English: Rabindranath Tagore Русский: Рабиндранат Тагор (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Rabindranath Tagore Русский: Тагор, Рабиндранат (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In his lifetime Tagore wrote in all sorts of literary forms. Despite that, the name of poet stuck to him. He was called viswa-kabi(the universal poet) by his own people. He was certainly one who wrote variety of poems.When one surveys his poems, one could exclaim as Dryden did about Chaucer,’Here is God’s plenty.’He began writing poems at a tender age. It is said that when he lay dying,poems kept coming to him. Although he was incapable of writing himself,he dictated the poems,he checked them to be sure they were formed perfectly.
I have read many poems of Tagore.I never thought of translating them.To me they were there to read and enjoy.The feeling that I should translate them to show the beauty of his work,came to me only lately.In English there are limited words one can use to translate Bengali prose,poetry or songs. I am aware,my translation will fail to catch the depth of Tagore’s poetry. I have finally found a poem,Tagore wrote,The title is “To Remember”.
“To Remember”
I do not have any recollection of my mother.
Only when I go out to play suddenly without any reason
A kind of tune keeps ringing in my ears,
as if the sound mixes with my mother’s words in the middle of my game.
Did my mother sing while rocking my swing–.
My mother has gone but, as she was going she left the song.
I do not have any recollection of my mother;
Only in September, early in the morning in the garden of the white flowers,
the wind spreads the smell of the flowers wet with dew;
Why then does my mothers words,echo in my mind;
perhaps when my mother carried the decorated basket of flowers—-
The smell of Pooja transformed into my mother’s smell and came to me.
I do not have any recollection of my mother;
Only when I sit in the corner of my bedroom;
I look far-away at the blue sky from my window—
All of a sudden I feel my mother is looking at me very intently;
She used to have me in her lap and look at me,
that is the look she left all over the sky as a reminder for me.
I have tried to translate the Bengali poem written by Tagore into English. I hope it is okay!
Ranu
An example of handwritten Bengali script. Part of a poem written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1926 in Hungary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel prize for literature. It is the first Nobel prize won by Asia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sabethville 
I cannot be a good judge since I do not know Bengali language, but I thoroughly enjoyed your English translation. To me the best part about it was that it gave that feeling of being overwhelmed, almost like being pulled into an ocean of emotions forcefully and suddenly – which I have understood to be a hallmark of Tagore’s poetry, and a kind of his “signature” (by which I mean, what makes him different from other poets and comes out even in translations, when translations are good).
Thank you Bhai,I was afraid to translate it,I felt I know the language,maybe I should give it a try.
The exceptional comment coming from you,certainly made my day.Whichever way I say thank you isn’t enough.
When Akhtar Bhai suggested to write about Tagore especially his poetry.I was a bit scared,I was not sure how to handle it.
At the same time I did not want to admit I couldn’t do it.Many many thanks once again!
Dear Ranu,
This is an absolutely beautiful poem.
I like that Tagore is referred to as the Universal Poet. It seems right that God would have His poets.
Thank you for sharing this.
All good wishes,
robert
Thank you very much for this, the poem has an enormous effect on heart and mind, and also creates a splendorous sensibility about the relationship that the poet describe so simply but that simplicity produces a river of opus that flows in imagination as musical notation.
Your translation is so good that it brought out tears and I am so happy to be introduced to this beautiful piece of poetry. This is a brilliant beginning 🙂