A Translated Adaptation Of Abhilasha Bhatt's 'kabhi Agar Aisa Ho To Kya Ho..': If It Ever Happens Poem by Souren Mondal
A Translated Adaptation Of Abhilasha Bhatt's 'kabhi Agar Aisa Ho To Kya Ho..': If It Ever Happens
You go out looking for me
and find me not
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
If you call for me
and I could not listen to it
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
You make your lover's complaints
And I would ignore you like a soldier
ignores their wounds...
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
You speak the desires of your heart
pouring them upon me like fresh rain
or boiling water
And I walk away ignoring you
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
You speak the words of love to me
- telling me exactly what you always want from me
And I just listen to the noise of Time in the Twilight sky
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
You turn a heated face - say that I have
let you down
And I don't give a single damn about your sick tantrums
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
You walk away from me - disappointed with my whole being
And I -
Having given everything that my poor bleeding heart
had to offer
Do not beg you to stay
If ever such a thing happens
What would it even mean?
...
If it ever happens that you
love me like it's meant to be
Will I call you crazy?
If it ever happened that you kept
any of the promises you made
Will I call you not my lover?
I made promises to keep
I kept myself loyal
your love I had breathed
What would have happened if we remained true forever?
But what does it matter now?
Now
That neither you are here
Nor
am
I...
26 Frebruary,2016
For me, Abhilasha is one of the most incredible poets that we have here at poemhunter. From her very first poems to present when she has more than 200 poems published here I have seen her grow everyday almost.
Her poems speaks of the universal language of love, pain, and hopes. It is a pity that not all readers here could read her poems as she writes mostly in Hindi.. Yet she has a number of avid readers of her poetry, including myself, who find it a privilege (and I can indeed talk for others too) that we can read her wonderful works of art.
This one particular poem called 'Kabhi Agar Aisa Ho To Kya Ho' has been one my favourites that she had produced alongside 'Dard'... For me this is a tribute to one of my finest peers...
***
I would like to say also that I had called my work an 'adaptation' alongside a translation, mostly because I tried to read between the lines of Abhilasha's poem, and fit in my interpretation with the original that ran like this -
'Tum jab dhundho hamain
Aur hum na milain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum jab awaaz do hamain
Aur hum na sunsakain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum shikwa karo agar hamse
Aur hum ansuna krdain tumhe
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum dil ki baat karo agar hamse
Aur hum tumhe nazarandaaz kardain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum agar chahaton ki baatain kro hamse
Aur hum aasmaan main dekhte rahain us waqt
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum kbhi ruswa ho jao
Aur hum na manayain tumhe
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum kisi din ruth kar chale jao
Aur hum tumhain na rokain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Tum hamse beintehaa mohobbat ki baat kaho
Aur hum tumhe pagal kahain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Hum tumse waade karain
Aur hum tumse fareb karain
Kbhi aisa agar ho to Kya ho
Magar aisa agar ho to kyun ho
Na tum hum ho
Na hum tum hain...'
(Original poem by Abhilasha Bhatt)
I wanted to showcase the speaker of her poem as someone who had realised the wrongs she had suffered in love, and tries to make ammends to them.. I hope I had some success in translating and adapting the original poem...
So, here it goes - To Abhilasha Bhatt - poet extraordinaire and a lyrical genius! ! Thank you for blessing us all with your wonderful words Abhilasha.. A friend, and a fellow artists tribute to you.
Souren Mondal
Superb translation and a great tribute to fellow poetess, I also admire her stupendous work. Simple yet meaningful/powerful and near to life and truth, Abhi is one of my favourite too. Liked it Souren. Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem with english readers.
Thank you Asim.. For me too Abhilasha is a wonderful poetess of love.. Her poems are beautiful.. I have always had a feeling that there are so many of us here, who write in languages that not everyone speak.. Not reading Abhilasha's poetry is a great loss for many readers.. A great loss.. To miss out on such beautiful verses from such a fine and young poet is a tremendous loss.. By translating her work, I have tried to give others a chance to get a taste of her works.. She is an amazing poet.. I love her works.. I am glad that people liked it, and some readers who do not speak Hindi got a little taste of her works.. I am honoured to give people a chance to read her craft through me.. What a poet! And she is so young too... Thank you for reading and approving my translation.. As someone who had read her work in the original, your approval means a lot to me..
I see great poetic maturity in this work...Credit goes to both you n Abhilasha. What does it even mean? What does it matter? These are the questions that we often encounter in relationships. A beautiful expression of love n its intricacies. You are a very good translator for you capture the essence of the work in your translation.
Thank you Nosheen.. Abhilasha's works have been an inspiration to me.. It is really nice to pay homage to her... And you are absolutely correct about the intricacies of love.. We often take it for granted, the biggest mistake we could commit ever.. No one has the right to treat another individual as their 'property' as it were in love or life in general.. We should always respect others... Love is about trust, respect, and mutual understanding... That we mess up often.. That we really mess up..
I don't know Hindi. So I can't understand what Abhilasha has written. But it must have been a great write, I conclude, on reading your beautiful translation! So you prove your proficiency in two languages, Souren!
Thank you Valsa ma'am.. For me these experiments into translation has been a novel experience.. It is so much fun to do this.. And the weirdest thing is that I am really bad at reading Hindi in the original Devangiri script! ! I never had any formal training of Hindi.. At school, I had Bengali, English, and French as my language subjects! ! But I wish to learn as many languages as I can.. I would have been a linguist if I could've been so: -)
You should both be very proud of your work on this one. A true gem. Beautifully done Abilasha and Souren. A 10 no doubt
Thank you Mike.. Abhilasha stands as one of finests poets we have here at PH... I am glad and honoured to bring a taste of her craft to the non-Hindi speakers: -)
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5/4/2024 3:20:08 AM # 1.0.0.1119
How nicely Souren Mondal has managed to keep the beauty of Abhilasha Bhatt's poem in a translation. Congratulations.
Thank you Akhtar sahaab.. Like Asim, you too have read Abhilasha original works.. And thus a nod of approval from you means a lot.. Sukhriya.