Masood Hussain & Gabriel Rosenstock: Mahatma

Masood Hussain, Masood Hussain - The Culturium — Masood Hussain, *Mahatma.*
Photograph: © Masood Hussain

The Great Soul

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness.
Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.”
—Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

IT IS SAID, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Perhaps certain world leaders would do well to adhere to such sagacious advice. Indeed, Plato famously reasoned that only when kings become philosophers and philosophers become kings is there any hope for those in power to lead with moral integrity—judging by the current crop of global politicians, his dictate sadly remains an unrealized dream.

And yet, one such being did, in fact, walk upon our sacred earth—human rights activist and leader of the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2nd October 1869–30th January 1948), who drew inspiration from the perennial philosophy inherent in all the world’s faiths. Through non-violence, steadfast faith and strict adherence to rules of ethical conduct, Gandhi was able to achieve a level of statesmanship unparalleled in the history of human affairs. Fellow activist, Martin Luther King, Jr., said of the great Mahatma, “If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore him at our own risk.”

Walk With Gandhi: Book

Walk With Gandhi: Posters

In a multilingual collaboration of verse and painting, instigated by Irish poet, Gabriel Rosenstock, and Kashmiri artist, Masood Hussain, with Rafiq Kathwari as Consulting Editor/Project Coordinator, the life of Gandhi is honoured in this week’s guest post for The Culturium through a series of haiku and watercolour vignettes, celebrating the sesquicentenary of his birth on 2nd October 2019, the collection of which has now been published as a book, Walk With Gandhi, as well as a series of beautiful posters in order to mark the auspicious occasion. Indeed, it is a timely reminder not only of the power of art to unite people from every creed and culture but also that unarmed truth and unconditional love will always have the final word.

