Translating Banalata Sen by Jibananda Das #EveryConversationMatters #VerseWaveBlogHop

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I attempted again, 

Last time it was Tagore,

This time it is 

Jibanananda's Banalata Sen.

My attempts to translate will never die,

What's the harm if I try?

I am choosing every classic poem,

Surely, all have heard of them.

Bangla, English, Hindi or Gujarati

Nothing can ever beat a good poetry.



         
Banalata Sen 

Walking this earth for thousand of years,

From the seas of Ceylon to that in the Malay, through the dark nightly spheres.

From the dusted ages of Bimbisara and Ashoka,

Moving further to the darkening times in Vidarbha 

I had been there.

Surrounded by the foamy sea of life,

My tired soul's  only moments of hope 

Were those with Banalata Sen from Natore.

The dark nights of Bidisha was her hair, 

Her features as intricate as Sravasti's sculpture;

Far away in the sea 

With a broken sail, a lost sailor

When, in the cinnamon-island he sees the green pasture

Like that,  amidst the darkness I saw her.

Asking me, " Where have you been so long? "

Her bird-nest like eyes, raising

That was Banalata Sen from Natore.

With the sound of the dew, when it becomes dark,

The onset of evening, erases the smell of sunrays from the wings of the lark;

When all the shades of the world cease to exist,

Getting ready with the manuscript

Twinkling like the firefly from some script.

Every bird returns to their abode,

Every river comes to the last mode.

All of life's dealings ending,

Remain only the darkness 

And here Banalata Sen, sitting.



"This post is a part of #VerseWaveBlogHop hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters"










Comments

  1. RomilaJune 9, 2025 at 9:59 AM

    I read your translation of Banalata Sen and I’m honestly in awe, it’s like stepping into a soft, melancholic dream. The wanderer’s journey from Ceylon to Vidarbha, the endless travels, the fireflies in the dark, the hush of twilight all captured it all so beautifully. Your reflections made me feel the ache and calm that coexist in the poem. It felt like a chant, a pause in life’s chaos. Jibanananda Das doesn’t write peace as a way to run away it’s more like a brief, honest pause that finds you after you’ve been through everything. Your translation brought that essence to life so well. It wasn’t just a poem I read; it felt like I was quietly sitting with it, letting it speak. Thank you for giving a timeless piece new breath while staying true to its quiet soul.

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    Replies
    1. Reubenna DuttaJune 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM

      Thank you for your kind words, Romila. It means a lot to me, as considerable thought must be given to maintain the spirit of the poem while ensuring the words rhyme.

      Delete
  2. Rethink MindfulJune 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM

    I had read Banalata Sen many years ago and now reading it again in both, Bengali and English, feels like having a cool breeze after a tired day. Jibanananda Das is one of my favorite poets. I appreciate your fondness towards reading and translating poetry from different languages. - Swarnali Nath (The Blissful Storyteller)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reubenna DuttaJune 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM

      I am so glad you liked it. This translation took a toll on me as I had to maintain the spirit of the poem while ensuring word rhyme.

      Delete
  3. Pinkii BakshiJune 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM

    This is so beautiful! Truly magical. I have read the original, and I admit your translation does justice to each and every word. Your words flow like a serene river, carrying the essence of Banalata Sen’s timeless charm. You’ve captured the soul of the original so wonderfully, making it accessible yet equally profound in English. Thank you for sharing this masterpiece!

    ReplyDelete
  4. deepti menonJune 16, 2025 at 6:23 AM

    Your translation of the original Bengali poem is so evocative and picturesque. It brings alive the journey from Ceylon to Malay, and to Vidarbha, the serenity and the beauty of nighttime, and the mellifluous descriptions of the birds and the rivers returning to their homes! I can imagine the exquisite nature of the original poem... your translation carries the beauty along.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tomichan MatheikalJune 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM

    Finally every bird returns home and every river comes to rest in the ocean... All those hungry travels - from Ceylon to Malaya, meeting Bimbisara and Ashoka in the dusts of history... There's a lot that the lines are trying to evoke and convey.

    ReplyDelete

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