wants to visit his homeland.

Etymology

The root of the word Batohiya is Bhojpuri word Bāṭ which means road or way. The one who travels on the road is called Batohi which in conjunction with Bhojpuri suffix -iya becomes Batohiya, which means traveller.

lyrics

The first two verses of the poem read as follow:

English Translation

English translation of first two verses are as follow:
Beautiful good land brother India its
country is,
My life soul lives snowy cave O
traveller.
One door encircling Rama Himalaya sentinel like,
Three door sea roars O traveller.
Want to go O traveller to see Hindustan,
Where Cuckoo sings coos O traveller.
Scented air breeze slowly from the sky,
Wife sings a song of separation O traveller

Performances and Interpretations

This song has been recorded several times, the oldest one was done by G.A. Girerson in 1920. This song has also been sung by Malini Awasthi, Chandan Tiwari, Raj Mohan and many renowned singers.