ligeann do scáil scíth
ach siúlann tusa ar aghaidh
go diongbháilte
—Irish

your shadow rests
but you walk on
determined
—English

je schaduw rust
maar je gaat door
vastbesloten
—Dutch

dein Schatten ruht
doch du setzt fort
entschlossen
—German

η σκιά σου στέκει
μα εσύ να συνεχίσεις
αποφάσισες
—Greek

તારો પડછાયો ઢળ્યો છે
પણ તું ચાલ્યે જાય છે
અટળ
—Gujarati

onyinyo gị dị
ma ị na-aga n’ihu
kpebisiri ike
—Igbo

riposa la tua ombra
ma tu cammini e cammini
determinato
—Italian

影休む
でもきみ歩みたり
心決め
—Japanese

tvoja senca počiva
ampak ti hodiš naprej
odločen
—Slovene

descansa tu sombra
pero aún sigues caminando
determinado
—Spanish

kivuli chako kinapumzika
lakini una mwendo
wenye azimio
—Swahili

wo sunsum atɔ
nanso wotu anamɔn
firi wo na mu
—Twi

òjìjí rẹ sinmi
ṣùgbọ́n o tẹ̀siwaji
l’ẹ́nitó ti pinnu
—Yoruba

éanlaith na síthe
ag dul trí thine
dubhaíonn is deargann spéartha
—Irish

birds of peace
catch fire
skies redden and darken
—English

vogels van vrede
vatte vuur
de hemelen rood en donker
—Dutch

Vögel des Friedens
entflammen
Rot und dunkel werden die Himmel
—German

πουλιά ειρήνης
αρπάζουν φωτιά
τα ουράνια κοκκινίζουν
—Greek

તારો પડછાયો ઢળ્યો છે
પણ તું ચાલ્યે જાય છે
અટળ
—Gujarati

nnụnụ nke udo
jide ọkụ
eluigwe redden na-agba ọchịchịrị
—Igbo

uccelli di pace
prendono fuoco
in cieli rossi e scuri
—Italian

安らぐ鳥
火事の暗闇
紅蓮の空
—Japanese

ptice miru
gorijo
nebo rdeči in temni
—Slovene

aves de paz
se incendian
cielos rojizos y oscuros
—Spanish

ndege wa uwiano
wateketea
anga zina miale na giza
—Swahili

asomdwe nomaa
dɛre sɛ gya
wiem dane kɔkɔɔ yɛ tuntum
—Twi

ạ̀wọn ẹyẹ àlàáfíà
gba iná
ojú ọ̀rún pọ́n ó sì dúdú
—Yoruba

tús troscaidh …
éiríonn giolc na n-éan
níos glóraí
—Irish

beginning of a fast …
the chirping of birds
grows louder
—English

begin van een duurzaam …
het tjilpen van vogels
wordt luider
—Dutch

Beginn des Fastens …
das Zwitschern der Vögel
erstarkt
—German

αρχή νηστείας …
τα πουλιά τιτιβίζουν
πιο επίμονα
—Greek

ઉપવાસનો આરંભ
પંખીબોલ
સઘોષ …
—Gujarati

mmalite nke ngwa ngwa …
na ịkwagharị nnụnụ
na-etolite elu
—Igbo

inizia il digiuno …
gli uccelli cinguettano
sempre più forte
—Italian

断食や
鳥のさえずり
高くなり
—Japanese

začetek posta …
ščebetanje ptic
postaja glasnejše
—Slovene

al inicio de un ayuno
el piar de las aves
crece más fuerte
—Spanish

mwanzo wa mfungo
kerekere za ndege
kisikika Zaidi
—Swahili

akɔmkyene mfitiaseɛ
nomaa suu ano
yɛ den
—Twi

ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ àwẹ̀
igbe àwọn ẹyẹ
túnbọ̀ jákè
—Yoruba

tagann éanlaith strae
is éisteann lena chuid smaointe …
lena thost
—Irish

stray birds come
and listen to his thoughts …
his silence
—English

verdwaalde vogels komen
en luisteren naar zijn ideeën …
zijn stilte
—Dutch

streunende Vögel
hören seine Gedanken …
sein Schweigen
—German

πουλιά αδέσποτα
ακούνε τις σκέψεις του …
τη σιωπή του
—Greek

છુટાંછવાયાં પંખી
આવીને સાંભળે એના વિચાર …
એનું મૌન
—Gujarati

ụmụ nnụnụ gbawara
ma gee ntị n’echiche ya …
ya ịgbachi nkịtị
—Igbo

arrivano uccelli sperduti
e ascoltano i suoi pensieri …
il suo silenzio
—Italian

歓声や
誰をか思う
仕切り壁
—Japanese

zablodele ptice prihajajo
in poslušajo njegove misli …
njegova tišina
—Slovene

aves rezagadas vengan
y escuchen sus pensamientos …
su silencio
—Spanish

ndege tangatanga wawasili
kusikiliza mawazo yake …
kimya chake
—Swahili

akyirikyiri nomaa
bɛfa aba firi ne nsusuyɛ
ne ne dinnyɛ mu
—Twi

àwọn ẹyẹ wá
láti tẹ́tí sí èrò rẹ̀ …
ìpalọ́lọ́ rẹ̀
—Yoruba

gártha is lúcháir
cé atá ann a chuimhneodh air?
… Críochdheighilt
—Irish

cries and jubilation
who is there to remember?
… Partition
—English

geschreeuw en bejubeling
wie moet men herdenken?
… Verdelen
—Dutch

Rufe und Jubel
an wen zu erinnern?
… die Teilung
—German

χαρές και πανηγύρια
ποιος τα θυμάται;
… Διχοτόμηση
—Greek

આર્તનાદ અને ઉજવણી
કોણ યાદ રાખવાનું છે ?
… ભાગલા
—Gujarati

mkpu na jubilation
ònye nọ n’ebe ahụ icheta?
… Nkebi
—Igbo

gridi di esultanza
chi resta a ricordare?
… la partizione
—Italian

歓声や
誰をか思う
仕切り壁
—Japanese

kriki in zmagoslavje
kdo se še spomni?
… Razcepitev
—Slovene

llantos y alegria
quién hay para recordar?
… Quebranto
—Spanish

vilio na mbwembwe
ni nani aliye tayari kukumbuka?
… Ugavi
—Swahili

osuu ne anigyieɛ
hwan na ɔbɛkae berɛ yi?
… Mpaepaemu
—Twi

igbe àti ìjọyọ̀
taló wà níbẹ̀ láti rántí?
… ìyapa
—Yoruba

is fuaire iad ná gach príosún
inar caitheadh é …
ráillí Shráid Downing
—Irish

colder than all the prisons
he’s been thrown into …
Downing Street railings
—English

