Review of the unique English translation of Mohammad Ali Pathan’s Sindhi poetic prose work ‘Wer aeen Waiee’ by Professor Naveed Sandeelo
- The book is invariably remarkable in its literary qualities, preserving the stylistic features and rhythmic sound effects of the original work within a captivating narrative culture. It stands as a significant contribution to philological and philosophical studies in the English language.
Gul Mohammad Umrani
This is a unique English translation of Mohammad Ali Pathan’s Sindhi poetic prose work ‘Wer aeen Waiee’ by Professor Naveed Sandeelo, perhaps his first such endeavour, if I am not mistaken. Besides the aesthetically introspective and resplendent rendition, the academic discipline of a fine teacher is clearly reflected in his preface. He informs readers about the original Sindhi compendium, comprising two hundred short poems, which he has immaculately translated, reflecting the profound poetic and musical sensibilities and refined thoughts of the poet.
He is undoubtedly conscious that literature, and especially great poetry like philosophy, must value brevity, for brevity is the soul of creative expression and wit. Being a teacher of philosophy, he eloquently cites examples of Socrates and other great German philosophers, alongside Khalil Gibran, regarding the importance of brevity. He also refers to Shaikh Ayaz, who experimented with prose poetry. Mohammad Ali Pathan appears to have been influenced by these eminent literary and philosophical personalities of the classical tradition.
These four-line poems capture human compassion, pathos, pangs, and passion, and have been translated from Sindhi into English with the same spirit, suggestiveness, and cogency by the perceptive and conscientious pen of an insightful mind. There is ample evidence to justify that both the original Sindhi text and the English version remain faithful to the emotional impulses and psychological depth of the poetic genius, who is already well known to readers.
The inspirational vision of native Sindhi culture has been carefully retained by Sandeelo in his seminal English translation through the preservation of the original meanings, nuances, facts, and intentions of the poems without unnecessary additions, alterations, or distortions. The book reflects the sensitivities of Mohammad Ali Pathan’s poetic prose art in an exhilaratingly fluent and colloquial phraseology, enriched with serene spontaneity and felicity of expression.
The book is invariably remarkable in its literary qualities, preserving the stylistic features and rhythmic sound effects of the original work within a captivating narrative culture. It stands as a significant contribution to philological and philosophical studies in the English language.
Read: The Power of Brevity: Deep Echoes
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