I know this is really going out on a limb but thought it might be worth a try asking on here.

I want to buy the book below but I'm having a hell of a time finding it in Canada or online in the US or even the UK. It was released last year and I'm guessing I can only get it from dkagencies.com but I dunno about ordering straight from India.

Anyway, it's multiple English interpretations of a quatrain by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. I'm fascinated by how difficult it is to translate language, particularly poetry. It also includes the poem in Roman Urdu text and Urdu script.

I can find the Roman Urdu version online no problem but I have no idea if I've found the script version because I can't read script. It's the script version I really want.

My grandmother speaks Urdu but she is quite elderly and I'm not sure she can even read it anymore so I'm at a dead end there.

It's one of the most beautiful poems I've ever read and I would love to read all the English interpretations...hence why I want the book!

Raat yunh dil mein teri khoee hui yaad aayee
Jaise veeraaney mein chupkey sey bahaar aa jaye
Jaisey sehra on mein howley se chaley baadey naseem
Jaisey beemaar ko bey wajhey Qaraar aa jaaye

My favorite English translation I've found so far:

Last night my lost memory of you returned
and I was like the empty field where springtime,
without being noticed, is bringing flowers;
I was like the desert over which
the breeze moves gently, with great care;
I was like the dying patient
who, for no reason, smiles.

And now, I wait for this ill fated thread to quickly die.

Shurdu

asked this gurl

and hUrdu too

Speak/write Urdu what?

JustErin said:

My grandmother speaks Urdu but she is quite elderly and I'm not sure she can even read it anymore so I'm at a dead end there.

Wait...so then are you part Pakistani/Indian - or did she just learn it?

PurpleJedi said:

JustErin said:

PurpleJedi said:

Wait...so then are you part Pakistani/Indian- or did she just learn it?

That would be correct.

Wouldn't have guessed it from the pics of you I've seen.

...but now we know the reason behind your penchant for dark complexions.

I found it!!! Yay!!

JustErin said:

I found it!!! Yay!!

you found whut???

What I was looking for.

It's all good. This thread can just disappear forever now.

JustErin said:

What I was looking for.

It's all good. This thread can just disappear forever now.

UH,

that's no info to me...

whut were you lookin for

besides a person?

answer these thing THEN you can go

I wasn't looking for a person.

JustErin said:

I can find the Roman Urdu version online no problem but I have no idea if I've found the script version because I can't read script. It's the script version I really want.

JustErin said:

I wasn't looking for a person.

JustErin said:

I can find the Roman Urdu version online no problem but I have no idea if I've found the script version because I can't read script. It's the script version I really want.

okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay,

i guess you can go then

Visionnaire said:

Speak/write Urdu what?

u tho silleeeee and punny.

(all jokes aside, i hope an english translation to the book 'last night' is found Justerin, the poem you posted is quite profound)

Visionnaire said:

Speak/write Urdu what?

JustErin said:

Genes have a funny way of showing up in some and not in others. My father looks half Indian and all his kids are fair. His brother has 2 girls. One looks Indian to the max and one looks totally Scottish.

My brother has 4 kids. 2 have dark complextions, dark hair and deep brown eyes and 2 have light hair and blue eyes.

Anyway....anyone able to help me???? I know Hindi and Punjabi speakers but other than my Granny no Urdu!

JustErin said:

you still in here???

let's get some reportin done.

CHOP CHOP!!!