Posted by Given such hurdles, Alam’s work is commendable. As he notes in his introduction, “I have tried to retain the imagery, metaphors, cadences, conventions, the Ghazals, dramatis personae, the two-line format of the she’r and the compact appearance of the Ghazal on the page.” While such intimacy with the text is apparent from the translations in this volume, the real feat of Alam is to acknowledge the multiplicity of meaning in Ghalib’s verse. At the same time, he confesses that there may be limits to his understanding and grasp of the verse. This is why the translator, in some cases, offers two versions of the same original. For instance, taking one enigmatic verse of Ghalib, Alam offers five versions – and each of these versions uncovers the layer of meaning.
نقش فریادی ہے کس کی شوخیٔ تحریر کا
کاغذی ہے پیرہن ہر پیکر تصویر کا
Shaped for eternity; Yet tied to times cross
What did he think whose hands crafted us
نہ گل نغمہ ہوں نہ پردۂ ساز
میں ہوں اپنی شکست کی آواز
No roseate song, no silk spun melody.
I am the last echo of my old defeat.
Not Canticle nor music weaving
Listen to my heart grieving
Consider this translation which captures the expanse of meaning in Ghalib’s poetic imagination.
گلہ ہے شوق کو دل میں بھی تنگئ جا کا
گہر میں محو ہوا اضطراب دریا کا
Inside the heart, love carves, it lacks space.
Inside a pearl, the raging sea is free
لازم تھا کہ دیکھو مرا رستا کوئی دن اور
تنہا گئے کیوں اب رہو تنہا کوئی دن اور
God, you have eternity; yet he
Could not have an extra day
A drop craves extinction in the sea
Past plentitude, pain becomes remedy.
عشرت قطرہ ہے دریا میں فنا ہو جانا
درد کا حد سے گزرنا ہے دوا ہو جانا
The author is Editor-at-Large, The Friday Times and founder of Naya Daur Media. Earlier, he was editor, Daily Times and a broadcaster with Express News and Capital TV. His writings are archived at www.razarumi.com
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