kouder dan alle gevangenissen
waarin hij geworpen werd …
de tralies van Downing Street
—Dutch

kälter als all die Kerker
in die er geworfen …
Downing Street Geländer
—German

πιο κρύα απ’ όλες
τις φυλακές του …
της Ντάουνινγκ Στρητ τα κάγκελα
—Greek

સઘળી જેલથી ય અધિક ઠુઠવતી
આ ડાઉનિંગ સ્ટ્રીટની પટરીઓ ઉપર
એને ફેંક્યો
—Gujarati

dị elu karịa ụlọ mkpọrọ niile
a tụbara ya …
Ụzọ a na-akpọ Downing Street
—Igbo

più fredda di tutte le prigioni
dove è stato rinchiuso…
l’inferriata di Downing Street
—Italian

寒き牢
投獄されて
ダウニング通り
—Japanese

hladnejše od vseh zaporov
v katere je bil vržen …
Downing Street ograje
—Slovene

más frío que todas prisiones
le han echado en …
los rieles de la Calle Downing
—Spanish

baridi kuliko jela zote
ametupwa tumboni mwake
ua maradufu la Downing Street
—Swahili

ɛhɔ yɛ nwunu sene
naduafie biara a wɔde no toeɛ …
Downing Street dadeban
—Twi

ó tutù ju ẹ̀wọ̀n
tí wọ́n ti jù sí lọ …
odi òpoponà Downing
—Yoruba

gach éan á rá
ina ghuth féinig …
saoirse
—Irish

birds of the air
each in its own voice sings it …
freedom
—English

Vogels van de lucht
Elk zingt erover zoals hij gebekt is
vrijheid
—Dutch

Vögel der Lüfte
jeder mit eigener Stimme singt …
Freiheit
—German

πουλιά του αέρα
τραγουδούν στη γλώσσα τους …
ελευθερία
—Greek

ઊડતાં પંખી
સૌ પોતાને કંઠે ગાય છે …
સ્વતંત્રતા
—Gujarati

nnụnụ nke ikuku
onye ọbụla na olu ya na-abụ ya …
nnwere onwe
—Igbo

uccelli dell’aria
ognuno nella propria voce canta…
libertà
—Italian

空の鳥
自声で歌う
平和なり
—Japanese

ptice neba
vsaka poje s svojim glasom …
svoboda
—Slovene

aves del aire
cada una canta con su voz …
libertad
—Spanish

ndege wa upepo
kila mmoja aimba kwa mahadhi yake …
uhuru
—Swahili

ɛwiem nomaa
obiara de ne soronko to nwom sɛ …
faahodie
—Twi

àwọn ẹyẹ òfúrufú
ìkọ̀kan ń fọhùn kọ́ lórin …
òmìnira
—Yoruba

pléascann siad fós
na hurchair úd, Bapuji …
pléascann siad fós
—Irish

they still ring out
those three shots, Bapuji …
they still ring out
—English

ze weerklinken nog steeds
deze drie schoten, Bapuji …
ze weerklinken nog steeds
—Dutch

sie erdröhnen noch
jene drei Schüsse, Bapuji …
sie erdröhnen noch
—German

ηχούν ακόμη
οι τρεις σφαίρες, Πατέρα
ηχούν ακόμη
—Greek

હજી ય સંભળાય છે
પેલા ત્રણ ધડાકા બાપુજી
હજી ય સંભળાય છે
—Gujarati

ha ka na-eti
mkpu ndị na-agba agba atọ, Bapuji …
ha ka na-eti mkpu
—Igbo

ancora risuonano
quei tre spari, Bapuji…
ancora risuonano
—Italian

まだ鐘を撞く
バプジーよ、三発の
まだ鐘を撞く
—Japanese

še vedno zvenijo
tisti trije streli, Bapuji …
še vedno zvenijo
—Slovene

todavia se escuchan
esos disparos, Bapuji
todavia se escuchan
—Spanish

mshindo bado unasikika
hiyo milipuko mitatu, Bapuji …
mshindo bado unasikika
—Swahili

