Sangita – आज फिर शुरू हुआ जीवन

At 18,  I was a shy girl. Extremely introvert, I was petrified of public speaking . It was she who insisted I go on the stage and give “Vote of Thanks” in one of the Rotract club event.  “Not doing it is not an option” she admonished. That was the beginning and Sangita has been my friend and mentor ever since.

We discovered many a things common among us and would often get together to discuss books, poetry and philosophy. Ah! we had our girl-moments as well – going for a Dosa somewhere, or just gallivanting  all over the city on her rickety two wheeler.

Often we would sit and talk throughout the day, much to the dismay of folks at home – but we did it never the less. We were two young girls, deeply in love with life and everything it has to offer. One such afternoon, in my room, we were discussing the nuances of modern Hindi poetry, of poetry that inspires and is yet easy to understand when she recited a few lines of  a poem she had read somewhere. For a long time I searched and could not find the entire poem. Today, thanks to the net, I have it and I would like to share it again here and, with you, Sangita.

आज फिर शुरू हुआ जीवन
आज मैंने छोटी सी सरल कविता पढी
आज मैंने सूरज को डूबते देर तक देखा
जी भर मैंने आज शीतल जल से स्नान किया
आज एक छोटी सी बच्ची आई, किलक मेरे कंधे चढी
आज मैंने आदि से अंत तक पूरा गान किया
आज फिर जीवन शुरू हुआ

–रघुवीर सहाय

Attempting a translation – which I know does not do justice to the original, but then translations never do.

Today, I live afresh.
Today I read a small, simple poem
Today I saw the setting sun for a long time.
I lingered today,  in cold water while taking bath
A small girl came to me today and climbed happily on my shoulders
Today, I sang a song -  complete.
Life began anew today.

(Original poem by Raghuvir Sahay)