"Gunga Din" by Rudyard Kipling (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

In Hindi, Gunga Din means "Spirit of the Ganges". British Tommies are not noted for pronouncing foreign words correctly. In fact deliberate mispronunciation seems to amuse them more: they pronounced "Ypres" as "Wipers", and "India" as "Injia". Nevertheless I am grateful to those who have provided the correct native pronunciations for the Hindi words.
It seems superfluous these days for the poet to say that some of the people of India were brave and noble as any white man. This might seem condescending now but it was bold in its time. Gunga Din was only a water carrier, but he played his part as bravely as any soldier, saved lives and earned their respect.

[@crystalrobot01]

I love this poem, I was born about fifty years ago around "injia" and my grandma who was about 80 or so when I was about 11, will sometime talk about the British occupied india. When she was a kid herself, I recall her mentioning those Brit soldiers were very kind to her and other ladies in the area. During the night they will escort (walk with ) my grandma and other ladies to the next post, so they can safely get to where they are going...... When I first read this poem I love the use of hindhi/Urdu words like Juldi (hurry) or panny lao (bring me water) and other which we still use in India and Pakistan...Thank you Rudyard Kipling .... It's like a powerful rhythmic historical documentary to me !!!!!

[@gartnavel89]

My grandad (1917 - 2005) used to sing this when he came home from the pub. He'd forget the lyrics halfway through and start over again. This would go on for hours. My gran once beat him with a fire poker for it.

[@jamesunsworth6865]

I remember my Dad, used to recite this poem from memory, when he had a few pints of beer, in the pub Sunday Dinner time. He was a great guy, with a Encyclopedia like knowledge of Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden. He was a truly self educated man. I used to be enraptured listening to him. I have a valuable very old , looks like a first edition, of poems by Rudyard Kipling. Called “ Barrack Room Ballads “

[@bryanswenson1452]

Great reading. The genius of Kipling, any way you read it, pure art.

[@ViolentVegan]

It is traditional to rhyme Din with bin. I think that is oddly fitting too. Almost like the protaganist (the English soldier) didn't have enough respect for Gunga Din or his culture to learn to pronounce his name properly.. despite many obvious clues. The last line is a sublime piece of self realization. Best rendition I've heard! Thanks!

[@dadvoc666]

this is the first time I am listening to this poem, and I am in love. Kipling you were a beauty --- excellent narration too... love and respect from Pakistan!

[@adilzafar]

Thanks! In Hindi, 'din' is pronounced more as 'deen'. Like grin and green.

[@pnyxprez]

My dad was born in 1917, he recited this poem. He always apprecaited a drink of water! He had many memorys of his time in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam, even the day he died, he was asking a nurse if he could have a drink of water....

[@cogidubnus1953]

From my (WW1 vintage and before) ex-army grandfather I inherited two small brass figures, one of an Indian water carrier, the other of a Rhinoceros....known in the family as "Gungha Deen and the Pig"....irrelevant I know but I treasure them... Grandad was an old East Sussex man of (originally) Ticehurst farming stock and oddly Tom O'Bedlam's North Country accent isn't too far off how he used to speak (though his accent was softer and somehow finer)...it was a kind of cross between Tom's and the ooh arr west country...hard to describe...)...the long-gone Sussex accent I'd guess...

[@loribit85]

I was amazed at how many times Gunga Din is quoted or referred to in movies -besides of course the very movie about his story- and music.

[@SpokenVerse]

Thank you. Looking at the rhymes, I can see that's what Kipling intended too. Queen - been - green - spleen- canteen. However, I've never heard anybody say it that way, so it's become traditional.

[@1smallstep]

Mispronouncing words - accidentally or deliberately - is not just a prerogative of British soldiers. My wife has lived in America more than 20 years and still struggles with the correct pronunciation of English words - she also delights in the word plays that come out of deliberate mispronunciations of English. It is the same for me and Korean. We are far from unique; I don't think there is a person out there who does not struggle with the correct pronunciation of words that are foreign to them and there are probably very few humorless souls who don't find it amusing that some foreign words sound almost like something else in their tongue.

[@jerijayz3929]

It tore my soul n tossed my mind

[@SSanf]

Very nicely done.

[@Largo64]

The voice is excellent, deep and resonant, but Din is correctly pronounced "deen," to rhyme with queen and green. I winced every time I heard "din" to rhyme with chin. It's just wrong.

[@SpokenVerse]

Dear Larry, you're right, the correct pronunciation is "deen", and there is no doubt that's what Kipling intended because of all the words that rhyme with "deen". However. in the UK it is common parlance to pronounce it Din to rhyme with Bin and you never hear it said in any other way. Ask any Brit you know. It's still a popular poem. I was at the funeral of an old friend a while back and his widow read out a couple of stanzas of Gunga Din. Here I'm affecting the accent of a Tommy, a rank-and file soldier. Accents in Britain still separate the classes, even to this day. Thank you for your comment. All the best, Tom

[@Ahavati1]

Bravo!!!! Amazing! I love your emphasis!

[@flashtin166]

God bless you Mr. Verse!

[@dearmalika]

Great poem!

[@gdprosper]

Quite enjoyed this one

[@bailey78]

Thats what I needed to hear today thanks Bailey78

[@robertporter6244]

I love the accent.

[@xxxxDuke]

Well observed comment, Jacobazariah.

[@titusgroan5304]

Good read.

[@larryb6745]

If you have ever spent time talking with people from India who are now here, they "mispronounce" American words all the time. "Put the Wee-ichle on the veel-stands". Or spelling his name first letter of the last name "Wee",,,,"Wee like in Wickter". Lots of fun.

[@dumdebadaba]

unusual

[@EmmetEarwax]

It's a bad God who'll put Gunga Din in hell and what did those poor wights do to deserve the fire,the hot coals,the eternal thirst. Gunga Din to dole out water to hem forever... I do not believe in hellfire, or eternal punishing.

[@vampireducks1622]

Kipling's Cockney exoticist poems haven't aged very well, imo.