ɛkɔ so ara su
saa Bapuji atototuo no …
ɛkɔso ara su wɔ m’asum
—Twi

wọ́n ṣì n dún jáde
àwọn ìyìbọn mẹ́tẹ̀ta, Bapuji …
wọ́n ṣì n dún jáde
—Yoruba

ár n-aithreacha dorcha
a n-aithreacha siúd …
cé sinne anois
—Irish

our dark fathers
and their fathers …
who are we now
—English

onze donkere vaders
en hun vaders …
wie zijn we nu
—Dutch

unsere dunklen Väter
und deren Väter …
wer sind wir jetzt
—German

οι μαύροι πατέρες μας
κι οι πατέρες τους …
ποιοι είμαστε τώρα
—Greek

અમારાં પીંછાં શામળાં
અને એમનાં પીંછાં
હવે અમે કોણ છીએ ?
—Gujarati

ndị nna nna anyị
na nna ha …
ndị anyị bụ ugbu a
—Igbo

i nostri padri oscuri
e i loro padri …
chi siamo adesso?
—Italian

闇の父
その父方よ
我らは何ぞ
—Japanese

naši temni očetje
in njihovi očetje …
kdo smo zdaj mi
—Slovene

nuestros sombrios padres
y sus padres …
quienes somos
—Spanish

baba zetu weusi
na baba zao …
sisi ni kina nani hasa
—Swahili

yɛn agya atuntumfoɔ
ne wɔn agyanom …
yɛn nso ne hwan seesei
—Twi

àwọn bàbá wa aláwọ̀ dúdú
àti àwọn bàbá tiwọn …
tani wá gan báyi
—Yoruba

ní chloiseann ár gcroí é
ní chloiseann ár gcroí é a thuilleadh …
an tuirne
—Irish

our hearts
can no longer hear it …
spinning wheel
—English

onze harten
kunnen het niet meer horen …
spinnewiel
—Dutch

unsere Herzen
vernehmen es nicht mehr …
das Spinnrad
—German

οι καρδιές μας
δεν την ακούνε πλέον …
ανέμη αργαλειού
—Greek

અમારાં હૈયાં
હવે નથી સાંભળી શકતાં
રેંટિયાનો રવ
—Gujarati

obi anyị
apụghịzi ịnụ ya …
agbagharị ụkwụ
—Igbo

i nostri cuori
non la odono più …
la ruota per filare
—Italian

我らの心
もはや聞けぬも …
糸車
—Japanese

naša srca
ga ne morejo več slišati …
kolovrat
—Slovene

nuestros corazones
yo no le escuchan …
rueca de hilar
—Spanish

nyoyo zetu
zimesha goma kusikia …
gurudumu lina bembea
—Swahili

yɛn akoma
ɛnte mpo sɛ ɛrɛbɔ biom …
ntomanwene afidie
—Twi

ọkàn wa
ò lè gbọ o mó …
kẹ̀kẹ́ ayọ̀
—Yoruba

Namaste!
Νάμαστε!
ナマステ！
નમસ્તે

Walk With Gandhi: Book

Walk With Gandhi: Posters

Biographies

THE MAHARISHIS
Masood Hussain, a prolific watercolourist, honed his skills at Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai. Masood teaches at the Institute of Music & Fine Arts in Srinagar, Kashmir, where he was born and raised. “Kashmir draws us to imagine ourselves,” Masood says, “amidst her lush shades of green, crystal clear lakes, gushing streams, snow-capped peaks—a paradise that has sadly been in pathos now for over a generation. We need a Mahatma.”

Gabriel Rosenstock, haikuist, bilingual poet (Irish & English), translator, tankaist, playwright, novelist, writer for children, champion of ‘forlorn causes’ – the phrase is Hugh MacDiarmid’s, Gabriel is a Lineage Holder of Celtic Buddhism and a member of Aosdána (The Irish Academy of Arts and Letters). The most recent volume is Glengower: Poems for No One in Irish and English (The Onslaught Press). He lives in Dublin.

THE MAHADEV
Rafiq Kathwari, Project Don, the first non-Irish recipient of the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award, obtained an MFA from Columbia University, where he began translating the poetry collections of Muhammed Iqbal (1877-1938), a giant of South Asian literature in the 20th century, writing in Urdu. Rafiq gulfs his time between New York, Dublin and Kashmir, where he was born a Scorpio at midnight.

