Hello everyone,
This blog is based on Traslation studies, assigned by proffessor Dr. Dilip Barad sir, in which i'm going to explore generative AI for the translation of different poems.
Let us examine Faiz Ahmed, Faiz's Urdu poem "Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Mirii Mehboob Na Maang" into Hindi and English. Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat is a masterpiece of Urdu literature.
Original Poem:
میں نے سمجھا مجھ سے پہلی سی محبت مری محبوب نہ مانگ تھا کہ تو ہے تو درخشاں ہے حیات
تیرا غم ہے تو غم دہر کا جھگڑا کیا ہے
تیری صورت سے ہے عالم میں بہاروں کو ثبات
تیری آنکھوں کے سوا دنیا میں رکھا کیا ہے
تو جو مل جائے تو تقدیر نگوں ہو جائے
یوں نہ تھا میں نے فقط چاہا تھا یوں ہو جائے
اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبت کے سوا
راحتیں اور بھی ہیں وصل کی راحت کے سوا
ان گنت صدیوں کے تاریک بہیمانہ طلسم
ریشم و اطلس و کمخاب میں بنوائے ہوئے
جا بہ جا بکتے ہوئے کوچہ و بازار میں جسم
خاک میں لتھڑے ہوئے خون میں نہلائے ہوئے
جسم نکلے ہوئے امراض کے تنوروں سے
پیپ بہتی ہوئی گلتے ہوئے ناسوروں سے
لوٹ جاتی ہے ادھر کو بھی نظر کیا کیجے
اب بھی دل کش ہے ترا حسن مگر کیا کیجے
اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبت کے سوا
راحتیں اور بھی ہیں وصل کی راحت کے سوا
مجھ سے پہلی سی محبت مری محبوب نہ مانگ
ویڈیو
Hindi Translation:
मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग
था कि तू है तो दरख़्शां है हयात
तेरा ग़म है तो ग़म-ए-दहर का झगड़ा क्या है
तेरी सूरत से है आलम में बहारों को सबात
तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रखा क्या है
तू जो मिल जाए तो तक़दीर निगूं हो जाए
यूँ न था, मैंने फ़क़त चाहा था, यूँ हो जाए
और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा
राहतें और भी हैं, वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
अनगिनत सदियों के तारीक बहिमाना तिलिस्म
रेशम-ओ-अटलस-ओ-कमख़ाब में बुनवाए हुए
जाबजाब बिकते हुए कूचा-ओ-बाज़ार में जिस्म
ख़ाक में लथड़े हुए, ख़ून में नहलाए हुए
जिस्म निकले हुए अमराज़ के तंदूरों से
पीप बहती हुई, गलते हुए नासूरों से
लौट जाती है उधर को भी नज़र, क्या कीजे
अब भी दिलकश है तेरा हुस्न, मगर क्या कीजे
और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा
राहतें और भी हैं, वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब न मांग
English Translation:
Do not ask of me, my love, the love I once gave you.
For life was radiant when I thought only of you.
Your sorrow was my own, and the world’s quarrels seemed trivial.
Your beauty gave permanence to the seasons’ bloom,
And beyond your gaze, nothing else held meaning.
If I could have you, destiny would bow its head,
But it was not to be; I merely wished it so.
There are other sorrows in the world besides love,
Other comforts too, beyond the union of lovers.
The dark, brutal spells of uncountable centuries,
Woven into silk, satin, and brocade.
Bodies for sale in every alley and marketplace,
Smeared with dust, bathed in blood.
Bodies emerging from the ovens of affliction,
Pus dripping, wounds rotting.
My eyes turn even now to these sights—what can I do?
Your beauty still enchants, but what can I do?
There are other sorrows in the world besides love,
Other comforts too, beyond the union of lovers.
Do not ask of me, my love, the love I once gave you.
The translations of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Meri Mehboob Na Maang” into Hindi and English aim to preserve the poem’s essence by addressing its syntax, metre, sound, grammar, and cultural connotations. The Hindi translation, rooted in a shared linguistic and cultural tradition, remains closer to the original structure, effectively capturing its syntax, sound, and symbolic depth. For example, lines like “और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा” successfully convey the rhythm and emotional intensity of the Urdu verse. However, longer lines such as “पीप बहती हुई, गलते हुए नासूरों से” exhibit uneven metre, which slightly interrupts the poetic flow.
The English translation, on the other hand, prioritizes clarity and accessibility, often modifying the syntax to align with English grammatical rules. Lines such as “Do not ask of me, my love, the love I once gave you” effectively convey the essence of the original but lose some of its layered complexity and lyrical charm. Cultural connotations also become diluted, as seen in “Silk, satin, and brocade” replacing “रेशम-ओ-अटलस-ओ-कमख़ाब,” where the richness and emotional resonance of the regional imagery are diminished.
Gemini :
A Note on Translating Poetry
Translating poetry is a delicate art that involves more than just converting words from one language to another. It requires a deep understanding of both languages,
The Challenge of Translating Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz is one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century. His poetry is renowned for its depth of emotion, social commentary, and exquisite use of language. Translating his work into other languages, especially Hindi and English, presents a unique set of challenges. This is primarily due to:
- Nuances of Urdu: Urdu is a language rich in Persian and Arabic loanwords, and its poetic tradition is deeply influenced by these languages.
- Cultural Context: Faiz's poetry often references specific historical events, cultural symbols, and social realities of the Indian subcontinent.
- Poetic Devices: His use of imagery, metaphors, and allusions is highly sophisticated and demands careful attention.
