The number of new books - covering a wide range of interests - is simply galore. Undoubtedly, this is a good sign in the sense that more and more books are coming out in our literary arena. This is the month of Amar Ekushey and is particularly characterised as the month of new books for all bangla-loving people across the world. As the proverb goes, books not only serve as stimulation in many ways, but also provide the much needed knowledge and information that are required to embellish and invigorate the readers' mental make-up. It is in this context, new publications are broadly welcome regardless of the subjects dealt with and which way the thoughts are influenced. The maxim that reading always leaves an invaluable "wealth" holds good for all time to come.
However, it is undeniably true that some publications - number of which is definitely not big - draw the attention because of their uniqueness and richness of the contents. It is also important that books are relished, and ideas and imagination are enriched to an extent that new feelings reverberate in the mind and soul. Admittedly, such occasions happen only seldom.
But AM Sharafat Ali's "Sher Shayeri" falls in that category since it is really something different and distinguishes itself with noble ideas. He has collected and translated precious "Shers" in Bangla from Urdu and other languages from great poets and lyrics of the south Asian region and also beyond. This is unquestionably, a rare gift in the month of Immortal February and reserves commendation.
Sharaft Ali is a familiar figure in different circles in Dhaka and Kolkata. The ever smiling lovable person is particularly known for keeping connoisseurs spell-bound in "addas" and indoor gatherings by means of his endless stock of poems and "Shers" in Urdu, Hindi and Persian. While reciting, he would immediately translate them in Bangla. Ali is also known for his fantastic sense of wit and humour as his stock in this area as well is quite large.
It is in response to the admirers that he has now come out with a book that contains many "Shers" written in Bangla and then the translation in the same language. Ali himself has done the translation, which in most cases carry the significance and the inner message of all these poems. Most of the pieces are from such legends like Mirza Galib, Meer Taki Meer, Allama Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Omar Khayyam, Jalaluddin Rumi and Hafez Jalandhari. The translations are not literal, and being metaphorical in nature they lend a deeper insight and understanding of the messages and contents. Ali has taken the painstaking effort of collecting these for many years and then embarking upon the task of translation in Bangla.
Not unexpectedly, love, sorrows, nature, beauty etc., are the essential ingredients of these "Shers" and Sharafat Ali has made them moving to the readers with nearly best possible translation in Bangla. For instance, a two-line "Sher" in the page 85 says "Hai Khoda - Aab tere ferdouspe hak hei mera,ich dorke dhojek me bhahut jalao mai" (Hi Allah, tomar ei beheste jaoar ekta hok hoye geche amar, kenona ei prithivir djoke ami onek jontrana payache).This means that Allah, I have earned a right to be in the heaven since I have suffered a lot in the hell of the world.
Another two-liner at page 33 says that "I seek to hold even a thorn very softly, but many people trample the flower so mercilessly". Indeed, the essence of the "Shers" are so meaningful and evoke deep passion that they leave a lasting influence in the mind.
The 112-page book has been published in Kolkata by Mollick Brothers. The pages are dotted with sketches that are relevant with the contents with a black cover that probably seeks to convey the sombre and melancholy tenor of most the poems. An ardent reader possibly can not stop without going through the poems in one go. However, in my view, it would have been more relevant and desirable if the names of the authors of the "Shers" could be given along with the respective poems. It is understandably a difficult task, but nevertheless that could have added more value to the translation. Because, one would have loved to know which one is the work of Mirza Galib or for that matter someone else.
But this in no way diminishes the charm and attraction of the publication, which by all definition is a splendid work that deserves to be read by all poetry-loving people, especially who are romantic and like to submerge in emotion, passion, love and the eternal feeling of
compassion.
............................
Sher Shayeri
Collected & Translated
By A.M. Sharafat Ali
Mollick Brothers,
College Street,
Kolkata.
Pages - 112
Price: Tk 400
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