THE MAHARANIS AND MAHARAJAS
Taofeek Ayeyemi—Yoruba
Fondly called Aswagaawy is a lawyer, poet, essayist and a Haijin. Winner, Poetic Wednesday Poetry Contest, 2018, and First Runner-up of the Okigbo Poetry Prize, 2016. Published in The Mamba, Failed Haiku, Akitsu Quarterly, Seashores, Wales Haiku Journal, 100 Bards of 2019, Under The Basho, Frogpond and The Quills. He lives in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Adjei Agyei-Baah—Twi
Adjei was a lecturer, translator, editor and a PhD student at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. He was the co-founder of Africa Haiku Network, Poetry Foundation Ghana and the Mamba Journal, Africa’s first international haiku journal. His poems have graced anthologies around the world.

Jenny Farrell—German
Jenny obtained a PhD in English Romantic Literature from Humboldt University, Berlin. Her publications include Fear Not Shakespeare’s Tragedies (Nuascéalta, 2016) and Revolutionary Romanticism: Examining the Odes of John Keats (Nuascéalta, 2017). Jenny was born in Berlin but has lived, since 1985, in Ireland where she is the Secretary of The Liam and Tom O’Flaherty Society.

Dileep Jhaveri—Gujarati
Bilingual poet, translator, playwright and physician. Editorial board member of national and international literary journals. Published in several countries. Well travelled. Lives near Mumbai.

Patricia Jiménez—Spanish
Patricia is from Monteverde de Costa Rica and is a painter, craftswoman member of CASEMCOOP, Gato Pardo de Monteverde, Casa de la Poesía del Festival Internacional de la Poesía en Costa Rica. She fights for Human Rights for People with Disabilities (INAMU). Poetry is her healer. “I hope this bio is enough. I don’t like talking about myself—just one reason why I love haiku.”

Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian—Igbo
Co-Founder of the Africa Haiku Network and Co-Editor of The Mamba. Lives in Nigeria, embracing all.

Silvia Pio—Italian
Italian poet, translator and promoter of literary events. Her poetry has appeared in magazines, books and online. She co-founded the literary online magazine, Margutte, which she co-edits, translating mainly poetry and writing articles and reviews.

Willem M. Roggeman—Dutch
“A painter with words,” is how a critic described the poetry of Willem Roggeman, who was deeply influenced by the great Dutch master painters. Roggeman is the former director of the Flemish Cultural Centre, De Brakke Grond, in Amsterdam and has worked as a journalist and art critic at Het Laatste Nieuws in Brussels, where he was born and still lives happily writing poems.

Mariko Sumikura—Japanese
Poet, essayist, translator. Graduated from Ristumeikan University. Representative of Japan Universal Poet’s Association and Chief Editor Poetic-Bridge of Ama-Hashi (online). Published in Kokoro Kaoru Hito, Yume Tsumugu Hito, Hikari Oru Hito, Ai Matou Hito and Tsuchi daku Masurao. Mariko was born in Kyoto.

Sarah Thilykou—Greek
Sarah studied theology, drama and music in Thessalonica, Utrecht and Paris. She holds a PhD in theology. Her poetry collections are The World in Three Acts (Athens, 2017), and Duet of Islands (Japan Universal Poets Association, 2018)—a Japanese-English bilingual collaboration with Maki Starfield. Sarah lives and works in Athens where she edits Poeticanet.

Makarios Wanjala Wakoko—Swahili
Wanjala’s unpublished works include translations of George Orwell’s Animal Farm into Lubukusu and Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart into Swahili and Lubukusu. He is working towards a PhD in Applied Linguistics at Masinde Muliro University where he is a don. He remains profoundly grateful to Fellow Adjei Agyei-Baah from the land of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah for introducing him to the haiku world.

Alenka Zorman—Slovene
Award-winning haikuist. Published Metulj na rami/Butterfly on the Shoulder (2004, KUD Apokalipsa, Slovenia), and Notranja osvoboditev/Inner Liberation (2006, Blesok, Macedonia). Editor, Letni časi (Seasons). President Emeritus, Haiku Club of Slovenia. She lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Masood Hussain & Gabriel Rosenstock: Mahatma

The Great Soul

Biographies

Post Notes

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