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Swati Datta, M.A. (Bombay), Ph.D. (Visva Bharati), PGDHE (IGNOU), is Reader in English in Serampore College, Serampore, West Bengal. Her areas of specialization are Indian Writing in English, Tagore Studies and Translation Studies. She has to her credit a number of published papers and articles which include 'Ideas of Tagore and National Integration', National Integration: Vision of a Poet , Visva-Bharati, 1995; 'Tagore's concept of Education', New Frontiers in Education, New Delhi, April-June, 1996; 'The Maestro in English', Ritichhanda, Kolkata, June 2002; 'Throttled Language: Fatal Lapses in Teaching of English', The Statesman , Kolkata, 14th November, 2002; 'Problematics of Tagore's English Gitanjali', Journal of the Department of English, Vol xxx, nos. 1 & 2, University of Calcutta, 2002-2003; 'Whose Failure Is It Anyway?', The Statesman, Kolkata, 11th January 2005; etc. She has also written short stories and reviewed books. Her postal address is 'USHANIL', 46, Dharmatala Lane, Bhadrakali P.O. 712 232, HOOGHLY, West Bengal. .

Abstract

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) has been a seminal figure of the Indian Literary and Cultural scene. His vast and versatile literary contribution includes a large number of short stories that are highly reflective of the sociocultural climate of his times and yet convey ideas and feelings that are perennially relevant to a humanitarian society. Interestingly, the translation world testifies to a history of over one hundred years of English translation of Tagore's Bengali short stories. The paper concentrates on this significant body of translated literature and bases itself primarily on the source text of Galpaguchchha, which is a collection of ninety short stories composed by Tagore. The short stories of Rabindranath are a rich source of cross-cultural transmission. That the stories have been translated into English for more than a century now and the translation activity in this sphere still continues, is a phenomenon which merits serious reflection. Keeping in view the complexities of linguistic and cultural transferences, the paper discusses the location of this translated literature and attempts a collation of various target language texts. This has been done by analyzing the nature of the stories selected for translation together with the probable reasons for the same and by presenting a comparative study of portions of some of the translations to highlight the translational complexities and nuances. The task to locate and collate the translated short stories, which belong to both the pre- and post-independent years of Indian history, naturally takes into account the complications that develop out of colonial and post-colonial situations. Besides, as over the years, the stories have been translated by Indians as well as non-Indians, the issues like what gets translated, who translates, and for whom, automatically arises in the course of the projection. Finally, the paper endeavours to see beyond the politics of translation and explores the potential of such translated stories in promoting cross-border solidarities - a feeling that is fundamental in realizing an enlightened multicultural world community.

In one of his famous poems in Chitra, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), a seminal figure on the Bengali literary and cultural scene, addressed his future reader:

"Who are you, reader, reading my poems an hundred years hence?"

(Das 1994: 125)

"%L cT `T[?b Y[?
E T] YQ"K [?a %][? E[TFX..."

(Rabindra Rachanabali 1961a: 531)

Tagore here visualized a reader of a remote future encountering his writings. Interestingly, a consideration of the English translations of Tagore's short stories would at once relate to a readership across temporal as well as spatial distances. Across time, because the translation world testifies to a history of over one hundred years of English translations of Tagore's short stories; and, current translations of his stories reflect a twentyfirst century reader-translator's response to a body of literature composed in the latter half of the twentieth centuries. 'Across space' because the English translations of Tagore short stories involve a cross-cultural transmission, that is, a communication beyond the borders of lands, languages, and cultures.

In recent times, particularly in the fields of literary and culture studies, translation activities have received an impetus, and Tagore's short stories have continued to attract attention. Rabindranath has been a leading exponent of the Bengali short story and has experimented with many styles and techniques. His stories are highly reflective of the sociocultural climate of his times and yet convey ideas and feelings that are perennially relevant to a humanitarian society. Naturally, his work has attracted and influenced contemporary as well as later writers, thinkers, and translators, both at home and abroad. Viewed in this context, English translations of Tagore's short stories offer interesting avenues for critical enquiries. Accordingly, this paper concentrates primarily on the English translations of the short stories of Tagore's Galpaguchchha (Rabindra Rachanabali 1961b),1 which literally means a bunch of stories, is a collection of ninety Bengali short stories. This apart, Tagore's Lipika, Se, Tin Sangi, and Galpasalpa together comprise sixty-three stories. However, for the purpose of providing a convenient framework for discussion, Galpaguchchha, which contains the largest number of Tagore's short stories, has been chosen.

Locating the Translated Stories

English translations of Tagore's short stories belong both to the pre- and post-independent years of Indian history. An attempt to locate and collate the translated stories should therefore take into account the complications that develop out of colonial and postcolonial situations. Besides, over the years, the stories have been translated by various hands - Indians as well as nonindians. Another striking feature is that Tagore himself has translated a few of his own stories into English. Hence, issues like what gets translated, who translates, and for whom automatically assume significance.

Tagore has been an abiding influence on modern life and thought. Thematically and stylistically, his short stories are of a wide range and variety. However, translations of his short stories, which appeared in various publications, reveal that certain types of stories have dominated the selection for translation. First, the stories that depict elemental human feelings and predominantly explore human experiences and situations have found projection in many volumes of translations. In this group are included stories like 'Postmaster', 'Khokababur Pratyabartan', 'Kabuliwala', 'Chhuti', 'Subha', 'Samapti', 'Apad' and 'Atithi'. Noticeably, all these stories possess a transnational appeal.

Secondly, there has been a consistent leaning for translations of stories with supernatural overtones. Translations - whether new or reprints or revised versions - of 'Kankal', 'Nishithe', 'Kshudita Pashan', 'Manihara', 'Mastermashai', have recurred in several publications. In fact, the first Macmillan publication of the English translations of Tagore's short stories - Hungry stones and other Stories, published in 1916, derives its name from the title of the English rendering of 'Kshudita Pashan'. Understandably, the bygone Persian setting in the story has appealed to the Western fascination for a fabulous oriental ambience, and the story has appeared and reappeared in translation.

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