Translation Studies - "Tran Padoshi" by Sundaram

Introduction to Translation Studies

Translation Studies is an academic discipline that explores the theory and practice of translation. It delves into the complexities of transferring meaning from one language to another, considering linguistic, cultural, and historical factors.

What is Translation Studies?

Translation Studies is the systematic study of the theory and practice of translation. It involves analyzing the process of translating texts from  one language (the source language) to another (the target language). This discipline examines various aspects of translation, including:

• Linguistic factors: How language structures, grammar, and vocabulary influence translation.
• Cultural factors: How cultural differences and nuances impact the translation process.
• Historical factors: How historical context shapes the translation of texts.
• Translation theories: Different approaches and methodologies used in translation.                               
  
  
  
        

Introduction of the Poem:

"Tran Padoshi" is a thought-provoking poem by the renowned Gujarati poet Sundaram. It explores the theme of social inequality and the stark contrast between the rich and the poor. The poem paints a vivid picture of a wealthy man, the 'Sheth', who lives in opulent luxury, while his impoverished neighbor, symbolized by the 'Ram', struggles to make ends meet. 

Through powerful imagery and symbolism, Sundaram highlights the stark disparity between the two worlds. The poem delves into the themes of social injustice, class divide, and the human condition.  It evokes a sense of empathy for the marginalized and questions the morality of a society that allows such extreme inequality to persist. "Tran Padoshi" is a significant contribution to Gujarati literature, known for its poignant portrayal of social realities and its enduring message of compassion and social justice.  

Watch this video for better understanding of the poem.

Translation Studies "Tran Padoshi" by Sundaram 

The translation of this Gujarati poem "Tran Padoshi" by Sundaram, rendered in English by Suguna Ramanathan and Rita Kothari, is a powerful example of how language, emotion, and cultural context are transported across linguistic boundaries. This poem, which tells the story of three neighbors—Ram, the rich Seth, and the impoverished widow Makorbai—conveys deep social and spiritual themes. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the translation process, challenges, and choices involved: 

1. Preserving Cultural Context:                                                                                                                                               

The original Gujarati text is rooted in Indian culture, religion, and social hierarchy. Words like "seth" (a wealthy man), "arati" (a religious ritual with lamps), and "Ram" (the Hindu god) carry immense cultural weight. The translators preserved these cultural references in English, opting to keep terms like "seth" and "arati" untranslated, allowing the reader to feel the local flavor.

 This decision reflects a desire to retain the cultural nuances and spiritual references that are central to the poem. Translating these terms into Western equivalents might have diluted the poem's connection to its Indian roots.

   - Seth (Gujarati: શેઠ)  

 In the poem, the word "seth" refers to a wealthy man or merchant. It remains untranslated in English to preserve its cultural significance, which might not have an exact equivalent in English.

 - Arati (Gujarati: આરતી)  

This is a Hindu ritual involving lamps, typically performed in temples. The translators retained "arati" without translating it to maintain its religious and cultural specificity.

- Ram (Gujarati: રામ)  

The name "Ram" refers to the Hindu deity, Lord Ram. It remains untranslated since it’s a proper noun, central to the cultural and spiritual context of the poem.

2. Religious and Social Symbolism:

The poem contrasts the divine reverence for Lord Ram with the neglect of Makorbai, a widow. This duality highlights the stark social inequalities of wealth and devotion. In the translation, the imagery of Ram in his temple, surrounded by luxury, is maintained alongside the grim reality of Makorbai’s life, working to survive and slowly grinding herself into the earth. The translators effectively convey the symbolic layers of the original poem, ensuring that the audience grasps the connection between the divine and the human, the rich and the poor.

Symbolic and Emotional Words:

Original: "મકોરની મૂરછાટાણેરે"  

Translation: "Makor faints to her death"

This translation directly conveys the tragic moment when Makorbai succumbs to exhaustion, keeping the emotional intensity of the original Gujarati line.

- Original: "ઘંટીનાંમોતના ગાણેરે"

 Translation: "The millstone sings of death

This metaphorical phrase is translated beautifully into English, maintaining the symbolic weight of the millstone as both a source of sustenance and a harbinger of death.

3. Rhythm and Sound:

Sundaram’s original poem uses rhyme and rhythmic sound patterns that are crucial to its musicality. For instance, repetitive phrases like “the mill devours the grain, yet it gives out food for all” are echoed in both the English and Gujarati versions, evoking the relentless turning of the millstone and the inescapable cycle of Makorbai’s life. The translators attempt to replicate this rhythmic quality, even though direct translation often disrupts meter and rhyme. They achieve this through repetition and parallelism in the English version, particularly with lines like "As the grain goes around / Makor’s body goes around," mimicking the repetitive nature of labor and suffering in the original text.

