Husain Mir on translations

While the spotlight was undoubtedly on Javed Akhtar throughout the opening ceremony of the HLF 2015, the man sitting beside him is perhaps equally important, at least for those fans of the lyricist not conversant with Urdu.

Currently a faculty member at the William Paterson University in the US, Ali Husain Mir, the man from our very own Purani Haveli, has translated Mr. Akhtar’s poems to English. An alumnus of HPS, in this chat, he delves into the effort that went into translating.

How did you end up with the job?

I had written for the Progressive Writers Movement, and I had translated some of Mr. Akhtar’s poems to English. Mr. Akhtar had approached me in July last year, and that’s how I ended up doing it.

What was the hardest part?

It is very important to maintain the flow and rhythm, as the translation should also look like a poem. The outcome should be close to the spirit of the original work.

Where does Urdu stand as a language today?

An attempt has been made today communalise it for absurd reasons. Urdu has always been an urban language, and is not of Muslims alone.