Ancient Hymn, Modern Verse
India Today|September 09, 2024
Vikram Seth's translation of Tulsidas's Hanuman Chalisa captures the incantatory quality of the original
Malini Saran
Ancient Hymn, Modern Verse

THE HANUMAN CHALISA

Translated by Vikram Seth

SPEAKING TIGER ₹399; 100 pages

Literary translation is famously difficult and translating poetry particularly so. More challenges arise when the poem in question is a 40-verse (chalisa) hymn in Avadhi, the language of Ayodhya, to the godly Hanuman, a poem that is loved and recited daily by millions of Hindus. Poet-novelist Vikram Seth calls his latest publication, The Hanuman Chalisa, a labour of love published several years after its completion in which he renders the incantatory quality of the original Avadhi into English poetry, the first ever such attempt.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIA TODAYView all
A Life IN MUSIC
India Today

A Life IN MUSIC

To celebrate five decades of a storied musical career, Padma Shri Hariharan is headlining a special concert in Delhi on November 30

time-read
1 min  |
December 09, 2024
MURDERS MOST FOUL
India Today

MURDERS MOST FOUL

SAMYUKTA BHOWMICK'S DEBUT NOVEL, A FATAL DISTRACTION, IS A WHODUNIT THAT GOES BEYOND MERELY PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MASTERS OF THE GENRE

time-read
2 mins  |
December 09, 2024
Jungle Book
India Today

Jungle Book

Avtar Singh creates a compelling tableau of characters brought together and torn asunder by migration, epidemic and circumstance

time-read
2 mins  |
December 09, 2024
BON VOYAGE
India Today

BON VOYAGE

The award-winning stage adaptation of Yann Martel's Life of Pi is coming to Mumbai this December

time-read
1 min  |
December 09, 2024
Earning His ACTING CHOPS
India Today

Earning His ACTING CHOPS

HIS LATEST STINT IN THE BUCKINGHAM MURDERS, WHICH JUST RELEASED ON NETFLIX, CEMENTS THE MULTI-HYPHENATE RANVEER BRAR'S REPUTATION AS A FINE ACTOR

time-read
2 mins  |
December 09, 2024
Strike a Pose
India Today

Strike a Pose

SOONI TARAPOREVALA'S SERIES DEBUT WAACK GIRLS ON PRIME VIDEO SHINES A LIGHT ON THE STREET DANCE STYLE OF WAACKING

time-read
2 mins  |
December 09, 2024
FATAL ATTRACTION
India Today

FATAL ATTRACTION

In I Want to Talk, Shoojit Sircar continues his exploration of death with the portrait of a tenacious man who beats it time and again

time-read
2 mins  |
December 09, 2024
LOVE LETTER TO THE MOUNTAINS
India Today

LOVE LETTER TO THE MOUNTAINS

'Journeying Across the Himalayas' is a new multidisciplinary festival in Delhi with a focus on the Himalayan region and its communities

time-read
1 min  |
December 09, 2024
The Art of CURATION
India Today

The Art of CURATION

Sunil Kant Munjal, founder patron of the Serendipity Arts Foundation, on how one of our biggest multi-disciplinary festivals came about and what to look forward to in this edition

time-read
3 mins  |
December 09, 2024
THE ROCKY ROAD AHEAD
India Today

THE ROCKY ROAD AHEAD

A US court's allegations of bribery in solar power contracts and US markets watchdog SEC's charges of concealing wrongdoings have jolted Gautam Adani's business empire. Even as he mounts a strong defence against the indictment, the group faces a crisis of investor confidence that may impact its growth plans

time-read
10 mins  |
December 09, 2024