4. Emotional Depth and Imagery:

The Gujarati version of the poem is rich with emotionally charged imagery, like the "squalid smelly corner" where Makorbai lives, in contrast to the grandeur of the seth’s mansion and Ram’s temple. These contrasting visuals emphasize Makorbai's marginalization and poverty. The translators successfully maintain this stark contrast in English, evoking sympathy for Makorbai. Phrases like "her hungry belly is ablaze" and "the gluttonous mill, like the groan of a starving man" vividly depict her suffering, mirroring the raw emotional tone of the Gujarati poem.

5. Metaphorical and Philosophical Layers:

The poem explores the metaphor of the millstone grinding both the grain and Makorbai's body, reflecting the grinding effects of poverty and oppression. This metaphor becomes even more poignant as the poem approaches its conclusion, where Makorbai’s life is drained, and the millstone sings of her death. The translation maintains these layers, subtly conveying the fatalistic philosophy that underlies the poem. The personification of the millstone and the anthropomorphizing of the grinding process are carefully preserved, ensuring that the deeper message about the dehumanizing effects of poverty—resonates with readers of the English version.

6. Challenges of Literal vs. Free Translation:

One of the challenges in translating poetry like "Tran Padoshi" is deciding between a literal or free translation. The translators appear to strike a balance. They maintain the literal meaning of critical terms and phrases, such as “Gokul Attam” (a festival day), while taking some liberty in rephrasing to make the poem accessible in English without losing its essence. For example, "Makorbai rises from sleep" is a straightforward line, but its subsequent metaphorical expansion—“Makorbai’s Annapurna’s angry and the grain will not fall”—takes more liberty. The translators enrich the English version by embedding Indian mythological references (Annapurna is the goddess of food), allowing the cultural and spiritual implications to carry over.

Here are some example of ‘Literal Translations’ from the poem,

 - Original: "માકોર ઊડી અંગ મરોડે, પેટાવેદી૫કજયોત"

Translation: "Waking, Makor stretches, and then lighting a flame"  

This is a direct, literal translation where the physical actions of Makorbai (waking up, stretching, and lighting a flame) are kept intact.

- Original: "છત્ર૫લંગેશેઠ સ ૂતા હોય, રામ સીતાજીનેઘેર"

Translation: "The seth sleeps in comfort, and with Sita sleeps Ram"

This translation remains faithful to the original, keeping the meaning straightforward and clear.

7. Metaphorical and Poetic Phrases:

 - Original: "ઘરર ઘરર આંજણહીણી ઘંટી ભારેથાય"  

Translation: "The mill devours the grain, yet it gives out food for all"

 Here, the metaphor of the mill "devouring" grain is preserved in English, reflecting both the literal action of grinding and the symbolic notion of consumption and sustenance.

 - Original: "માકોરની અન્નપ ૂરણા રૂઠી ફરવા પાડેના જ"  

 Translation: "Makor’s Annapurna’s angry and the grain will not fall" 

 In this translation, the reference to "Annapurna" (the Hindu goddess of food) is preserved, retaining the cultural context and adding a layer of personification, which deepens the emotional resonance of the poem.

These metaphorical phrases vividly illustrate the balance of sustenance and scarcity within Gujarati culture. In the first example, "ઘરર ઘરર આંજણહીણી ઘંટી ભારેથાય," translated as "The mill devours the grain, yet it gives out food for all," the image of the mill "devouring" grain represents the process of grinding but also suggests a deeper, almost cyclical notion of consumption and provision. This metaphor emphasizes how something is consumed to be transformed and redistributed for communal benefit, encapsulating a broader theme of shared sustenance.

The second phrase, "માકોરની અન્નપ ૂરણા રૂઠી ફરવા પાડેના જ," or "Makor’s Annapurna’s angry and the grain will not fall," personifies Annapurna, the Hindu goddess of nourishment, reflecting the cultural belief that sustenance is sacred and dependent on divine will. By retaining the name "Annapurna," the translation preserves the original cultural and emotional undertone, hinting that scarcity or hunger might be perceived as the goddess’s displeasure. This choice brings a richer, symbolic dimension to the English translation, maintaining the emotional impact of the original language. Together, these phrases highlight the interconnectedness of human needs, cultural beliefs, and natural cycles in Gujarati rural life, offering readers a glimpse into the way these communities view sustenance as both a divine blessing and a hard-earned resource.

8. Social Commentary:

The poem serves as a critique of the rigid social structure and the indifference of the wealthy towards the poor. This aspect is preserved in translation, especially in lines that juxtapose the luxury of the seth’s mansion and Ram’s temple with the destitution of Makorbai. The English version conveys this social commentary with clarity, making the poem’s message accessible to a broader audience without compromising the depth of the original Gujarati text.

   

Conclusion:

The translation of Sundaram’s "Tran Padoshi" by Suguna Ramanathan and Rita Kothari is a thoughtful rendition that seeks to preserve the cultural, spiritual, and social richness of the original poem. While some poetic elements like rhythm and rhyme may have been adjusted to suit English sensibilities, the core emotional, philosophical, and metaphorical layers remain intact. The translation bridges linguistic and cultural divides, making the poignant story of Makorbai and the social inequalities she faces resonate with readers of both languages.