Human life is characterised by instincts, feelings, emotions, sentiments, ideas, imagination and rational thinking. Strangely all these attributes of human body, mind and intellect reflect the individual as well as the collective consciousness of every society. They also constitute the basic factors that moulded the civilizations and cultures in different regions of the world divided by formidable geographical constraints and climatic conditions. However, the developments in the field of Science & Technology have brought these segments of the physical world close to one another to a large extent through improved conditions of transportation and communication systems. We have now reached a stage where the world tends to become a global village. But the interaction in the fields of Commerce, Economics and Technology has not led to bridging the yawning gulf in the sociological, cultural and emotional fields. The main reason for the existing alienation of people of different countries, with divergent religious faiths, beliefs, racial backgrounds, cultural ethos, traditions, and above all the value system, is lack of adequate knowledge and awareness of one another’s language and literature. As we all know, language is the most popular and effective means of communication among the people but unfortunately it is also the “language” that creates insurmountable barriers between the divergent linguistic groups. Hence, there is an urgent need for making the literature of one language group easily accessible to other language groups through the mechanism of multi-lingual translation of the creative diversity, in order to realise the cherished goal of global neighbourhood.
It is agreed on all hands that art and literature give expression to the cultural ethos and the basic value system of a nation, race, geographical region each with a deep rooted impact of its own long history.
It would be appropriate in this context to look at the role of literature in national integration and in combating subnational insularity. The subnational insularity of linguistic communities could be addressed and remedied largely by translation of the core and dominant literature of the world into the regional languages. We should encourage two-way translation. The role played by such translation of the ancient scriptures and epics like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas at the national level and that of holy books like the Bible and the Quran into most of the world languages in ensuring a purposive sense of national integration and the federation of faiths cannot be exaggerated. To understand is to love. To love is to live in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, at present there is widely prevalent ignorance of the striking similarities in each other’s cultures and value systems. This creates misunderstandings and misgivings about the real intentions and motivations of the people. Artificial barriers in promoting unity and cordiality among the people speaking different languages are its painful consequence. Therefore, there is pressing need for multi-pronged translation of the creative plurality, which is ironically the expression of unity in common human destiny. It is but proper that rich treasures of regional literatures, which reflect such unity, are translated for making them, mutually accessible to all the speech communities in the world without which the dream of globalisation would remain a myth. In the prevailing situation the writers and the readers of each language group fall into the temptation of thinking that their own culture and values are the best and others are inferior. It is easier to split an atom than to disintegrate an irrational belief.
It is humanly not possible to translate creative literature in every language into all other languages of the world. It would be therefore desirable to choose a few major world languages like English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, German, French, Hindi and Arabic into which the representative works of literature in various languages could be translated, in the first instance. This would provide a realistic and sound basis for further translation into other languages. Similarly, it is also not possible to translate the entire literature from any language into any other language. Hence, the process could be phased out and prioritised. In this connection, I would suggest that poetry should be taken up on top priority basis for various good reasons.
Poetry is the index of a nation’s conscience. It represents the most creative thought, feeling and emotion as well as intuition in any language. It is universally acknowledged that poetry in any language and literature embodies the best of aesthetic, cultural, emotive and philosophical elements. The poetic diversity transcends all barriers and explores the deeper and elevating truths which shape the core value system of a society. Poetry may defy definition but it is the best vehicle which ventures into unending exploration of the infinite truths that influence our beliefs and attitudes. They represent the value structures which in turn determine the way of life. In the present mechanical and materialistic world divided by selfish and narrow view of life, poetic creativity would nourish the imaginative, artistic and universal vision of human existence and relations. The interpretative genius of poetic thought is always in quest of harmony, love and happiness of all man kind. Every poet is the heir of some poets, philosophers, men of letters belonging to the Universal Cultural Heritage. They are the Titans of the universal poetry and they have been contributing to this great heritage.
I would like to place before you some of the crucial aspects relating to poetic power, keeping in view to the poetic philosophy enunciated by great visionaries like Sri Aurobindo and Mr. James Cousins, acknowledged authorities on Indian and English literary traditions respectively.
* We certainly derive immense pleasure from poetry as from all higher art. But in the case of poetry, the delight not only gets refined to meet the highest requirements of intelligence, imagination and the melody but thereafter, gets further heightened in its nature and perspective. In its highest manifestation, the power of poetry not only appeals to the intelligence, imagination and the ear but through these instruments and channels it reaches the innermost recesses of the soul and could verily be the epic of the soul.
* Poetry determines its own form and it is not subject to any mechanical or external law. The perfection of its sound movement and style comes entirely as the spontaneous form of poet’s soul that utters itself in inspired rhythm – the – Exalted Voice, immortal element in poetry.
* The rhythmic word of the poet is the highest form of the speech accessible to man for expression of his self-vision or his world vision. Poetry attempts to extend this manner of vision and utterance to all experience, even the most objective and therefore has a natural urge towards the expression of verity in the object beyond its mere appearance. Ordinary speech uses language mostly for a limited mundane purpose of communication. The power of speech of poetry expresses not only the finite intellectual meaning the word carriers but also the vision of the higher and nobler soul in him
* The Poetic truth is not inhibited by any of the limiting factors. Truth of the poetry is not truth of philosophy or truth of science or truth of religion only, because it is another way of self-expression of the infinite truth so distinct that it appears to reveal the quintessence of reality and explores a more meaningful dimension of revelatory experience. The mind of the poet sees beyond direct perception, and through intuition brings out an integrative universal image of life. It is in this sense that we can speak of the sun of poetic truth in whose universal light the poet creates. The poetic truth is not ephemeral but ever abiding and perennial and universal.
