Hafijer Kabita by Subhash Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

"If Hafiz's ghazal
Sets the morning star dancing in the sky,
If Jesus Christ sways to its tune,
What is there to be surprised about?"

This translation of a ghazal by Hafiz, quoted in the book, may seem extravagant to some. But for a true admirer of Hafiz, it is far from exaggeration. In essence, Hafiz’s ghazals are uniquely his own—both in essence and form—making them inimitable. His ability to introduce seemingly contradictory themes and weave them into a seamless harmony was unprecedented in pre-Hafiz ghazals. Without disrupting the unity of the ghazal, Hafiz introduced thematic diversity.

Before him, Saadi had already refined the ghazal into a near-perfect form. Yet, Hafiz reshaped it in his own mold, achieving what seemed impossible. Interestingly, the first printed collection of Hafiz’s poetry was published in Kolkata in 1791.

It is our good fortune that poet Subhash Mukhopadhyay, driven by his passion, has taken on the task of bringing the works of this timeless Persian poet—who lived nearly six and a half centuries ago—to Bengali readers. Any translation is a challenge, but translating poetry into poetry is even more daunting. However, when a distinguished poet immerses himself in the works of another great poet and is inspired to present them to new readers, it becomes a sacred and almost impossible mission.

Subhash Mukhopadhyay’s translations are a true celebration of this endeavor. With extraordinary sensitivity and rare skill, he has transformed Hafiz’s poetry into a deeply enriching experience for Bengali poetry lovers.