Translating Banalata Sen by Jibananda Das #EveryConversationMatters #VerseWaveBlogHop
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"
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.
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
DeleteI 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)
ReplyDeleteI 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.
DeleteThis 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!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words Pinkii.
DeleteYour 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.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it
DeleteFinally 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.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading.
DeleteBeautifully written! I appreciate how your blog moves beyond a literal translation and delves into the emotional and cultural echoes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Swati
DeleteAn absolutely beautiful translation of the poem. I've not read the original as I don't know the language, but your translation has made it easier for people like me to devour the essence and soul behind the lines. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, my purpose is served then.
DeleteThe onset of evening, erases the smell of sunrays from the wings of the lark;
ReplyDeleteThis was such a beautiful line. Also that recitation of the poem felt like I was listening to a piece of history. Lovely.
Thank you so much Suchita. Means a lot.
DeleteWowww!!! such poems don't happen anymore. There's something magical about these classics that transport you to that pre-independence era and you just melt into that old world charm.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't read Bengali, I can safely say that you have done full justice to the translation Reubenna... beautiful!
Thank you so much Kaveri. This is one of the most celebrated poems in Bengali
DeleteI'm not sure I've read the actual poem but I love the way you've translated it. Looks like a traveller sees and hears so much that they are bound to becomes poets with deep emotions!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindy
DeleteThis is purely beautiful. I'm wondering how did you translate it and bring the essence of the poem. My tired soul's only moments of hope - is a beautiful line. Thank you for the translation!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words
DeleteI didn't expect to see a translated poem in this blog hop and so glad you brought us this beautiful poem. I also listened to your father's reading of the original and although I do not understand Bengali, I tried to read your translation alongside to get the essence. His reading was musical and evocative like the poem.
ReplyDelete-Sonia
Thank you so much. He would be glad to know.
DeleteWow, the translation feels so gentle and soothing. No doubt that's the mood of the poem as well, based on your father's lovely reading. A delight to read and hear!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
DeleteThis translation of Banalata Sen is pure magic, it transports you through centuries and places, only to find solace in one woman’s eyes. I love how the translator preserves the poem’s haunting darkness while giving it a gentle, luminous glow.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked
DeleteThe translation and your recitation makes it so magical! Way to go!!
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteI was deeply moved by your translation journey—how Jibanananda’s timeless wanderer found solace in Banalata Sen’s darkness, evoked through rich imagery. Your reflections echo my own: that poetry’s magic lies in transforming vast, ancient longings into intimate, profoundly human connections.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
DeleteI know zilch of Bangla, at least could not understand even a bit in the original of this piece. So my understanding of it is purely on your translation and you've done such a fab job of it because I loved every line of it. Thank you so much for bringing such a gem to my notice through your translation
ReplyDeleteThanks Manali, this is one of the most celebrated poems in Bengali
DeleteThis is such an amazing initiative for people who don't or can't read in the regional language. Loved the poem
ReplyDeleteThank you
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