Depression / अवसाद
This poem is originally written in English by Ms Jasbir Chatterjee, who is a Senior Member of this Forum (poemhunter.com)and an accomplished poet whose poetry has received International acclaim. Hindi translation is by Rajnish Manga.
अवसाद,
चार अक्षर का एक शब्द है,
उच्चारण भी बड़ा सरल है,
रपटता है, सुगमता से, गले से नीचे,
महाविनाशक व धूर्ततम कुछ...
सर पर चढ़ती कॉकटेल सा,
करता संज्ञाशून्य प्रथम तो,
फिर खा जाता अंदर अंदर
देता एक दिलासा झूठा
कि उड़ जाएगी बेहोशी
और परेशानियाँ हट जायेंगी...
ओह, ज़िया, काश तुम्हें इसकी सुध होती...
काश तुम इससे परे हो पाती,
खुदा की अपने रज़ा में रहती,
और आत्मघात की बात से बचती...
अवसाद,
चार अक्षर का एक शब्द है,
उच्चारण भी बड़ा सरल है,
असंतोष घिरने लगता है शनैः शनैः जब जीवन में
कभी कभी,
महाविनाशक व धूर्ततम कुछ...
किसी घनेरे कोहरे सा,
छा जाता है
और अपनी ठंडी बाहों में भर कर
यह विवेक को खा जाता है,
फिर यह कह कर मूर्ख बनाता,
इसका कवच बचा लेता है,
समस्यायें भी टल जाती है...
ओह, ज़िया, काश तुम्हें इसकी सुध होती...
काश तुम इससे परे हो पाती,
खुदा की अपने रज़ा में रहती,
और आत्मघात की बात से बचती...
(हिंदी अनुवाद: रजनीश मंगा)
Now that I read the English, I fully understand this heartfelt poem. Jiah was a very attractive lady, I can see she would have been right for movies. The elegy about her is subtle and penetrating, based on depression being personified I think. Every word which Jasbir writes about depression is true; it never seems to go away once' it settles down quietly and envelops you'. I know the truth about depression through experience.
I'm glad you have read the poem and found 'The elegy about her.... subtle and penetrating'. It presents a deeper study of a depressed mind.
I wish I could understand all this poem, as depression has been my companion, but only on and off.
Thanks for kind visit, Michael. This is like an advisory (of course, post facto) about possible do's and don'ts to combat depression or to curb suicidal tendencies.
A Very Sad And Heart Felt Poem! ! ! ! ! That Touches/Reaches Very Deep! ! ! ! ! Thank You Both! ! ! ! ! Ever So Much For Sharing This! ! ! ! ! Ever So Very Many 10S! ! ! ! ! +++++
My sincere thanks to you for being on this page and for your kind words of review and appreciation.
My one regret in life, that I did not learn a second language well enough to be a translator. What joy it must be to do this. So, advice to the young, please do so. You will never regret it. Rajnish, envy does not have a sweet taste.
I wish I could read, but by reading other poet's comments i know its a wonderful work.
Thanks a lot, Rajnishji, for translating this poem and taking it to a wider audience.
Thanks a lot, Jasbir ji. for standing by this translation of your extremely thoughtful poem and for putting up a critical analysis of the forces leading to the actor's suicide.