Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The Bridges of Madison County

It is strange when a book in English (The Bridges of Madison County) inspires thought in Punjabi.
When the thought first came , it was written, and then adjudged to be too tacky to be shared. S.m.a.r.t thought otherwise, and has inspired me to put this on the blog. She says the brickbats can be directed to her(but then, of course, we do know that all the readers are too polite to offer brickbats even when they are due.)

So here goes, with reference to context - The Bridges of Madison County.

ਤੇਰੀ ਯਾਦ

ਮੈਂ ਸਾਂਭ ਕੇ ਰਖੀ

ਇਕ ਦਿਨ ਹਵਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਆਯੀ

ਤੇ ਬੋਲੀ

ਸੁਗਨ੍ਧੀ, ਬਨ੍ਦ ਪੋਟ੍ਲੀ ਵਿਚ ਸਾਹ ਨਹੀ ਲੈ ਸਕਦੀ

ਐਨੇ ਮਰ ਜਾਨਾ

ਤੇ ਮੈਂ

ਓਦੀ ਗਲ ਮਨ ਕੇ

ਤੇਰੀ ਯਾਦ

ਹਵਾ ਦੇ ਹਵਾਲੇ ਕੀਤਿ

ਹੁਣ ਸਾਮ੍ਭੇ

ਯਾ ਪਰਸ਼ਾਦ ਵਾਂਗਨ ਵਂਡ ਦੇਵੇ
ਮੇਰੇ ਜਯੇ ਹੋਰ ਕਮਲਯਾਂ ਨੁ

ਹਵਾ ਦੀ ਮਰ੍ਜ਼ੀ ..

ਮੇਰੀ ਪੋਟ੍ਲੀ , ਮੈਨੁ ਪਤਾ ਹੈ

ਚਿਟ੍ਟੀ ਤੋਂ

ਗੁਲਾਬੀ ਹੋ ਗਯੀ ਹੈ.

तेरी याद
मैं सांभ के रखी
इक दिन हवा मेरे कोल आयी
ते बोली
सुगन्धी, बन्द पोट्ली विच साह नही लै सकदी
ऐने मर जाना
ते मैं
ओदी गल मन के
तेरी याद
हवा दे हवाले कीति
हुण साम्भे
या परशाद वांगन वंड देवे

मेरे जये होर कमलयां नु
हवा दी मर्ज़ी ..
मेरी पोट्ली , मैनु पता है
चिट्टी तों
गुलाबी हो गयी है.

Your memory

was in safekeeping.

Untile one day

the Wind came to me

and said,

"Fragrances cannot breathe in closed knapsacks."

Obligingly, i handed over

your memory to her

For safekeeping

Or, to give away as holy offering

to other mad people like me.

What do i care?

For i know

that my knapsack, once white

is pink now.

*****************

So there, i still think its hideous(and no, am not fishing for compliments here), but there it is, for you to suffer.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

हिन्दी में और लिखिये

WritingsForLife said...

ahh... if only i could read hindi script :-)

The Phosgene Kid said...

Actually reads better in Punjabi!!

oceanic mirages said...

the punjabi poem was awesome, beautiful, the thought was mesmerinzing.
i liked the translation as well n though wat u read was in english i guess, feelings cross all boundaries of language, context and culture.
tc.

ThoughtSafari said...

Aah...! Finally I see the post... and u know what... it sounds best in punjabi!

Varun said...

i didn't know you could read/write/understand Punjabi/Gurmukhi! This is great.

have you heard Anwar Masood?

post some Bulle Shah too!!

:) :) :)

human being said...

wow... i like it... so beautiful

a heart which is pink now with love... a ture love that we cannot keep for ourselves... we give it away and still have it with us... a thriving love...

soulbrush said...

i adored that film, it meant so much to me, and i will never forget it.

How do we know said...

उन्मुक्त जी: कोशिश करते हैं

HI Raaji: You can read the English translation.

Hi Phos: You know Punjabi? No, you're just pulling a fast one, are you not?

Hi oceanic Mirages: Do you also understand Punjabi? Thats gud news!

Hi s.m.a.r.t: yep, it does sound best in Punjabi.

Hi Varun: Yes, I am a Punjabi, and a proud one at that. :-) I have not heard Anwar Masood, do tell me more..Will post some more Bulle Shah soon..

Hi human being: I dont think anyone could have summed it up half as well. You're marvellous!

Hi forver young: Am yet to see the film, but am soo lookinjg forward to it.

Varun said...

Listen to Anwar Masood's poetry here

You will need a Real Media Player for the streaming audio.

Mampi said...

Wonderful, the Punjabi thingy was a surprise to me, and was I glad to see gurmukhi script.... you might be interested in my punjabi blog www.manmahesh.wordpress.com. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਟਿੱਪਣੀ ਦਾ ਇੰਤਜ਼ਾਰ ਰਹੇਗਾ ।

delhidreams said...

oh! its not hideous
infinitely better than mine, anyday
and for the poem
its as beautiful as i cud have come across
really it is N

delhidreams said...

and oceanic mirages is a pakki punjaban madam ;)