Dear Friends, Scholars and Critics This is a soft copy of my doctoral dissertation written during the final five years of the previous millennium .Apart from a fairly large theoretical component dealing with translation theory, practice of translation and translation studies, it consists of around ninety compositions of Narsinh Mehta (c. 15th century AD), one of the greatest poets of Gujarat translated by me into English. Besides a critical appreciation of his works, the translations are framed with chapters discussing his life, works and the cultural context in which they were composed. I have been working on the translations and they have metamorphosed into a very different avatar today. However, those presented here are the ones I submitted for the degree. There are some slight changes in this copy owning to my ignorance of formatting methods. The bibliography which appears at the end of the thesis comes before the `notes and references of the soft copy. The notes and references for the individual chapters now appear at the end of the thesis. The `Table of Contents’ is merely a showpiece- it doesn’t indicate the specified pages in this copy. I don’t intend to publish this thesis in the present form and it has appeared in parts in many places. The work which I started with my doctoral research is actually a work in `progress’ and I find it interesting to look back where I was some eight years ago. I would be honoured to hear your critical comments and reactions to my work. Sachin Ketkar Baroda, 27 December 2007 TRANSLATION OF NARSINH MEHTA'S POEMS INTO ENGLISH: WITH A CRITICAL INTRODUCTION Thesis Submitted For The Degree Of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS OF SOUTH GUJARAT UNIVERSTIY SURAT RESEARCH CANDIDATE SACHIN C. KETKAR LECTURER IN ENGLISH, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, S.B.GARDA COLLEGE, NAVSARI. RESEARCH SUPERVISOR DR. DAXA VAMDUTT HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, SOUTH GUJARAT UNIVERSITY, SURAT. March 2001 DEDICATED TO GUJARATI LANGUAGE WITH LOVE, ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE DECLARATION I, Sachin Chandrakant Ketkar hereby declare that this thesis Translation of Narsinh Mehta's Poems into English: With a Critical Introduction submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Faculty of Arts, South Gujarat University, Surat is my original work. No part of this thesis has been previously submitted for any other degree or diploma. Place: Sachin C. Ketkar Date: Candidate CERTIFICATE This is to certify that this doctoral thesis, Translation Of Narsinh Mehta's Poems into English: With a Critical Introduction, is submitted by Sachin Chandrakant Ketkar for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts, South Gujarat University, Surat. No part of this thesis has been previously submitted for any other degree or diploma. Surat Date Dr. Daxa Vamdutt Research Supervisor Head of Department Department of English South Gujarat University Surat. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My greatest debt of gratitude is to my research supervisor Dr. Daxa Vamdutt, Head, Department of English, South Gujarat University, Surat, under whose expert guidance I have been able to complete my thesis. In spite of her intensely busy schedule, she went through my writing meticulously and offered her erudite suggestions and comments, which have assisted me greatly in making this thesis possible. I owe a great deal to her valuable comments particularly in structuring my thesis and refining my translation. Besides, she has been extremely patient, affectionate, and caring as a person. Brilliant scholarship, strong convictions, and immense energy of Dr.G.N.Devy have always been a source of inspiration for me. Inspite of his extremely pressing commitments, he has been kind enough to spare some time for my work for which I am grateful to him. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Prof. Robyn Bolam, St Mary's College, London, Dr. Ravindra Kimbahune, Department of English, Dr.Ambedkar University, Aurangabad, Dr.E.V.Ramakrishnan and Dr.Rakesh Desai of Department of English, South Gujarat University, Surat, Dr. Sudhakar Marathe, Department of English, Hyderabad University, Shri Pradip Patil, lecturer, T.C. College, Baramati, Shri Bhavin Purohit, lecturer, Bardoli Arts college, Shri Nazir Mansuri and Shri Narsinh Parmar of SB Garda College, Navsari, Ms. Preeta Menon and Shri R.T.Mali, lecturers, S.J.P.S. Arts College, Valsad and Ms. Prachi Vaidya, Pune for their scholarly comments, expert help and kind co-operation. I am grateful to the British Council, Mumbai and Ms. Havovi Kolsawalla, English Studies Officer of the British Council, Mumbai for offering me honorary membership of the British Council Library. I also thank the librarians at South Gujarat University, Surat, SB Garda