Pashtu philosopher poet Ghani Khan has been one of my favourite poets. While reading his poetry I sometimes try to translate him into English for better assimilation of the the beauty and depth of his poetry:
The poem given below,which I have tried to render into English, is second poem in his kuliyat(collections of poetry). It has been sung by Sardar Ali Takkar in his inimitable voice:
Following is my attempt to render this poem into English:
A Hymn:(ثنا)
Dark night of yours brings sometimes a torrent of sorrows,
Sometimes disguised as bar-tender and candle,
brings Khayyam and lyre!
Sometimes it turns into pitch darkness, sweeping everything into oblivion.
Sometimes it brings pageants of colours and raptures,
sometimes brings the sweetheart with her peals.
Sometimes submerged and restless it turns into an ocean of sobs.
Sometimes it changes into a mansion of colors,
bringing raptures and ecstasy.
All wild passions of mine is a serene glance of yours,
This Ocean of my beauty is just a drop from your rhapsody!
( Translated into English by Aslam Mir-13 August,2018)
غنی خان جیسے شاعر کی شاعری کو انگریزی شاعری کا جامہ پہنا دینا کمال بات ہے۔گرچہ ترجمہ اصل کا قائم مقام نہیں ہو سکتا تا ہم آخری شعر جس میں وحدت الوجود کو برتا گیا ہے کمال ہے
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement!
DeleteSir your translation is almost equal to sahibzada Imtiaz translation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for best service
Thanks! I am looking for Imtiaz sahib,s translations but not finding them! Once in at a function I asked him for a copy but he told me that it is now out of print.
DeleteThis is amazing. Beautiful selection from Ghani Khan and even more beautiful translation. Keep it up Sir. Please translate more often. One poem per year is far too less.
ReplyDeleteThanks dr,sahib for your encouragement! Inshallah once a month at least!
DeleteA very speaking translation it is,Ghani Khan is yet to be understood and interpreted by Pashtuns.He had command both at Oriental and Occidental knowledge so he always pushes his translators to hot waters for getting his real crux.Sir Sahibzada Imtiaz in his "Pilgrimage of Beauty",and Nasser Yousaf in his"Moonlight",have tried their best to re explore that encyclopedic man of letters,and so is Aslam Mir sahib,perhaps a new entry but with high expectations...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement!Inshallah your feedback will help me egg on to churn out more of them!
DeleteThank you for tagging me in this philosophical post. Ghani khan is always my favorite although its difficult to understand his philosophy.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your efforts and intrest in this field. It will make Ghan khan understandable for people like me.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Delete