Punjabi Poetic Translation of Iqbal’s Poem: “The Mountain & the Squirrel”

Abstract

In the early phase of his poetic career, Allama Iqbal penned several soul-stirring poems for children. Alongside his original compositions, he drew significant inspiration from the works of various English poets. In some instances, he adopted their central themes as the foundation for his own verses, while in others, he provided complete poetic translations. ​Among these adapted and translated works is the poem "Ek Pahar aur Gilheri" (The Mountain and the Squirrel), which is a translation of a celebrated poem by the English poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. During the compilation of Bang-e-Dara, Iqbal excised several verses from his original draft, retaining only the most select portions.This article marks the first public presentation of a Punjabi poetic rendition of the version found in Bang-e-Dara, translated by the renowned poet, scholar, and Iqbal expert, Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum. The article includes an introduction to the poem as well as the original text by Emerson. Furthermore, the stanzas omitted by Iqbal from the final version of Bang-e-Dara are also provided to offer a comprehensive understanding of the editorial process. Sufi Tabassum’s translation stands as a profound testament to his creative mastery and linguistic finesse.