Odia Translation Of Poem’a Strange Boy’ Written By Sayeed Abubakar

Ascharya Baalaka
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Maatru kola chhadi

Bhitatrasta nayane, chahen niriha baalaka

Dekhi yuddhagrastha dharaku

Pachare se hoi bhitakantha

Kuha Mataa, Keunthaku mu aasichhi?

Uttarare mu kahe

Aasichhu tu putra

Ei dhhara prustha.

Drusti haani chaturdige

Dekhe sei niriha baalaka

Raasta ghaata, gali o argali

Lal raktare ranjita

Kudha kudha saba ra

Hrudaya bidaraka drushya patta

Niriha baalaka, kare prasna

Kuha Maata

Ei narkare Manisa

Kipari kare baasa

Pratyuttare kahe Mu

Lajja laage mote

Ki kahibi re Dhana

Manisa te kahin ethi

E je narak

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Translated by Bharati Nayak

from the poem

A Strange Boyby Sayeed Abubakar

An innocent boy leaving the lap of mother
opened his fearful eyes in the war-trodden world
and asked in a depressed voice, ‘Where have I come? ‘
I told him the name of the earth.

The boy looked at the corners of the earth
and with wonder and pain, seeing the towns and paths
full of corpses and heart-rending bloods
further asked,
‘Will you tell me how man lives in this hell? ‘

I said to him, ‘Oh, it’s a shame!
Where is man in this hell?