Nawanshahr(Punjab): For a long time, senior social worker Ashwani Joshi has carved a unique identity for himself in society through his candid conversations and revolutionary social welfare activities. Recently, he added another intellectual achievement to his life by translating Urdu poetry into Punjabi.
He has translated the book Aaina Taak Par, originally written in Urdu by modern Pakistani poet Andaleeb Rathore, into Punjabi. This 124-page book is now available as an e-book on Amazon for Punjabi literature lovers worldwide.
Ashwani Joshi shared that in the foreword of the book, world-renowned poet and recipient of the Charter of Morwa Award, Dr. Jarnail Singh, wrote that Aaina Taak Par delves into aspects of life that are often hidden behind the veil of desires. Andaleeb Rathore’s poetry promotes the beauty and longing for harmony across borders.
Through this book, Joshi emphasizes the deep and ancient connection between Urdu and Punjabi. He pointed out that even today, the land records department in Indian Punjab operates primarily in Urdu. Joshi believes that mastering both the original and target languages is crucial for a perfect translation. However, despite not being an expert in Urdu, he decided to bring the soulful essence of the book to Punjabi readers by listening to the author herself. He saw this translation work as a challenge.
Joshi also mentioned that anyone with a sound knowledge of Hindi or Punjabi can grasp the emotional essence of Urdu with a little effort. A marine electrical engineer by profession, Joshi believes that in today’s technological era, nothing is impossible.
Previously, Ashwani Joshi authored the Hindi book Parimarjit Ikigai, which was released by the Governor of Punjab at the State Bhawan.