Poem: Fakeer of Jungheera by Henry Derozio

"Fakeer of Jungheera" is poem written by Henry Derozio in 1828.Poem divided into cantos. Major characters are Nuleeni, Fakeer, Other woman characters and Nuleeni’s husband. It is the love story of Nuleeni and Fakeer. Beginning of the poem suggests that there is something wrong going on and it is the death of Nuleeni’s husband.  At that time one rules that wife should have to sacrifice her life when her husband dies. Nuleeni also ready for this but at that time she remembered Fakeer. The entire woman talks about Nuleeni and they were happy to make her ‘Sati’. They sing a song of Sati and very enthusiastic to see this moment of Nuleeni’s death. But Nuleeni’s attention not towards this atmosphere but she only thinks about Fakeer. Then suddenly she left this place and goes with Fakeer. Suddenly atmosphere turned when they left this place. Here we can clearly seen the victimization of woman. 

But Henry Derozio here tries to give the message of freedom.

·       Why woman have to sacrifice every time?

·        If woman dies then why for husband that kind of rules not given by society?

But it’s all about perspectives of the person because we cannot change mentality of other person. From the very beginning they are habituated with this kind of behavior. Raja Ram Mohan Roy against this “Sati Pratha” and remove this successfully. Now situation is different from that time and woman get freedom but sometimes it is vice versa.