It is generally considered that translation works make second grade effort. To some extent, it may be so, but the fact remains that the significance of translation can hardly be denied. It is not possible for a man to know all languages of the world to be acquainted with the civilisation, tradition, culture, way of thinking, progress of education, science and literature of different parts of the globe.
But it is possible for a person to be well acquainted with the values related to the nations and communities through translated works.
'Dopahria Dhoop Kay Sang' is a translation work of Qaiser Saleem. He is a busy writer and constantly creating short stories, novels, poetry, satiric essays as well as doing translation. He has also written three travelogues. Two translation books of the author "Amriki Betian Islam Ki Rah Par" and "Muntakhab Amriki Afsanain" have gained much popularity. The appreciation has encouraged him to continue with translations. That is the reason he has again come up with his new translation work.
The novel under review is authored by Anita Desai in English and has been translated into Urdu by Qaiser Saleem. Anita Desai's mother was a German lady and her father a Bengali. Now residing in Delhi, she has written this novel in the Indian perspective of Indian culture and civilisation. Anita has quoted occasionally verses of T.S. Eliot and other English poets to make the narration of the novel more comprehensive, compact and impressive.
The English verses have been translated by Khwaja Manzer Hasan Manzer, a friend of Qaiser Saleem. It will also be noted that Anita's novel has been selected for Booker Prize.
Qaiser Saleem is a human-loving person. So wherever he sees any human problem such as exploitation, injustice, inhuman attitude, social and economic suppression, irresponsibility and lawlessness, he tries to mirror and pinpoint all these shortcomings and loopholes.
The novel under review is based on parents' irresponsibility and carelessness towards their offsprings and the complications, torments and tragedy, created in the family by their attitudes. It also mirrors the sacrifices of a girl Bumla, the main character of the novel.
'Dopahria Dhoop Kay Sung' is a story of a family of six persons - father, mother, two sisters and two brothers - which is residing in Civil Lines, Delhi wherein father and mother were busy in playing cards and drinking wine without responding to family affairs and looking after their children. The elder daughter Bumla was a sensitive and responsible girl. She took up the responsibilities of her parents and looked after the family affairs, the grievances and troubles of brothers and sister. She was a well educated girl but remained busy like a housewife. She smashed her golden dreams, aims and aspirations of her life.
She spent selflessly every moment of her life for making the carrier of her sister Tara and two brothers. One brother ungratefully left his family and the other was mentally retarded. Bumla passed her life restlessly to serve her family members.
The dialogues, definition and expression of sentiment, details of environment and particulars as well as description of scene and scenery are impressive and compact. The translator has tried his best to keep the novel close to the original spirit, theme, style, atmosphere and sentiments of characters.
Author: Anita Desai
Translator: Qaiser Saleem
Publisher: Writers Book Foundation, P.B No 17830, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi.
Pages: 299
Prices: Rs 200