Bhagat Ram

Godot:

When I read the first sentence, I thought, yeh ``left pinky`` kaise yahaan aa gayee...what would it have been in Urdu that made you transform it so? I realise one cannot say whether a translation is perfect or not until one has read the original. So I shall take the word of those who know that nothing is lost in translation. And it is a lovely story you have chosen.

I agree with Urstruly that your efforts to keep alive classical literature is worth lauding...I have picked up a book of translated Kannada short stories...amazing how other languages get short shrift...

Urstruly:
No true-blue woman goes around kissing ciggies. Amrita Preetam would smoke the stubs left by Sahir in her ashtray...men always leave something behind to ensure they are remembered:)

Godot

Please translate something by Rajinder Singh Bedi.

regards

godot,
this is a wonderful story. .and this in my opinion is one of the best translations you have ever done - - you still need to work on your editing though : ) the few errors i noted didn`t keep me from enjoying the story.

Chander was too telling at the end, i felt, when in fact all through the story he was showing the ironies of Bhagat Ram`s actions and those of the community. But perhaps he needed to be telling and preachy because perhaps there are people out there who still may think that Bhagat Ram was a no good good for nothing son of a bitch.

thank you for sharing this with us.
love,
n~

I always liked Krishan the best among all his contemporaries like Manto, Baidee, Asmat, and Amarta. Krishan`s sense of humor tops all of them. I think Asmat is better writer than Amarta but I like Amarta better for she used to kiss the cigarettes left over by Sahir. Who wouldn`t love such a woman.

Godot: Very nicely done. I really appreciate the way you are struggling to preserve our classical literature. One day people will be thankful to you.

makes for a very enjoyable read

Excellent. Nothing was lost in translation.

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Good translation Godot. Liked this story. Not overly idealized. But that only enhances the lies of pride and honor of aristocracy, the protection and preservation of which is more sinful than the sins themselves.

Godot,

Translation needs a bit of work. But otherwise a great effort. Just get the feeling the last two paragraphs were unnecessary. The irony comes across nicely throughout, and the effect is spoiled by the author stating the obvious.

Nice.

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Godot,

The story is simply beautiful and very engaging.

And, you have done a great job relaying the life history of Bhagar Ram through Krishen Chandar.But there are certain phrases in Urdu that should not be translated phrase by phrase. For instance, if you read somewhere ``Pagla Kaheen Ka`` that will not sound very flowing in English - mainly to portray Krishan Chander 100%.

``He was one mean son of a @#$%^.``

I think the above phrase was used so many times in different format to show the lingo Krishen Chander used to describe the character of Bhagat Ram that it caused some headache.

Godot: Why do not you send this story to Parabola for one of their themes? Take a look at their theme and see where this story will be most appropriate? Just a thought.

Following is the link to their forthcoming issue for Summer:
http://www.parabola.org/magazine/nextissue.php4

More upcoming themes:
http://www.parabola.org/magazine/themes.php4

Rest later,

powerful stuff

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Godot

Thank you for translating another Urdu short story for us.

The Bhagat Rams should inherit the Earth.

Which writer is next on your list?

:-)