Translated from the Punjabi by Hunardeep Kaur
Between you and me
There is nothing to be censored
But when your letter will tremble in torment in the hands of ignorance
Many meanings will be misconstrued
The policeman will distort the meaning
Of your faith in God
He will interpret your complaint
About not meeting for so long
To be a lament
On the lawlessness of the society
And the sorrowful mention of those beautiful moments
That became rotten
In the dust rising behind the running, horse-like time
That sorrowful mention
Will be understood as a lament for the martyred comrades
He will misunderstand your complaint
about inflation
As a sign of change in the policy of the revolutionaries
And your mourning of your soldier brother
Who died in Bangladesh
Will be seen as supporting the cause of China
You will never know, what will happen
When meanings will be misconstrued
Your letter will tremble in torment
In the hands of ignorance!
Paash (1950- 1988), was the pen name of the revolutionary Punjabi poet Avatar Singh Sandhu, one of the major poets in Punjabi literature. His poetry articulates the concerns and interests of the agrarian society and engages in a dialogue with the Naxalite Movement in Punjab. His poetry collections include ‘Loh Katha’, ‘Ud De Baazaan Magar’ and ‘Saade Samiyan Vich’. He was assassinated by Khalistani extremists in 1988.
Hunardeep Kaur is a student of English Literature at Lady Shri Ram College for Women.