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This is an archive article published on October 14, 2014
Kalidas’ epic poem comes alive in five languages to rekindle integration spirit
The 120 verse epic poem Meghduta’s text is accompanied by colourful illustrations by a Vadodara-based artist.
A painting from Meghduta.
Her left thigh, resembling the pale, succulent stem of a plantain tree, devoid of my nail marks, forced by fate to abandon the pearl-string, fit to be fretted by me at the end of enjoyment, will quiver at your approach. (Verse 101, Page 149)
The legendary Sanskrit scholar Kalidas has come alive in a coffee-table edition brought out by Gujarat’s University Granth Nirman Board, bearing the title, “Meghduta, a book of national integration in Indian tradition,” translating the verses in five languages simultaneously — Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, English and Marathi. Marathi version because, “It’s the language of the neighbouring state (Love thy neighbour as thyself),” says the foreword by editor Dr Gautam Patel. Commenting on the “national integration”, Gautam Patel says, “India being an agriculture country, every farmer shares a similar feeling for rainfall and clouds. Also, in another context, since the journey of the cloud starts in Maharashtra, passes through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh before ending in the Himalayas. Thus, the literary piece unites different states. Also, Kalidas’ Meghduta had initiated several ‘duta kavyas’ in languages spoken from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, proving to be a string binding different languages and culture of India.”
The Granth Nirman Board came into existence in 1970 for the purpose of translating and publishing books and other reading material in Gujarati language on a “no profit no loss” basis for university and college students.
This is its first such coffee table venture. The 120 verse epic poem Meghduta’s text is accompanied by colourful illustrations by a Vadodara-based artist depicting the eroticism in the story of the young Yaksa’s who sends a cloud as a messenger to his wife languishing in separation from him.
“The University Granth Nirman Board has so far published subject books, reference books and other reading material in Gujarati. It is for the first time that it has come up such a title in a fine print publication like Meghduta. If it would have been done by a private publisher, it would be three to four time costlier than what we are offering to the readers,” said the vice chairperson of University Granth Nirman Board Dr Bhavna Dave. Dave is former Ahmedabad mayor and Surendranagar Lok Sabha MP. While the book is edited by member of the Second Sanskrit Commission and former chairman of Gujarat state Sanskrit Sahitya Akademi Dr Gautam Patel, the Hindi translation is done by Acharya Srinivas Rath, Marathi by Dr Keshav Pandurung Jog (former professor of Sanskrit Department, Deccan College, Pune) and English by Prof V J Trivedi (former principal of Gujarat College). The illustrations are done by Vadodara-based painter and sculpture artist Parmendra Gajjar. In one of the appreciations for the book written by Prof G C Jhala in the beginning says, “Despite its erotic theme, the poem has a high moral tone. There are indeed some descriptions that are intensely erotic, and at least in one case (in stanza 43) the frankness is outrageous; yet love in the poem moves on a high plane. The Yaksa pining in separation for his lawful spouse and the latter, an ideal housewife, languishing in the absence of her lord and anxiously awaiting his return reveal a nobility and constancy of married love which are inspiring.”
About its title and its target readers, Dr Dave claimed that it was Dr Gautam Patel who along with the artist approached her with this proposal.
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