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

 

Art of Balanced Exaggeration in Conversation – 1

Click here to read in Gujarati
I am neither an expert of studies of conversation nor a counselor of how to speak with individuals or address an audience. I have pity on myself why I try to put a big morsel in my small mouth by choosing a profound and scientific  topic for my today’s post! I question to myself, “How dare you (Mr. Author) put on an Armour without having a sword in hand?” But, I am prepared for ‘Come what may!’ I recall Narmad, the brave (a Gujarati man of letters) with his call ‘Go forward and victory is there waiting for you.’ *

My good Readers, you will bear with me if I remember our Indian Railway Minister Mr. Laluprasad Yadav for his daring of translating a couplet into English which he had recited in Hindi  while delivering his Budget speech. I am sorry for going out of the track of my subject for a while as I cannot restrict myself giving you his Hindi text below in English script for your ‘Off the record’ entertainment!

“Sab kah rahe hain, hum ne gazab kiya hai,
Karodon ka munafa, har ek sham diya hai,
Phal salon mein ab dega paudha jo lagaya hai,
seva ka samarpan ka hamne farz nibhaya hai.”

Mr. Laluprasad Yadav’s presence of mind and his witty nature encouraged him to translate the above verse in his stumbling as well as pigeon English; and, not only the House but the Speaker Mr. Somnath Chatterjee also burst into laughter. Enjoy  few sample lines  he said in the translation as “They are saying that Lalu Yadav  has planted  a fruit tree and every year it is a duty of mine to grow fruit trees”.

I shall link above episode with  an appropriate  point of my  further   text, but meanwhile, I am  going to represent my attempt of conversation on a topic  with  my   little   knowledge in that  regard  to justify the title  of my Article. During  our  S.S.C.  Exam. year 1959, we  had  a  lesson  in  English Text  Book  as ‘Yateo’s Gift’. This  reference is  enough  here as  my  main purpose   is   to let  you  know  the  moral  from the story that “A little gift  may be perfect  if love goes with it”. In my case also, the same slogan may be applied in the words as “A little learning may be perfect if style of presentation goes with it”.

Here is the back-ground of the episode in brief. It was the year of 1982. We were diverting our family business of Handloom Cloth Weaving as in kind of Master Weavers to Automobiles. We had started our business with some dealerships of Tyre, Lubricants and Auto Electrical Companies. Mr. Subeer Benerjee was the District Manager of ‘Firestone’ Tyre Company at Ahmedabad. One day he paid a courtesy visit to our premises at Palanpur. Normally, the Company Executives and even SRs also never accepted any dealer’s Lunch or Dinner invitations. ‘Firestone’ was an America based multinational company and it was their disciplinary code of conduct. But, as an exceptional case, Mr. Benerjee accepted our invitation to honor our feelings of hospitality. We took a very nice Hotel on Highway to have our lunch. Being our order of some special items, we had to wait for about half an hour. Mr. Benerjee and myself were sitting comfortably in the family Room. With the last name, he was supposed to be a Bengali, but he was from Indore (M.P.). Just to pass the time and also to push back our hunger, we started our conversation in general as follows:

“Valibhai, you are a well educated man and may be interested in Urdu Gazals and alike forms of poetry. Am I right?”

“Of course!” (An unexpected question puzzled me and I felt that something unripe has been cut off with my positive answer!)

“Very good! I am fortunate enough to listen to some She’rz (couplets) from you just to enjoy.”

“Certainly! Why not?  But, do you know the etiquettes of a listener?” (I already knew my limitations to cope with the challenge in this regard; but, I was trying to confuse him just for innocent amusement!)

“Yes, yes. Paying of Daad (words of appreciation)! Isn’t it?”

“Yes, certainly!

I had to pass through an acid test! Luckily, I recalled some couplets heard from my friend some years ago. Now, I am prepared to be like a brave warrior with naked sword in hand without wearing  the Armour, quite opposite to my former statement!

“But, with one condition! You will not ask for any more, you see!”

“I can’t understand your condition. Will you please explain?”

“I would think that you do not evaluate that high-rank poet and his top most creation in Urdu properly!”

I was trying to prepare an embankment for incoming water in advance  as I had a single arrow in my arrow case!

“O.K. Baabaa! I agree with you, but which Urdu poet you are going to talk about?”

“You, you will name the poet, not me, if you are a true fan of him!” I already knew the name, but I wanted to throw the ball in Mr. Benerjee’s court.

“Valibhai, you are really a very cute person. No doubt, I can recite hundreds of She’rz (stanzas) of celebrated Shaayars (poets); but now, I am sure that I’ll be defeated by you! You have tempted me for a long time. Now, please recite it for quick comfort of my mind.”

Now,I felt myself safe in my fortification. I said, “Janaab, to Pesh hai ye! (Sir, now it is this!)”

dil hee to hai na sang-o-KHisht dard se bhar na aaye kyoN ?
royeNge  ham   hazaar  baar,  koee  hameiN  sataaye  kyoN? (1)

[ sang = stone, KHisht = brick ]

દિલ હી તો હૈ ન સંગો ખિશ્ત,દર્દ સે ભર ન આયે ક્યોં?
રોયેંગે હમ હઝાર બાર, કોઈ હમેં સતાયે ક્યોં? (૧)

dair naheeN, haram naheeN,  dar naheeN, aastaaN naheeN
baiTHe haiN rehguzar pe ham, GHair hameiN uTHaaye kyoN ? (2)

[ dair = temple, haram = mosque, dar = gate, aastaaN = abode/thresh-hold, rehguzar = path/way ]

દૈર નહીં  હરમ નહીં, દર નહીં આસ્તાં નહીં,
બૈઠે હૈ રેહગુજર પે હમ, ગૈર હમેં ઉઠાયે ક્યોં? (૨)

As soon as my recitation of the verse was over, Mr. Benerjee, forgetting his status and rising from his chair to embrace me, cried out loudly, “That’s it! Well done, well done, Valibhai! He is none else but Mirza Ghalib, am I right? Now, I have to honor your prior condition with no any hesitation as I am really one of his admirers. Valibhai, I am very happy beyond words! Really, you gave me an exciting surprise! Thanks, thanks a lot.”

“Exciting surprise? Really! I feel good for your compliment, but still I am going to give you one more surprise while seeing you off!”, I said.

My good Readers, you will have to wait for this ‘one more surprise’ promised to Mr. Banerjee just until before the Part-2 of this Article concludes and I see you off then.

Wish you a nice day, meanwhile

–  Valibhai Musa
Dtd.: Sep. 20, 2009

* યાહોમ કરીને પડો ફત્તેહ છે આગે!