In an earlier post, I had promised to bring some translations of work by Ibn-e-Insha. I begin that task today… heres my translation of his ghazal- “Khamosh raho”
This is not a time to say anything, don’t say anything- stay quiet
O! people stay quiet, O! people stay quiet
Truth is good, but in its roots lies a bowl of poison too
Are you mad?! Don’t be a Socrates for nothing, stay quiet!
Truth is good but better if someone else dies for it
Are you mansoor that you’ll go to the gallows? Stay quiet!
They say that the sun revolves round the earth
We agree, let the sun revolve, stay quiet!
Fear lurks in the gathering and the chains pierce
Think again! Yes, think again! Yes, think again! Stay quiet!
Warm tears and cold sighs, the seasons felt in this heart!
Don’t open the secrets of this garden, take a walk, stay quiet!
Sit on the side having closed my eyes and keep closed the doors of my heart
Insha ji take this thread and stitch your lips, stay quiet!
I had contributed the original ghazal, along with another couple of poems for a campaign demanding release of an independent film maker Ajay TG who has been arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of sedition under Sec 124 A of the IPC and the Chattisgarh Special Public Security Act. CSPSA assumes guilt by association and criminalises even political belief. Under this act ‘any contact’ with a banned organisation becomes a criminal offence. Ajay has been arrested because allegedly he wrote a letter to Maoistsin Chhattisgarh requesting them to return his camera which they had snatched from him while Ajay was accompanying a team of PUCL in Bastar in 2004!
To know more about Ajay and the campaign to release him click here
Following is my English translation of Jo kuchh dekha-suna, samjha, likh liya- by Nirmala Putul a santhali poet (from Hindi translation by Ashok Sinha).
You have words, arguments, intelligence
Entire system is at your disposal
You can falsify truth by retelling it again and again
You can write me off completely in just one pronouncement
What eyes have seen
You can prove wrong
I realise…
But don’t forget
those who call truth-“truth”
And falsehood-
“false” with all their might
haven’t been totally wiped out.
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