Where is That Fragrance

The ocean measures depth
The ocean measures distance too

O my country 
having left you 
the farthest that I have traveled 
the nearest I have come to you.

The same faces, the same people
Same sorrows , the same afflictions.
Measuring the roads in a quick succession
are the same shinning , glittering cars
wrapping pretty forms, the same way
are beautiful Sarees.

Just take a look through the open window
like a blushing bride 
the moon of Delhi
is peeping through the Trinidad sky.

Trinidad or Indianad
Same sameness 
yes the same sameness 
everywhere.

O dear little bird Kisskadee
having shattered the barriers of language
what is the song you sing
the strings of my heart say
this , yes this is the very song I heard
just before I got here.

When you took the music from the breath of the wind
O trees, and made it part of yourself.
Nothing at all did change in you.

Truly nothing has changed
the same trees, the same tiny bird
the same people , the same cars
the very same moon, the same sky.
Really nothing at all has changed.

But , O my beloved country
where is that fragrance
which comes from your soul.
I search everywhere
O mother, 
but can not find your comfortable lap.

– Original in Hindi by Dr. Prem Janmejai
Translation by Sumita Chakraborty Brooms 

Sumita Chakraborty Brooms is a Trinidadian poetess and radio personality.

svalaoKna – svavaacana 
vaao gaMQa khaM hO

samauMdr gahra[- naapta hO 
samauMdr dUiryaaM BaI naapta hO 

Aao maoro doSa 
tuJao CaoD, ijatnaa 
dUr Aa gayaa hUM maO 
]tnaa hI pasa Aa gayaa hUM maOM

vahI saUrtoM‚ vahI laaoga 
vahI Saaok‚ vahI raoga 
saD,kaoM kao QaD,aQaD, naaptI 
vaOsaI hI camacamaatI gaaiD,yaaM  
vaOsaI hI‚ saaOMdya- kao lapoTo 
KUbasaUrt saaiD,yaaM 

doKao tao ja,ra KulaI hu[- iKD,kI sao 
SarmaatI dulhna–saa 
idllaI ka caa^d 
JaaMk rha hO i~inadad ko AakaSa maoM 

ArI Aao nanhIM icaiD,yaa 
BaaYaa kI dIvaaraoM kao taoD, 
tUnao yah @yaa gaayaa  
idla ko taraoM nao Aavaaja, dI 
yahI‚ haM yahI gaIt tao saunakr 
maOM ABaI–ABaI hUM Aayaa 

hvaa kI saaMsaaoM ko saMgaIt kao 
Apna ihssaa banaato Aao poD,aoM 
kuC BaI tao nahIM badlaa hO tumhara 

saca kuC BaI nahIM badlaa hO 
vahI poD,‚ vahI icaiD,yaa 
vahI laaoga‚ vahI gaaiD,yaaM 
vahI caaMd‚ vahI AakaSa 
saca kuC BaI nahIM badlaa hO

maoro doSa 
pr vaao gaMQa khaM hO 
vaao jaao torI ima+I sao AatI hO 
bahut ZUMZta hUM 
maaM
torI gaaod nahIM imala patI hO 

– Da^ p`oma janamaojaya
ma[- 19‚ 2001