College, Navsari, S.J.P.S.Arts College, Valsad, University of Pune, Pune, University of Bombay, Mumbai, the British Council Libraries at Mumbai and Pune, and Sayaji Library, Navsari for providing the facilities of their respective libraries. I would also like to express my gratitude to the University Grants Commission for awarding me the Teacher Fellowship and to Dr. R.C.Shah for granting me study leave to conduct research at the Department of English, S.G.University. I am grateful to Mr. Jain, Joint Secretary U.G.C. Western Region Office, Pune, Mr. Prem Sharda, vice-chancellor, South Gujarat University, Surat, Dr. Harish Doshi, Department of Sociology, South Gujarat University, Surat, Shri B.G. Panchasara, Principal, SB Garda College, Navsari and Shri S.C. Shah, Head of Department, Department of English, SB Garda College, Navsari for their kind assistance in creating favourable conditions for me to work as a Teacher Fellow. I am indebted to all my friends and students for their help and support. I am also indebted to all the members of my family who have not only supported me but also tolerated me during my irascible blank periods. I can never thank Baba enough for he has always been one of the sternest critics of my work and he has been particularly severe regarding the grammatical slips. He was kind enough to proofread my writing and type a large bulk of illegible scribbling that I produced. I have profited greatly from his help. I confess that without his loving support, the thesis would not have seen the light of the day. I would like to thank Ashwini for being so patient and loving. Sachin Ketkar Research Candidate TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Page Number ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................i Chapter 1: Introduction.........................................................................01 Chapter 2: Translation Studies: Theoretical Perspectives...........10 2.1 Historical Development................................................................11 2.2 Areas of Emphasis........................................................................18 2.2.1 Translation and Language Sciences............................................ 18 2.2.2 Translation, Literary Studies and the Study of Culture................28 2.2.3 History of Translation Activity....................................................51 2.2.4 Translation and Philosophy.........................................................76 2.3 Conclusion...................................................................................88 Chapter 3: Background to the Poetry of Narsinh Mehta..............97 3.1 Introduction to the Bhakti Movement..........................................98 3.1.1 Poetics of Bhakti Literature........................................................109 3.2 Gujarati Society, Language and Literature at the Time of Narsinh...............................................................115 3.2.1 Social and Historical Background.............................................115 3.2.2 Gujarati Language......................................................................121 3.2.3 Literary Background..................................................................123 3.3 Life and Works of Narsinh Mehta.............................................129 3.3.1 Life of Narsinh Mehta................................................................129 3.3.2 The Works of Narsinh Mehta.....................................................137 Chapter 4: Critical Introduction to the Poetry of Narsinh........145 4.1 The Adi Kavi..............................................................................146 4.2 Narsinh the Poet.........................................................................148 4.3 The Legend of Radha and Krishna.............................................158 4.4 Philosophical and Didactic Poems of Narsinh...........................163 4.5 Conclusion..................................................................................181 Chapter 5: Translations of Narsinh's Poems ..................................185 5.1 Songs of Sringar........................................................................186 5.1.1 As if it was rapture of rains of milk...........................................186 5.1.2 At what auspicious hour did you stick to me like a bindi..........187 5.1.3 Be still, be still, O moon, do not make the dawn yet.................188 5.1.4 Cherish red, love, for the beautiful season is tinged with red!...189 5.1.5 Cold, cold is my bed in winter!..................................................190 5.1.6 Cover me with a blanket O Kanha.............................................191 5.1.7 Don’t untie the threads of my choli, my love.............................192 5.1.8 Don't wake me up vigorously, O Madhukar!.............................193