In the words of Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra, an eminent International poet (Jnanpith Awardee) and Chairman of National Book Trust of India. Globalisation of the written literary works would result in effective communication of “Cultural Matrix in general and written literature in particular so that the word is no longer a cluster of Towers of Babel”.
In my view poetic truths and poetic creativity express themselves in three different streams which embrace the three distinct relations in which the mankind is engaged. Firstly, the relation of man as a member of the society with his fellow human beings – in economic, social, political and day to day transactions. Broadly, this relates to social consciousness. Secondly, the relationship between man and woman which touches love, marriage, sexual morality etc. Again this may be perceived as gender relationship in society. Thirdly, the relationship of the man with the unknown. Every individual directly or indirectly at some time or the other is concerned with the secret of birth and death, the concept of God, the role of religion and spirituality. These aspects of human life are very vital in determining the value system of the society. Poetry and poetic philosophy reveal truths which influence the beliefs of the individuals and communities with regard to each of the three distinctive spheres of life which are interrelated and complementary. The beliefs and values which the individuals entertain, broadly defines and directs the social, cultural, religious and aesthetic attitudes of the people.
Creative Literature, particularly poetry, which is inspired by universal truths and a deeper vision of life is the most effective instrument in developing realistic and humanistic understanding among the people of the world living in varied social economic and political environs. The power of poetry can mitigate the existing conflicts and the intolerance in the world to a significant extent if people could share the universal culture that emerges through literary and poetic creativity. Such keen awareness of the cultural and ethical universals underlying the apparently conflicting value system in the world, will ensure the harvest of Harmony the world over. It would undoubtedly help in avoiding the alarming increase in violent exacerbations and terrorist explosions that threaten the very future of mankind.
The success and the popularity of the translated works of any source language will essentially depend on the quality of the translations as well as the marketing of the translated texts. As we are aware, there are several theories and methods of translation in general and poetry in particular. However they seem to broadly fall into seven categories identified as Phonic translation, Literal translation, Metrical translation, Poetry into prose, Rhymed translation, Blank verse translation, Interpretation. Translation studies have established that there is certainly no single prescriptive model for translators to follow. I would like to recall here the observations of the world renowned scholars on translation. Bassnett – Mc Guire.
“Much time and ink has been wasted attempting to differentiate between translations, versions, adaptations and the establishment of a hierarchy of correctness between these categories…- The interlingual translation is bound to reflect translator’s own creative interpretation of SL (Source Language) text. Moreover the degree to which the translator reproduces the form, metre, rhythm, tone, register etc. of the SL text will be as much determined by the TL (Target Language) system as by the SL system and will also depend on the function of the translation.”
Despite the oftquoted saying that poetry is “what is lost in translation”, the translators with their experience in the area of biaspora and real grasp and command over both Source language and the Target language could believe this view. The crux of the problem is inadequate facility for the training the translators and ensuring that they acquire expertise in both the languages involved in a translation. This can be addressed by the institutional setup proposed to be created for initiating and monitoring the translation of standard texts in Indian languages into English and other foreign languages.
In this connection it may be relevant to quote the observations of Andre Lefevere on the scenario of inter lingual translations and globalisation of the poetics. “Of all the great literatures of the world, the literature produced in the Islamic system is arguably the least available to readers in Europe and the Americas. Any reader walking into a decent bookstore is likely to find anthologies of Chinese and Japanese literature, as well as fairly recent translations of important works, some even in cheap paper back editions. While there seems to be no comprehensive anthology of Indian literature particularly not the literature produced in Dravidian languages, the classics of that literature are also available to a much greater extent than most of Islamic literature”. Admittedly the pace and extent of translation of representative literary texts in the oriental languages is not at all satisfactory. Further even the translated Texts are not reaching the Western markets because of the unhealthy trade practices and price quality competition.
It is common knowledge that no translation can be perfect because of the differences in grammar, Lexis and idiom between the source language and the target language. But the typical problems associated with translation of poetry as well as identification and training of the competent translators with biasporic skills could always be overcome. As observed by an eminent translator, “translation is forever impossible but forever necessary.”
The national governments must evolve a system of translating the representative literary works into all or as many as designated major world languages as possible. The UNESCO, Commonwealth, European Union etc. should help the national govts. and the NGOs in initiating, coordinating, monitoring as well as funding this noble mission of globalising the written word. It may be imperative to strengthen the existing national institutions like the NBT, and Sahitya Academies. It is also desirable to set up autonomous bodies exclusively for the purpose of translation on a decentralized pattern.
So far as India is concerned, the pioneering and coordinating role could be entrusted to a major national institution like National Book Trust, India (NBT), which has already been doing commendable work of this kind at the national level. The proposed specialised Institutional set-ups and decentralization of the translation work could be monitored and coordinated by national institutions, like NBT by expanding their efforts in the area of translation from the national level to global level with the help of International Agencies to the extent necessary.
I have my own humble experience in translating my own poetry written in Telugu, into English and translating the works of other national and foreign poets into Telugu through the medium of English as well as Hindi. Some of my works have been translated by scholars into Hindi, Spanish, Turkish etc. Hence my awareness of other cultures through my translation and study of translation made by others has expanded my vision considerably and broadened my humanistic ethos and realistic appreciation of the unity and commonality in diverse cultural and literary traditions as well as value systems.
I feel that however imperfect the translation could be, because of the inherent constraints in translating the poetic idiom, images and symbols, the basic purpose of true and deeper understanding among people can certainly be achieved, ensuring harmony and lasting happiness.