Moon at Half Past Noon

Madhushala by Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachan

Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan became a renowned poet when he recited Madhushala for the first time at the Banaras Hindu University (1933-34). Based on all extant accounts, the halls echoed with ‘encore! encore! Audience loved a song that on surface appeared to be a tribute to wine and taverns. It was Bachchan’s singing that captivated the audience then. The poem survives in fading memories as a respite for sagging spirits. It’s to be noted that recitation of Hindi poems at public forums wasn’t as popular in that period as the mushairas (or soirees) made popular by Urdu poets.

The poem survived an onslaught from cinema, television, and social media. Bachchan himself got fed up of the fame. Repeated and ill-timed requests from audiences, and the ignorance of the ‘fandom’ diminished the greatness of this poetic masterpiece.

Madhushala – An Epic Translation?

A litterateur, Bacchan discovered The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Edward Fitzgerald. Like others, he too fell in love with the simplicity and the depth of it. It must have consumed him. He translated Edward Fitzgerald’s version of the Rubaiyat in Hindi. The work was completely ignored until the publication of Madhushala. If you love Rubaiyat, you may discover beauty in Madhushala. Similarities between the Rubaiyat and Madhushala are well documented. Yet, Madhushala exists on its on like Fitzgerald’s translation of the original.

The earliest translation in English was published by the Fortune Press. Titled The House of Wine, Marjorie Boulton and Ram Swaroop Vyas translated Bachchan’s work. Interestingly, the book was dedicated to ‘A world in which poetry is struggling to exist‘. Till date, this translation is regarded as the best.

Translating Madhushala ?

I have loved the verses for over three decades now. I first heard it at a friend’s place. Sung by Manna Dey and composed by Jaidev, both legends of Bollywood, it seemed to me that only Madhushala could break the spell of Ghalib’s work on my feeble mind. Since then, it has stuck and stayed inside like a worm. I sing random verses at most random time. The words just nudge past all coherent thoughts and occupy the center stage.

I have often wondered if it may be useful to translate Madhushala. I hesitate because I am surely not equal to the task. The skill set is simply no there. The idea haunts again and again.

I might as well give it a shot…