experiencing -translation -through- fiction :-

Introduction :-

    This task has been assigned by Archita ma'am as a part of our classroom activity for unit 3or 4:- Translation Studies. The purpose of this activity is to give us hands on experience in translating a paragraph from Gujarati or Hindi fiction in to English.

Through this exercise,we not only practice the skill of translation but also reflect on important aspects such as equivalence,

Untranslatability, cultural gaps, and the 

effectiveness of translation tools.This

blog is my response to the given task.

(1) The Title of the Fiction chosen :-

Rasdhaar of saurashtra:-  Zaverchand Meghani 

(2) Original paragraph ( source language):-

     આ ' રસધાર' ની અંદર જરા જુદો માર્ગ પણ લેવાયો છે.સૌરાષ્ટ્રની કેટલીએક કવિતા કેટલીએક શોર્યવંત વ્યક્તિઓના ઇતિહાસની અને અનેસાથે આલિંગી ને ઉભી છે. બધી જ કવિતાઓ કોઈ નાલાયક પુરુષોની નથી. ગોહિલ કુળ, જેઠવાકુળ, ઝાલાકુળ અથવા ખાચર ખુમાણ વગેરે નામાંકિત કાઠી -કુળો ના એ બધા પુરુષો મહાન હતા. તેઓની જીવન - કથાઓ, વિના કવિતાએ પણ કવિતા સરખી જ રસવતી છે. જ્યાં જ્યાં જીવનની મહતતા, ત્યાં ત્યાં કવિતા તો સદાય પોતાની મૌન- વાણી લઈને બેઠેલી જ હોય છે.

     હિમાલયના બરફ - શિખરો ઉપર સૂર્યના કિરણો પડે , અને વિગલીત બનીને ધારારૂપે વહેવા લાગતું એ બરફ- શિખર કદી ન ગયેલું એવું કલકલ ગાન કરવા લાગે છે; 

એવી રીતે ઇતિહાસની અંદર પણ ચારણના કલ્પના- કિરણોનો સ્પર્શ થતા, એવું જ અદભુત એક ગાન ઉઠે છે. 

' રસધાર ' ની અંદર એકલી કલ્પના નથી ગાતી; ઇતિહાસને એ ગવરાવી રહી છે.

(3) Translated paragraph (Target language:- English)

    A slightly different path has also been taken within this 'Rasadhar'. Several poems of saurashtra stand in harmony with the history of several brave individuals.All the poems are not by worthless men. Gohikul, Jethwakul, Jhalakul or Khachar Khuman etc. All

those men great.  Their life stories,even without poetry, are just as interesting as

Poetry. Wherever there is the importance of life, poetry is always there with its silent lute.

   The sun's rays fall on the snow -capped

Peaks of the Himalayas, and the snow -capped peaks, melting and flowing like a stream, begin to sing a song never sung before; in the same way, when the rays of the poet's imagination touch history,a similar wonderful song arises. It is not 

Imagination alone that sing within 'Rasadhar',it is glorifying history.

(4) Context behind the paragraph:-

- The given paragraph is about the book

Rasdhaar.It highlights how poetry and history are connected. The writer explains

that poems is Rasdhaar are not only creational of imagination but are also deeply rooted in the glorious history of saurashtra. The poet's bring alive the bravery and sacrifices of historical heroes like Gohil, Jethwa, Thakkar, Khachar, Khuman etc.Thus , the book is not merely poetry but a way of glorifying and preserving history.

(5) Briefing of the book :-

- The book Rasdhaar gives information about the rich cultural and historical background of saurashtra.

(1) Plot:- The poems are woven around the brave deeds and sacrifices of saurashtra 's heroes.

(2) Main theme:- Glorification of history through poetry, showing how imagination and history go hand in hand.

(3) Significance:- It inspires readers by celebrating courage, sacrifice, and values.

It also reminds us that poetry is not separate from life but an expression of it, keeping alive the heritage of the land.

(4) Importance of Rasdhaar:

•Preservation of History:-

- The book does not present imagination alone but glorifies the real history of saurashtra. It keeps alive the memory of brave men like Gohil, Jethwa, Thakkar, Khachar Khuman etc.

• Blend of poetry and life:-

- Rasdhaar shows that poetry is not separate from life.whenever there is importance in life,poetry exists as a silent expression. Thus , it makes history more attractive and emotional through poems.

•Source of inspiration:-

- The book inspires readers with stories of courage, sacrifice, and devotion. It teaches values such as bravery,unity and love for the motherland.

•Cultural pride:-

- By glorifying the heroes of saurashtra, the book strengthens cultural pride and gives

a sense of belonging to the region.

• Educational value :-

-  It provides knowledge about the traditions, historical events and the spirit of people of saurashtra, which is valuable for students and researchers.

In short:-  The importance of Rasdhaar lise in the fact that it is not just poetry but a cultural treasure that glorifies history inspires future generation and connects literature with life.

Reflection Questions:-

(1) Is there any translation available on the fiction you chose?

=>  Yes, there is a transaction available. However, every transaction is influenced by the translator's perspective and cultural background. In some cases, I had to compare multiple translations to get a clearer understanding of the text.

(2) While conducting translative reading, did you encounter any cultural issues or gaps?

=> Yes, I did. Certain cultural expressions,

Idioms and proverbs used in the fiction were difficult to translate directly into the target language. Some words carried cultural meaning that had no exact equivalent, so I had to adapt them carefully to maintain the original sense.

(3)Did the problem of untranslatability or equivalence occur in the chosen fiction?

=> Yes, Untranslatability was an issue.For

example, traditional terms, customs,or local references in the source language could not always be translated word -for- word. I had to find equivalent expression or explain them briefly in the translation to preserve meaning.

(4) Which tools and source were used while conducting the translation? Were they effective in achieving accuracy?

=>  I used Google translate and chatgpt while translating. Both tools were not effective in correcting the translation but then I did it my self.

(5) Describe your experience as a translator.(Answer here -your challenges, learning and reflection).

=>  My experience as a translator was both challenging and rewarding. The main challenge was dealing with cultural words and idiomatic expressions.

• Conclusion:-

I learned that transaction is not just about language but also about understanding the culture behind it. This task improved my vocabulary, analytical thinking and appreciation for both languages. I realized that a translator must balance accuracy with creativity to convey the true.