Coromandel Fishers by Sarojini Naidu — Summary, Explanation and Back Exercise Answers

Poet: Sarojini Naidu

Form: Poem (three stanzas, four lines each)

Rhyme Scheme: AABB

Curriculum: Class 7 | Midnight Oil Literature Textbook | Engaging English Unit 4

About Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was one of India's most celebrated poets writing in English. She was born in Hyderabad and received her education in Madras, London, and Cambridge. She is often called the "Nightingale of India" because of the musical quality and lyrical beauty of her poems.

Naidu was not only a poet but also a prominent freedom fighter. She was deeply involved in India's independence movement and worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi. She later became the first woman to serve as the Governor of a state in independent India (Uttar Pradesh).

Her major works include poetry collections such as The Golden Threshold (1905), The Bird of Time (1912), and The Broken Wing (1917). Her poems often celebrate nature, love, and the lives of ordinary Indian people such as potters, weavers, and fishermen. Through these ordinary figures, she frequently wove in themes of national identity and the desire for freedom.

"Coromandel Fishers" is one of her most well-known poems. It celebrates the fishermen of the Coromandel Coast while also serving as a call to action for all Indians to rise and fight for independence from British rule.

Back Exercise: Questions and Answers

This section covers all the textbook back exercise questions for this poem from the Class 7 Midnight Oil textbook.

Q1. Where does the poem get its origin? Who is the speaker?

The poem gets its origin from the Coromandel Coast, which is along the southeastern coast of India (the former region associated with Bengal and South India). The speaker is a fisherman who is calling out to his fellow fishermen to wake up and go to sea at dawn.

Q2. What does the speaker consider about the coconut trees, mango groves, and water drops?

The speaker considers the natural surroundings of the coast, such as mango trees and citrus trees, to be part of his home. The water drops (like dew or sea spray) that fall on the fisherman's face are a symbol of his deep connection with nature. These natural elements are not just scenery. They are a part of the fisherman's identity and belong to his world.

Q3. How does the poet express feelings about the fisherman's home and family?

The poet shows that the fisherman's family life is simple but deeply connected. He lives very close to his family and shares everything with them. The poem shows how deeply anything that affects the fisherman also affects those around him. Through his hard work on the sea every day, the fisherman provides for his family. The sea is described as a mother, showing how central it is to his home and livelihood.

Q4. Word Meanings

| Word | Meaning |

|------|---------|

| Comrades | Close friends, companions |

| Dawn | The first light of the morning, just before sunrise, when the sky begins to brighten |

| Catamarans | A type of flat-bottomed fishing boat made of planks, tied together on both sides, traditionally used in South India |

Q5. In the context of the poem, who are the comrades?

In the poem, the comrades are the waves of the sea. The line "the waves are our comrades all" tells us this directly. The waves move alongside the fishermen at all times. They are always present, like close friends or companions. Just as a comrade stands beside you and moves with you, the waves stay with the fishermen throughout their journey on the sea.

Q6. Explain "toss and eddy"

"Toss and eddy" refers to the movement of the boats and water in the sea. When the fishing catamarans go out into the sea, the boats toss (move up and down with the waves) and eddy (spin or swirl in the currents of the water). The expression captures the lively, restless motion of the sea and the boats upon it.

Q7. Explain the expression about the sky/wind hiding and protecting

The expression means that the sky or the wind acts as a shelter for the fishermen. Just as a protective cover shields a person from harm, the open sky above the sea wraps around and guards the fisherman. The poet personifies natural elements to show that nature is not dangerous for the fisherman but protective, like a guardian.

Q8. What is compared to a child in the poem?

The wind is compared to a child. The line is:

> "The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night."

In this simile, the wind is like a child that has been crying and restless all night (meaning the night was windy and rough), but has now finally fallen asleep peacefully in the early morning calm. This is why early dawn is so still and quiet.

Q9. Which lines show that the fisherman is ready to go to sea?

