Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam
This blog explores the poetry of Amrita Pritam. All her original poems are in Punjabi. I've translated them in Hindi. The Hindi translations are relatively straight forward and there are other authors who have translated her work in Hindi. In some cases, where I could, I have translated a few of her poems in English. This is an entirely different task from Hindi translation. I have major reservations and a few misgivings about any attempt to translate poems in general. All of those concerns apply here in full force. I consider these translations as my musings and explorations: they carry no weight and are no substitute for experiencing the poetry in Punjabi. I am acutely aware of the challenges this may pose to even Hindi readers, let alone English ones. I offer no recourse.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

मजबूर Forced ਮਜਬੂਰ [II]




This is one of two poems by the same title "Majboor" on the plight of women abducted in 1947 partition.  This is the shorter of the two poems, of which I've excerpted only the opening and closing stanzas.

मजबूर 

 १९४७ में जबरदस्ती उठाई हुई इस्त्री

"मैं बेटी गर्व पंजाब की, देख फटे मेरे नसीब 
कैसे कहूँ बोल के, कटी हुई मेरी जीभ। 
... 
ज़ोर ज़बर की हद है, आतंक की भरमार 
यहाँ बिका धरम ईमान है, यहाँ बिकी देश की नार  |"


Forced [2] 

On women abducted in 1947

"I'm the daughter of Punjab
          behold, my fate has been shorn
How do I tell my tale
          for my tongue has been torn!
...

Violence has crossed all limits
          with atrocities untold
Faith and decency purchased
          and women of nation sold



ਮਜਬੂਰ 


1947 ਵਿਚ ਜਬਰੀ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀ

"ਮੈਂ ਤੱਤੀ ਧੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ, ਮੇਰੇ ਫੁੱਟੇ ਵੇਖ ਨਸੀਬ 
ਕੀਕਣ ਦੱਸਾਂ ਬੋਲ ਕੇ, ਟੁਕੀ ਗਈ ਮੇਰੀ ਜੀਭ  
...
ਜ਼ੋਰ ਜ਼ਬਰ ਦੀ ਹੱਦ ਵੇ, ਅੱਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਰਮਾਰ 
ਏਥੇ ਵਿਕਿਆ ਧਰਮ ਈਮਾਨ ਵੇ, ਏਥੇ ਵਿਕੀ ਦੇਸ ਦੀ ਨਾਰ  | "






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