“Zara Suno, Tum Jao Bhaad Mein”: Akhil Katyal reads Dorothy Parker’s “Indian Summer” in Hindi
For quite some time we have been amused by Indian poet Akhil Katyal’s translations and transcreations of English writers into Hindi. For those who do not follow his blog, Katyal’s method involves not the word to word translation from one language to another, what makes the translation worth it, and in some cases, in my humble opinion, better sounding than the original, is his understanding of what colloquial Hindi adds to the original, understated English verse. So like in Dorothy Parker’s excellent poem “Indian Summer”, “To hell, my love, with you!” becomes “Zara suno, tum jaao bhaad mein”.
Indian Summer
by Dorothy Parker
In youth, it was a way I had
To do my best to please,
And change, with every passing lad,
To suit his theories.
But now I know the things I know,
And do the things I do;
And if you do not like me so,
To hell, my love, with you!
Jab Jawaan Thi
by Akhil Katyal
Jab jawaan thi, tab ek aadat thi
Sabko khush karna,
Har dusre ladke ke sang khudko badalna,
Uske rang mein dhalna.
Par ab, jaisi hoon, waisi hi hoon,
Apni marzi ki karti hoon;
Gar aise hi pasand hoon, toh aana meri aad mein
Nahin toh — zara suno — tum jao bhaad mein!