The lines that show the fisherman is getting ready to go out to sea are:

> "Come, let us gather our nets from the shore, and set our catamarans free,

> To capture the leaping wealth of the tide, for we are the kings of the sea!"

These lines show the fishermen collecting their nets and pushing their boats into the water, which are the actions of setting out for the day's work.

Q10. What are catamarans?

Catamarans are a type of fishing boat. They are flat-bottomed boats made from wooden planks tied together. They are specifically used by fishermen in South India, particularly along the Coromandel Coast. They are lightweight and well-suited for navigating the rough surf near the shore.

Themes

1. Nature as Family and Home

The most powerful idea in this poem is that nature is the fisherman's family. The sea is a mother. The clouds are brothers. The waves are comrades. This is not just a collection of comparisons. It is a whole way of seeing the world. The fisherman does not feel alone because nature surrounds and supports him at all times. This theme also reflects the broader idea that human beings are deeply connected to the natural world.

2. Courage and Hard Work

The fishermen go out to sea before dawn, in the dark and the cold, to work hard for their families. The poem celebrates this courage without making it dramatic. It is ordinary bravery. The fishermen do not make a fuss. They simply get up, gather their nets, and go. This quiet, daily courage is the backbone of the poem.

3. Brotherhood and Unity

The poem is addressed to "brothers." The fishermen are called upon to rise and act together. No one goes alone. The sea is faced as a group. This sense of unity and brotherhood runs through the entire poem. It is this same spirit of collective action that Sarojini Naidu was trying to inspire in India's freedom movement.

4. Freedom and the Call to Action (Metaphorical Reading)

On a deeper level, the poem is about the desire for freedom. The fishermen are a symbol of the Indian people. The sea represents the difficult path ahead. The call to "rise, brothers, rise" is a call to join the freedom struggle. The fishermen's confidence ("we are the kings of the sea") mirrors the self-confidence that Indians needed to claim their independence.

5. Pride in One's Land

The descriptions of the Coromandel Coast, with its mango trees, citron plants, and golden southern sunlight, show deep pride in the beauty of India. The land is not just a backdrop. It is something worth loving, celebrating, and fighting for.

Literary Devices

| Device | Example | Explanation |

|--------|---------|-------------|

| Simile | "The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night" | The wind is directly compared to a tired child using "like" |

| Metaphor | "The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the waves are our comrades all" | Nature is directly described as family without using "like" or "as" |

| Personification | "The waking skies pray to the morning light" | The sky is given a human action (praying) |

| Imagery | "Mango and citron and rose are awake in the first sweet hour" | Vivid visual picture of a coastal morning |

| Alliteration | "saffron south, the season" | Repetition of the "s" sound |

| Repetition | "Rise, brothers, rise" | Repeated to create urgency and emphasis |

| Symbolism | The sea = challenges; fishermen = Indian people; dawn = new beginning | Deeper political meaning beneath the literal description |

| Rhyme scheme | AABB | Each pair of lines rhymes, giving the poem a rhythmic, chant-like quality |

Important Quotes

1. "Rise, brothers, rise"

This is the central call of the poem. It is repeated for emphasis. It asks the fishermen (and by extension, all Indians) to wake up, be active, and not delay. It is a call to courage and collective action.

2. "The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night."

This is the most celebrated line of the poem. It creates a beautiful picture of early morning calm. The wind, which has been restless all night, is now still and peaceful. It is one of the best examples of simile and personification in the poem.

3. "The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the waves are our comrades all."

This line captures the fisherman's relationship with nature. Each element of nature is given a role in the fisherman's family. It shows that the fisherman does not see nature as something separate or frightening, but as home.

4. "For we are the kings of the sea!"

This is a statement of pride and confidence. The fishermen may be poor by the world's measure, but on the sea they are rulers. This line also reflects the national pride Naidu wanted to inspire in Indians.

Key Takeaways for Students

Watch the full video here: YouTube