Art of Balanced Exaggeration in Conversation – 2

Click here to read in Gujarati
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 rather 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 to 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 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 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, the poetry, 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!

See you off now, but see you once again!

If the God wishes, it’s promise of

– Valibhai Musa
Dtd.: September 24, 2008

** કોઈનો લાડકવાયો, સૂના સમદરની પાળે, વનરામાં ગલ રાતાં ફૂલડાં

 

The Divorce – Legal but Undesirable

Click here to read in Gujarati
Relatives have been gifted by the God by our birth in a certain family to His wish whether they suit us or not. But, we must thank Him in cases of our friends for whom we have at least a chance of choice. Wife is also like a friend and one has the opportunity for selection – preference – liking – loving, whatever you may call it. This openness is allowed for both love marriages and arranged marriages. There is not any kind of compulsion for friendship or marriage. The friend and wife are the new-comers in our life after our birth. The rest relatives are inherited and we have to accept them as they are or may be. Wife is a life partner and a partner of our ‘self’ also, and that is why there is a word ‘better half’ for wife in English.

Thus, a wise man is always conscious while choosing the wife and his first selection results as first and final. It is not possible for anybody all the times that he can observe every aspect of her quality or character like an article we purchase from a shop-keeper. Minor missing qualities can be shaped or compromised.

To change a wife like a neck-tie or shoes after marriage is possible for those only who do not value the dignity of a woman. Mother, sister, wife and daughter are the forms of a woman in particular relationships. Generally, it is observed that ‘wife’ is always criticized and the rest are accepted or tolerated. ‘Wife’ is considered as an imported commodity into our family, but the others are favored or considered as our own. Such is a partial attitude towards ‘wife’ and in such circumstances, the marriage results in failure; and sometimes an unpleasant situation of divorce arises. Divorce is allowed by state and religious laws in sensitive and justified cases, but it is disliked by the God. The Divorce, without justification, is a crime of society and the life time torture to the divorcee.

Marriage is like an animal drive cart or vehicle. Both husband and wife are harnessed to drive it with mutual understanding, co-operation and harmony for successful journey of life. But, we see all around the world in various communities that all marriages are not ideal ones all the times.

An interesting quotation in this regard narrates the outcome of marriage in this way : “ In few cases, marriage is a prize; in some cases, marriage is surprise; and in the most cases, marriage is disprize or punishment.” The words ‘few’, ‘some’ and ‘most’ are significant in this quotation. Now, it depends on us, in which category of word, we want to set our position.

Still, the topic of this blog continues with some questions; not for any answers, but to give a serious thought over. They are: Should all this not to be applicable to female also, particularly, when some western or western like people have granted equal rights to women? What about those poor fellows who become the victims of such disturbed family life with the weapon of divorce hit by the female? What about those compensations favored by laws to divorcees at the cost of dignity and self respect? What about those affected innocent children? What about their future and mental disturbances?

Just to make a peaceful society, the families will have to be peaceful. Just to decrease the family courts, the family counseling centers will have to be increased. Many countries of the world are worried for breakings of marriages and families. Day by day, the situation becomes the worst.  Good people want a change in the prevailing situation. But, who will tie the bell?

Read further, one more quotation of an unknown writer published in a Gujarati News paper and translated here for counseling to individuals as the remedy of being victorious over the cursed word – “divorce”:

“When I was 20 years old, I always used to say with the great zeal and force that I would change the entire world. But, gradually, it seemed to be difficult for me. Then I reached the age of 30 and changed my goal and minimized my territory from world to my country and the surrounding society. But alas! I couldn’t succeed. Today, I am on death bed and for the first time, I realize the eternal truth that, in fact, I had to change myself first since very beginning; and I could have seen the whole universe changed as I had wished.”

While winding up my blog post, I cannot restrict myself to give you one more and the last quotation regarding Love marriage. It is this: “Love marriage begins with attraction, passed through dejection and (perhaps) ends into separation.”

My good readers, wishing your married life meaningful, fruitful and helpful.

With regards,

Valibhai Musa
Dtd. : 26^th May, 2007

Tip:
Some pre-medical tests of Thalasemia, Hepatitis B, HIV etc. are essential for the health care of the couple as well as future generation. Prevention is better than cure.