In the heart of the international literary scene, Nepal’s esteemed multilingual poet, Santosh Kumar Pokharel, has embarked on a profound journey to Russia. For over a month, he had been in Kaliningrad, immersing himself in its serene beauty while continuing to pen verses dedicated to peace. We have had the privilege of watching some of his works, composed during his stay there.
Pokharel’s travels eventually took him to the stunning capital city of Makhachkala, located on the shores of the Caspian Sea. His visit was in response to an invitation to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Writers’ Union of Dagestan and the centenary of one of Russia’s most celebrated poets, the People’s Poet of Dagestan, Rasul Gamzatov. In the company of a delegation from the Russian Writers’ Union, Pokharel made his way from Moscow to Dagestan, where he had the honor of visiting Rasul Gamzatov’s home and museum.
This literary festival, held from September 7th to 9th, gathered poets from various provinces of the Russian Federation, Dagestan, Ajarbaijan, Belorussia, and Nepal. Amidst the celebrations, Pokharel was deeply moved by the love and reverence the people had for RasulGamzatov. Years earlier, a statue of Rasul had been erected in Nepal’s Nagarkot, symbolizing the deep cultural ties between the two nations. During his lifetime, Rasul had visited Nepal and penned verses in Avar, inspired by the beauty of the Himalayas and the living goddess, Kumari. These poems were later translated into Nepali by Krishna Prakash Shrestha.
In an emotional tribute, Pokharel laid flowers at Rasul’s grave. As he performed this solemn act, the haunting melody of “Zhuravli,” one of Gamzatov’s most famous poems, filled the air. “Zhuravli,” meaning “The Cranes,” is a poignant symbol of memory, lately associated with fallen soldiers. In the Siberian tradition, these cranes, known as Zhurabliare known in Nepali as “Karyangkurung,” are beautiful white birds that soar across the sky in vast flocks, covering the heavens with their grace. Their creaking resonates the whole heaven echoing it to our ears. Gamzatov’s poem is said to have been written in memory of a young Japanese girl who suffered from leukemia, a victim of the aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. It is believed that she had heard the legend of folding a thousand paper cranes to recover from illness, but tragically, she passed away after making only six hundred. Others completed the task in her honor.
Moved by this tale, Rasul Gamzatov wrote “Zhuravli” in his native Avar language, and the poem was later transformed into a Russian song with slight modifications. On the day of the tribute, as the song played, young schoolgirls dressed in white crane-like frocks performed a silent dance in the courtyard. The dance symbolized the souls of fallen soldiers, embodying the belief that their spirits had transformed into these graceful birds. Overcome with emotion, Pokharel, in that very moment, composed a poem in Russian, which he later recited at the evening’s event. The theme was still maintaining peace in the world. The poem too with a touching revelation was shared on his Facebook page.
At a ceremony held at Gamzatov’s museum in the village of Khunzakh, Pokharel expressed his intention to translate “Zhuravli” into Nepali with utmost fidelity. It has also been revealed that a beautifully crafted English version of the poem is now ready. Deeply moved by the love and respect shown by the poets of Dagestan and the Russian Writers’ Union, Pokharel left with a heart full of gratitude and inspiration.
We are pleased to present Santosh Kumar Pokharel’s masterful English translation of Rasul Gamzatov’s timeless poem “Zhuravli” to our readers. May this translation find its place in Rasul’s library for the world to cherish!
CRANES
-Poet Rasul Gamzatov, Dagestan, Russia
At times it seems that the horsemen
Those returned not, from the bloody plains
Neither were buried at the common graves
They turned into the white cranes .
To this day, from those remote times
They do fly and give us their voice
Is this why, that often and sadly
We are mute and gaze onto sky.
Today, at the onset of this evening
The cranes in the fogs do I see
Fly in the sky in formation
As men on the fields may be.
They fly and traverse their ways long
They call out some names isn’t why?
The Avar speech from remote past
Sounds like the cranes do in sigh.
(1965)
Translated from Russian into English by Poet Santosh Kumar Pokharel.
-September 13, 2024. Moscow
