For Rakshanda Jalil, the journey was one of profound collaboration, where every word, pause, and metaphor was carefully molded to preserve the soul of Gulzar’s verses. With a steadfast commitment to bridging linguistic and cultural divides, Jalil’s translation work offers readers a rare glimpse into the heart of Urdu poetry through the lens of English. Together, they embarked on a poetic journey that transcended language, making each line a bridge between worlds.
Reading about you and your literary journey is indeed fascinating and inspiring. What was your experience working with Gulzar Saab like? How closely did you collaborate? Was the process highly collaborative? Were there any surprising, joyful, or challenging moments during your collaboration?
It was a very close collaboration. In fact, I have translated many people before but I have never found any other writer so invested in the act of translation. Let me share exactly how we have worked from our respective homes in Mumbai and Delhi. I would complete work on the poems in one book and email it to him. He, in turn, would do a very close careful reading, marking suggestions, comments, and feedback on each page. Once done, we would begin the process of going over each translation, line by line, word by word. For two hours every day, usually from 3-5 pm on weekdays, we would work on Facetime. Occasionally, when the connection was poor, we would switch to WhatsApp video. Every day, Gulzar Sahab would be waiting, punctual to the dot, ready with his Urdu originals and my English translations open beside him. And this is how every single poem from the six books contained in this collected works was worked upon, face to face, line by line, word for word!
What challenges did you face, if any, while translating from Urdu and Hindi into English right from your first book till today?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2024-Ausgabe von Storizen.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2024-Ausgabe von Storizen.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
You Are A Trip
A step forward, is a journey inside Each travel, is embracing the journey Soaking in the moment, destination never the yardstick of joy Backpacking dreams, brimming with a sense of wonder Travel, is a learning, discovering, with seeking eyes and heart…
INTERVIEW Prashanth Srivatsa, Author: The Spice Gate
In this insightful interview, Prashanth dives deep into the world of The Spice Gate, a richly woven narrative blending the complexity of subjugation, rebellion, and hope.
LOST AND FOUND IN PARADISE
Maya wasn’t at peace ever since she had discovered that her wedding ring was missing. Where on earth did she drop it?
The Soul of Gulzar, the Craft of Rakshanda Jalil
In the delicate art of translation, few challenges compare to capturing the essence of a poet as iconic as Gulzar.
Nehru's First Recruits by Kallol Bhattacherjee
Following India's independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was confronted with the enormous challenge of reconstructing a new nation from the rubble of conflict, starvation, and division among communities.
The Gentleman from Peru by André Aciman
In André Aciman's latest novella, \"The Gentleman from Peru,\" readers are taken to the sun-drenched Amalfi coast, where a fortuitous encounter with an intriguing Peruvian gentleman leads to a story of profound love and mysticism.
The Letter With The Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Rauf
\"The Letter With The Golden Stamp\" by Onjali Q. Rauf is a powerful contemporary children's novel that chronicles the compelling story of Audrey, a young girl thrust into a burdensome role far beyond her years.
The Tamil Story by Dilip Kumar
“The Tamil Story: Through the Times, Through the Tides”, edited by Dilip Kumar and translated by Subashree Krishnaswamy, is a seminal anthology that brings together eighty-eight short stories spanning nearly a century.
Think This, Not That by Dr. Josh Axe
In \"Think This, Not That,\" Dr. Josh Axe offers an engaging manual for realizing your full potential via the adoption of many paradigm-shifting mental practices.
Zeba by Huma Qureshi
Huma Qureshi takes readers on an exciting trip into the life of an unlikely superhero in her debut book, Zeba.