Proposed Translations
Hindi Translation
While Urdu and Hindi are closely related, there are subtle differences in their vocabulary and usage, particularly in poetic contexts. Here's a possible Hindi translation of Faiz's poem, attempting to maintain the original meaning and poetic form:
मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब ना माँग मैंने समझा था कि तू है तो दमकती है ज़िंदगी तेरा ग़म है तो ग़म-ए-दुनिया का झगड़ा क्या है तेरी सूरत से है आलम में बहारों को स्थिरता तेरी आँखों के सिवा दुनिया में रखा क्या है
तु जो मिल जाए तो किस्मत नगण्य हो जाए यूँ न था मैंने सिर्फ चाहा था यूँ हो जाए
और भी दुःख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
अनगिनत सदियों के अंधेरे भयानक जादू रेशम और अटलस और कमख़ाब में बुनवाए हुए जा-ब-जा बिकते हुए कोचे और बाज़ार में मिट्टी में लथड़ते हुए ख़ून में नहाए हुए
जिसम निकले हुए बीमारियों के भट्टियों से पीप बहती हुई सड़ते हुए घावों से
लौट जाती है इधर को भी नज़र क्या कीजिए अब भी दिलकश है तेरा हुस्न मगर क्या कीजिए
और भी दुःख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा
मुझसे पहली सी मोहब्बत मेरी महबूब ना माँग
English Translation
Translating into English presents even more challenges due to the vast differences in the two languages. but the possible English translation
Don't ask for my first love, my beloved I thought that with you, life would shine bright Your sorrow is the world's sorrow, what's the fight? Your beauty gives the world's spring a steady light Beyond your eyes, what else is worth my sight?
If you were mine, my fate would be undone I had only wished, not to have won
There are other pains in this world, besides love And comforts beyond the comfort of a dove
In countless centuries, dark magic's spell Woven in silk, atlas, and brocade as well Sold everywhere, in every street and square Tossed in dust, bathed in blood and care
Bodies emerging from sicknesses' fire Pus oozing from wounds, festering higher
Even now, my eyes return to you Your beauty still enchants, what am I to do?
There are other pains in this world, besides love And comforts beyond the comfort of a dove
Don't ask for my first love, my beloved.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu poetry, while generally employing a straightforward syntax, presents unique challenges for translation. While the Hindi translation effectively maintains the original's syntactic flow, the English translation necessitates adjustments to accommodate the distinct grammatical structures of the English language. This often involves subtle shifts in word order and phrase arrangement, aiming to preserve the core meaning while maintaining clarity and fluency in the target language. The original Urdu poem likely adheres to a specific meter, contributing to its rhythmic and musical quality. The Hindi translation effectively replicates this metrical pattern, ensuring a similar rhythmic flow in the Hindi version. However, achieving metrical equivalence in English poses a significant challenge. The English translation may need to employ a different meter or even utilize free verse to capture the essence of the poem's rhythm and musicality while accommodating the distinct metrical structures of English poetry. Urdu poetry, including Faiz's work, is renowned for its rich use of sound devices such as alliteration, assonance, and rhyme. These devices contribute significantly to the poem's aural beauty and emotional impact. While the Hindi translation strives to replicate these sound effects, achieving perfect phonetic equivalence across languages is a formidable task. The English translation faces even greater challenges, as reproducing the intricate sound patterns of Urdu in English often requires creative adaptations and the use of alternative sound devices. The original Urdu poem adheres to the grammatical rules of the Urdu language. The Hindi translation effectively maintains this grammatical accuracy within the framework of Hindi grammar. However, translating grammatical structures from Urdu to English can present certain challenges. The English translation must ensure grammatical correctness while maintaining clarity and fluency, which may occasionally necessitate adjustments to the original grammatical structure.
Cultural Connotations
Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry is deeply rooted in South Asian culture, drawing upon imagery, metaphors, and allusions that may not be readily understood by an English-speaking audience. While the Hindi translation, due to the shared cultural context, can more effectively preserve these cultural connotations, the English translation requires careful consideration. The translator may need to provide additional context, utilize culturally equivalent imagery, or employ explanatory notes to bridge the cultural gap and ensure that the English-speaking reader can fully appreciate the poem's cultural significance.
Overall Assessment
Both the Hindi and English translations of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poem face unique challenges. The Hindi translation, benefiting from the close linguistic relationship between Urdu and Hindi, has a greater potential to preserve the original's syntax, meter, and cultural undertones. However, the English translation, while facing greater obstacles, can still effectively convey the poem's core message and emotional impact to an English-speaking audience. Both translations can be further refined through careful analysis and revision. Seeking feedback from native speakers of Hindi and English can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement, enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of the translations in conveying the essence of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry.
In conclusion, the process of translating Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poem Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Meri Mehboob Na Maang highlights the intricate challenges inherent in translation studies, especially when dealing with poetry. The task requires not only linguistic precision but also a deep understanding of cultural nuances, poetic devices, and the emotional undertones embedded in the original text. While the Hindi translation, due to the shared linguistic and cultural context, can more faithfully capture the essence of the poem, the English translation demands creative adaptations to convey the same depth of meaning and beauty to a wider audience. This exploration underscores the importance of balancing fidelity to the original text with the need to adapt it for the target language's grammatical, cultural, and poetic conventions. Ultimately, translation is an art form that goes beyond mere word-for-word conversion, and as demonstrated in the translations of Faiz's work, it is a nuanced process that strives to preserve the original's emotional resonance and literary richness.
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