Here, I divert my narration and connect you with the earlier mention of Lalujee. His verse in English could, no doubt, create fun; but, he could not give proper justice to the original text of a very effective verse in Hindi. Such problem may happen to even a prominent translator also as any literary work written initially in respective language loses its original charm in translation to other language if not carried out successfully. One more thing is that the translation of the poetry is more difficult than prose. It is said, “Poetry is an art of soul.”
Sometimes, a translator may not feel the feelings of the poet he would have felt during the creation and as a result, he has simply to rely upon the equivalent words of the original Text. In such cases, the translated poem appears like the patchwork. To create a master piece translation, one has to experience over- all impression and concept of the poem and to go through summarized text to submit natural expressions of the feelings of the poet. I would like to mention Zaverchand Meghani for his successful translations of some poems from English or we may say as if they were his own creations. Those English poems are “Somebody’s Darling”, “On the bank of river Rhine” and “Fair flowers in the valley”. ***
Now, I am pleased to submit below the English version of Mirza Ghalib’s Couplets already presented in my first Part of this Article. In ‘A sense of humor’, I tell you not to compare this translation with Laluprasad’s one. I have worked with this little job through various means by applying my own intuition and harnessing my possible abilities. On hand meanings given into brackets, an English version of the verse in discussion by Rajender Krishn and many more related sources have helped me in my attempt with comparative studies to finalize my translation of only these two Couplets. There is a difference of opinion to understand or translate the fourth line of the first Couplet, but I have made up my mind to go with my own interpretation of ‘self respect’ of the poet. Please proceed on to enjoy.
It’s the heart, not a stone or a brick,
Why shouldn’t it feel the pain?
I’ll cry myself many times,
How dare anybody harass me? (1)
Neither it’s a temple, nor a mosque,
Nor any shrine’s thresh-hold or a door,
I am sitting on a public path,
Why should anybody tell me to rise? (2)
By the way, I would suggest to my Readers to visit Ghalib’s Corner of the above entire Ghazal (original Urdu text) presented in English and Hindi scripts. Supporting meanings of the Urdu words will help you to enjoy this one of the best Ghazals of Ghalib Saab.
Two more sources are also here as
(1) Asghar Vasanwala’s exclusive site on Mirza Ghalib
(2) Smriti’s collection of Ghalib’s Ghazals
Now, it is the time to give you my stock of promises given to both Mr. Benerjee and you people, the members of my blog family. ‘One more surprise’ assured to Mr. Bannerjee while seeing him off is interwoven in my following conversation.
“Mr. Valibhai, now it is the time to depart from you. Do you remember your promise of giving me ‘one more surprise’?”
“Exactly!”
“Straightway or with enticement?”
“Straightway, but with brief background! Now, listen to me.”
With glittering eyes of curiosity, Mr.Benerjee was smiling in his moustaches. I was rather sentimental in my voice. I was feeling something that cannot be termed with guilt; but some slight pricking was there in my heart for my innocent vocal exaggeration in talk with Mr. Benerjee, a man, an every inch a gentleman. I collected some boldness and started saying, “Mr. Benerjee, first of all, let me thank you for giving us an opportunity of being your host. As you know, hospitality is the inseparable part of our Indian culture and also a pious deed as per our own religion. To take good care of a guest is just like serving the God. Your enthusiasm for hearing some Urdu verses from me compelled me that I should not disappoint you. Truly speaking, I am quite unknown to Urdu language and its literature. It is the grace of the Almighty Creator that with my memory of only two Couplets of Mirza Ghalib, but with the style of its presentation that you already know, I could impress you as if I am a scholar of Urdu Ghazals. But it’s not so. No doubt, I am interested in Ghazals, but only Gujarati Ghazals. I am extremely sorry for my exaggeration of my little knowledge in our conversation.”
“What do you say, Mr. Valibhai? I can’t believe, but if it is really so, it is the great-great-great surprise to me! I exactly remember that your promise had followed just after I had embraced you and it proves your innocence. This surprise has overcome the former surprise that you had given me to hear the She’rz of my favorite Shaayar and his such She’rz which will be remembered for thousands and thousands of the years to come.”
Mr. Benerjee once again embraced me with tears of joy in his eyes. He said, “The longevity of human life, presently, is maximum 100 years. If I say your both the surprises, former and the latter, will be remembered by me for thousand years; it will be an exaggeration. But, I would like to say that your surprises and you-yourself will be remembered by me throughout my life.”
While departing, I told him a proverb, “Exaggeration is to paint a snake and add legs.”
“But, you haven’t added! You have wiped off after painting!” said he.
My dear Readers, my promise for ‘one more surprise’ to you also is fulfilled here. I would like to give you a quotation of Tryon Edwards on ‘Exaggeration’ as bonus. It is as “Some so speak in exaggerations and superlatives that we need to make a large discount from their statements before we can come at their real meaning.” I should not clarify myself but ask you, “What form of this Article spread in two parts, will you classify whether it is an essay, a story, a poem, an Article or a play?” I am awaiting for your answers in Comment Box; not only plain answers; but with your views, ideas, comments and whatever you like to write also!
-Valibhai Musa
*** કોઈનો લાડકવાયો, સૂના સમદરની પાળે, વનરામાં ગલ રાતાં ફૂલડાં
