Mar 11, 2016

Ochintu Koi Mane



In January this year, while on a 'Sadbhavana Yatra' in north Gujarat organised by Sanjay-Tula of Vishwagram, we met Dhruv dada (well-known Sahitya Akademi awarded Gujarati writer, Dhruv Bhatt). As we travelled with him in his car, with great love, he shared with us those poems of his which come to him as songs (with tunes). We have so much enjoyed learning these songs of a modern/contemporary mystic poet, so to speak. 

In this song, he speaks of the benevolence of nature (kudrat ni rehem) and the joy of being alive. While walking along the banks of the river Narmada, he once came across a farmer working in his field under a blazing sun. When he asked him how he was doing, the farmer turned to him with a thousand watt smile, and replied with no hint of self-pity, that he was full of joy! That moved something internally for Dhruv dada in his attitude to the farmer, and to himself, and inspired this poem/song.

This yatra, mooted and part-sponsored by him, was his gesture of commitment to a larger culture of tolerance and reverence in India, done very quietly, away from the noise and controversy surrounding the returning of awards.


Ochintu koi mane raste made ne kadi
dheere thi poochhe ke kem chhe
To aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan
ne upar thi kudrat ni rehem chhe

Phaatela khissa ni aad maan muki chhe ame
chhalkaati malkaati mauj
Eklo ubhun ne toye mela maan houn
evun laagya kare chhe mane roj
Taalu vasaaye nahin evadi pataari maan
aapno khajaano hem-khem chhe
Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

Aankhon maan paani to aave ne jaaye
nathi bheetar bheenaash thathi ochhi
Vadh ghat no kaanthaao raakhe hisaab nathi
parvaah samandar ne hoti
Sooraj to uge ane aathmiye jaaye
maari upar aakaash em-nem chhe
Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

I'm at play 

If, suddenly, I were to come across
Someone on the way
And if they were to ask me
Softly,
"How are you doing today?"
Then I would say, 
Nature is so bountiful
And like waves in the ocean 
I'm at play!

In my torn trouser-pocket hide 
Many joyful, dancing waves
Even when alone 
I'm in a carnival each day 
In a tiny bundle
Which can never be locked
My treasure is as safe as day 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Water in the eyes comes and goes
But the moistness within never dries
The shore may keep accounts
Of less and more
The ocean doesn't bother about such scores 
The sun may rise and set everyday 
The sky over me is always the same 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Translation: Vipul Rikhi

19 comments:

  1. વિપુલભાઈ ખુબ સુંદર કાવ્યપઠન અને અતિ સુંદર કાવ્યાનુવાદ માટે ધન્યવાદ સ્વીકારશો.

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  2. Wah ..thnx for writing this and sharing

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  3. Very good translation....Dhruv Dada fondly remembered you yesterday!

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  4. I keep hearing the song non stop since sunday! Just fills the heart with a lot of joy and delight.

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  5. Ooooo barobar :) So beautiful. Every word. Thank you. :)

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  6. Ooooo barobar :) So beautiful. Every word. Thank you. :)

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  7. This is so beautiful! The story behind the song, the song itself, and the marvellous translation. Thank you very much for this uplifting post.

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  8. This is so beautiful! The story behind the song, the song itself, and the marvellous translation. Thank you very much for this uplifting post.

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  9. कोई किसी मोड पर अचानक मिल जाए और धीरे से पुछे कैसे हो?

    हम तो कह दे कि, दरिया से मौज है और ऊस पर कुदरत की रहमत है।



    टूटी सी जेब में रखी है मेने रखी है छलकती मुस्कुराती अपनी मस्ती,
    अकेला ख़डा हुं पर रोज लगता मुझे है जैसे वहां हो पूरी बस्ती ,
    तालाचाबी में बंध ना हो पाए ऍसी संदूक में अपना खजाना सलामत है,

    हम तो कह दे कि, दरिया से मौज है और ऊस पर कुदरत की रहमत है।

    आखोंमे पानी तो रहेता है आता - जाता, अंदर नमी कम नही होती,
    तट कम ज्यादा का रखता हिसाब, समंदर को परवाह नही होती,
    सुरज उगता है ओर डूब भी जाता है, हमारा आकाश उपर मौजुद है,
    हम तो कह दे कि, दरिया से मौज है और ऊस पर कुदरत की रहमत है।



    Original Poem by Dhruv Bhatt
    Translated in Hindi by Vipul K. Bhatt

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  10. Perhaps, upnishad also might be written like this!

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  11. Originally Written by Dr Chinu modi Aka Irshad

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  13. Best version and no words to describe about Dhruv Dada

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  14. Thanks a ton Vipul for the sweet interpretation and more gratitude and thankful to you and Shabnam for popularizing this amazing song and on utube. Thousand thanks not enough
    And for Dhruvdada for this best of best creation...I can only say ...I love you. Simply speechless...after hearing this song 3-4 times,it just goes on playing sweetly with a smile in my subconscious mind.

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  16. You beautifully trans-created it bro!! Thanks a lot.

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