- BUILDING THEBRIDGES
( Twist Of Fates )
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By: Khurram Khiraam Siddiqui
In sleep's depths
I dreamed ...
Scenes of beauty
I gazed upon ...
Staring...
Beauties of color appear
I think there are seven...
But to my great surprise
There are eight I see
and the eighth color
among them was me.
(Afzal Shauq’sPoem..“The 8th Color”, page 115/“Twist of Fates”)
The works of eminent Pushto writers have been translated into English in a steady number, though the speed of the translation of Pushto literature is not as fast as in the case of Urdu and Punjabi literature. The reason for this is the lack of good translators having command both on English and Pushto languages. In most of the cases the translation is made from the Urdu version of Pushto writings. Pakistan Academy of Letters has played a significant role in getting the important pieces of Pushto literature translated into English and publishing them in the bi-annual English literary journal “Pakistani Literature” regularly.
The works of Khushal Khan Khattak, Rehman Baba, Ghani Khan, Mir Mehdi Shah Mehdi, Shabbir Gillani, Hashim Babar, Farooq Sarwar, Raj Wali Shah, Zaitoon Bano, Salma Shaheen, Haseena Gul, Ali Kumail Kizalbash, Ayub Sabir, Rehmat Shah Sayyal, Innayat ulllah Zai, Abdul Raheem Majzoob, Muhammad Younus Khayal, Sher Zaman Taizai, Dur Muhammad Kasi, Syed Chiragh Hussain Shah, Muhammad Nawaz Tahir and Afzal Shauq has been translated into English and published in the previous issue of Pakistani literature.
This book comprising of Afzal Shauq’s poems is unique in the sense that it is translated by an American Poetess Alley Boling - a helpful step towards bridging the gap between east and west and conveying the modern sensibility of the sensitive people living in the third world countries. Though it has its shortcomings too that would not have been there if the poems were translated by a translator having full grasp over Pushto language and literature.
The themes of the Afzal Shauq’s poetry are universal brotherhood, fraternity, love, humanity and intense desire to improve the pitiable condition of the people suffering from poverty, injustice and discrimination. The explorer in Afzal Shauq has led him to various countries of the world and this has also endowed his creative spirit with rich experience. That varied and rich experience is amply reflected in his poems. In the translations the translator Alley Boling who seems to be the best American poetess has tried her best to keep the theme and spirit of Afzal’s poems intact.
So far C.E.Biddulph ,Evely Howell Olaf Carore are the foreigners who have translated the poetry of Khushal Khan Khattak, while other local translators include Sher Zaman Taizai, Aurangzeb Shah, Aqeela Zaman, Tariq Aziz, Jillani Kamran, Mehmooda Mehtab, Ali Kumail Kazilbash, Asif Furrukhi, Imtiaz Ahmed Sahibzada, Umar Farooq Sahibzada, Mushir Anwar.
Ghani Khan has translated some of his poems himself that are published in the recent issue of Pakistani Literature- a biannual English Literary journal ,Pakistani Literature published by Pakistan academy of Letters in a special corner devoted for Ghani Khan.
There is an immense need of good Pushto-English translators who could render the contents of Pushto literature in approximate and quality English translations. It is also observed that those having grasp over Pushto language are not necessarily aware of the equivalent modern English idiom and appropriate grammatical structure.
Afzal Shauq like his predecessors Ghani khan has taken the genre of Nazm to his province and his poems indicate that Pushto Nazm is capable of expressing new and fresh sensibilities in the best possible way. So the poet Shauq un doubtfully has succeeded to express his inner self in very tiny poems having bigger stories. Which makes him unique in his style of poetry.
Afzal Shauq is best at his shorter poems which seemed to be a combination of compressed thought and feelings. His terseness makes his poems more poignant and effective and the reader is left to draw some very important conclusion as remarked by one of his senior contemporary poet Hasham Babar that his short poems are like the small bullets.. having unforgettable effects.
By bringing out this book Afzal Shauq has made a laudable effort as it would lead to a better understanding and the recognition of the Pakistani Literature at international level. Means, the translator of Shauq’s poetry Alley Boling who is actually a western poetess and artist has done a tremendous task to bridge up the west to east with her global approach. So one hopes that more such translated version of Pushto poetry come out so that those who can not directly enjoy Pushto poetry might have at least some idea of this poetry that is rich both in its from and content. And the best of his expression in poetry is his semi philosophical and indirect touchy approach to the situation or alarming issues. So here is one of very meaningful poems of Afzal Shauq published in the book “Twist of Fates” on page number 38, which may appeal the readers attention towards multiple direction of thinking…
DEFEATED SOLDIERS
*****
Like the soldier...
with flag in hand
I advanced forth
seeking victory
over your heart.
The first strike was yours...
I was frozen...
with one quick sweet glance
those beautiful eyes
taking my heart prisoner.
Instead of my planned occupation...
I surrendered...
my dreams and feelings
one by one they fell
like defeated soldiers.
(Afzal Shauq’s Poem,“Defeated Soldiers,page38/Twist of Fates)
KHURRAM KHIRRAM SIDDIQUI
Editor, “Pakistani Literature”
( Published in Balochistan Times /
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