Below: Prof Surjit Singh Hans ... then and now. (Courtesy: Amarjit Singh Chandan)
Books
O Romeo, Romeo! Kitthey ho Tussi?
Wherefore art Thou?
Shakespeare in Punjabi
VISHAV BHARTI
With the publication of the Punjabi translation of Henry VIII, Surjit Singh Hans’ two-decade long work on William Shakespeare has concluded.
In one of his early works, Love’s Labour’s Lost, William Shakespeare dwelled on the idea of pursuing studies to the exclusion of women from the lives of his protagonists.
Centuries later, Surjit Singh might not have taken a similar oath of seclusion, but he surely devoted two decades to translate every ‘written word’ of the bard into Punjabi.
Now 82, Professor Surjit Singh Hans has translated all 43 works of Shakespeare, including 38 plays and all his sonnets, narrative poems and epitaphs.
“You can say that each word Shakespeare has written is now available in Punjabi,” he says with satisfaction.
Officially, Surjit singh first started translating Shakespeare (Othello) on a Punjabi University fellowship on January 1, 1993, after he retired as the Head of Department of History at the Guru Nanak University.
The renowned scholar’s tryst with Shakespeare had, however, begun in 1955 when, as a student of English literature, he started translating Macbeth.
“When I read the translation, I realised that the pentameter was not correct. So, I translated it again,” he recalls.
The relationship became thicker during his UK stay (1965-73) as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“The experience helped me understand Shakespeare and his works better.”
Surjit Singh was paid Rs. 8,000 per play by Punjabi University, which published all the volumes, including the last, Henry VIII.
Despite all his efforts, he couldn’t translate more than two plays a year.
“So, I got Rs. 40 a day,” he laughs.
What now?
“I have already started working on Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species. Translating science is far more difficult than translating literature,” he smiles.
[Courtesy: Hindustan Times]
February 21, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: H. Kaur (Canada), February 22, 2013, 1:31 AM.
The science might be good. Might knock some sense into the superstition-ridden folks of the Punjab.
2: Roop Dhillon (Reigate, United Kingdom), February 22, 2013, 7:01 AM.
Well done, sir!
3: H. Kaur (Canada), February 23, 2013, 8:05 AM.
Darwin is a good choice. These folks in India might see that even our monkey ancestors had more sense than to believe in things like caste. The amount of disturbance caused by Darwin in the West was really something. He stood Christianity on its head and, well, aroused passions of all sorts in the scientific community of his day too. One really good book to read is "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. It really makes a person think. For those who haven't heard about it, it delves into scientific topics in terms that the layman can understand too and also gives amusing details about many a scientist.
4: Harinder (Uttar Pradesh, India), February 24, 2013, 6:23 AM.
If every learned and educated Sikh translates just one book in his life-time to Punjabi, Punjabi will see a growth of unparalleled proportions. It will be a project bigger than the building of the Great Wall of China or the Human Genome Project or the Manhattan Project.
5: Norma Jenckes (United States), October 20, 2015, 12:18 PM.
So wonderful to see the recognition that Surjit Singh is finally receiving for his long years of dedication and determination to translate the works of Shakespeare. This act demonstrates a love for both the Bard and for his Punjabi brothers and sisters who will now have access to the literary treasure that is Shakespeare. As an old friend, I convey my greeting and those of my husband, Yashdip Singh Bains.