Translated from the Hindi by Sahir Avik D’souza
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
Blocking the stars and moon, clouds crowd the sky.
A storm douses the lamps, by and by.
Yet tonight who is it who’s burning bright?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
Rumbling and thundering across the sky’s way,
there’ll be no more sunlight, the clouds seem to say.
Yet who is it with faith in everlasting light?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
Terror has struck, like a dark, black reign –
even the brave hang their heads in pain.
Yet who is it who’s lit the fire of a fight?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
It’s a night of destruction, a night of despair.
Of the strength of the one who destroys, beware!
Yet who is it whose hope for creation is right?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
The wind, clouds and lightning destroyed everything:
the earth and the sky – they didn’t spare a thing.
Yet who is it who’s saved up their hope and their might?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
A night such as this, so ravaged by storm –
love and understanding must find a new form.
And yet – who is guiding our way with light?
Who is it who’s lighting a lamp tonight?
Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1907-2003) is one of our most well-remembered and admired Hindi poets. Born Harivansh Rai Srivastava, he used the pseudonym ‘Bachchan’ when writing poetry. Bachchan’s most famous work was Madhushala, a collection of ruba’i/quatrains, published in 1935. He also taught English at Allahabad University and did a PhD on WB Yeats at Cambridge University. He was married to actor and activist Teji Bachchan and one of their sons is Amitabh Bachchan.
Sahir Avik D’souza grew up in Bombay, studied English at St Xavier’s College and is now doing a master’s in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh.