Rambabu Subed
Crimson color Simla wore; towns and the country glowed
Enthralled in the days so good, the birds sang the sweetest songs
Beauty flowed in splashes along the shores: this or that
At this place, a piece of heaven on the planet greatly gleamed!
The peaks of the mountains spilled colors on the tops
Rivers, brooks and rivulets flowed in frenzy, down the slopes
From the highland glaciers, rivers of the snow slid
Simla pulled me even near; took me very close to it.
Many steams of culture, also of the civilization
People’s hearts were filled up with love and softest compassion
Thousand Gangas, Yamunas of wisdom and science gear
May I stand in Simla, and say salute to India!
Carved in Simla all over, is history of India
Partly open in some place; concealed partly in some yards
Simla was the capital; it was something more even
Today our Simla is the lamp—divine Indian.
[Ram Babu Subedi is renowned as a writer of songs, stories and poems for children. Though he also has a collection of poems for adults, he is better known as an author of children’s literature. Former Chairman of Nepalese Society for Children’s Literature, he is also the Executive Member of Devkota Lu-Hsun Academy, a premier institution of literary discourses and promotion. He lives with his family in Kathmandu.]