"Making the familiar strange and the strange familiar!" Whilst anthropologists and sociologists use this phrase, I've found it to be just as true for any creative endeavor. This was brought home again when I recently read poet Vikram Seth's English translation of the Hanuman Chalisa.
A revered devotional poem originally written in Awadhi by the Bhakti mystic Tulsidas, the Chalisa is a beautiful work, dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey-god embodying devotion and strength, takes on new life through Seth's masterful rendition. What struck me most was how Seth's translation maintained the poem's essence while making it accessible to a wider audience. The English transliteration from Devanagari script opens doors for many to appreciate this cultural treasure. Moreover, Seth's ability to capture the original's rhyme and rhythm in English is truly commendable, preserving the incantatory nature of the work.
This experience reminded me of the power of thoughtful translation in bridging cultural gaps and sharing profound literary works across languages. It was a joy to recite both the original and the translation, each offering its own unique beauty.
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