Latest news with #Shahmukhi

Time of India

Patar's poetry finds new script, techie decodes him for other Pb

Chandigarh: Motivated by a love for language and growing demand from readers in Pakistan, Melbourne-based Tejinder Singh has taken it upon himself to translate the works of iconic Punjabi poet Surjit Patar into Shahmukhi, the script used in West Punjab. The 48-year-old computing professional who moved to Australia two decades ago began the project by translating Khudkushi (suicide), one of Patar's acclaimed poems, into Shahmukhi and sharing it on X (formerly Twitter). "I'm surprised to find that Patar remains untranslated into Shahmukhi or English," he wrote. "I start a humble effort to bridge these languages, translating his works one poem at a time." His effort drew praise from British MP Preet Kaur Gill, who posted the original Gurmukhi version in appreciation. Born at Bhagowal village in Punjab's Gurdaspur district, Tejinder Singh said the idea had struck him after repeated requests from readers in Pakistani Punjab. "They want to read Patar, and it's disheartening that his poetry remains inaccessible there largely due to script barriers," he said. Even though trained in computing — with a bachelor's degree from India and a master's from Australia — Tejinder Singh taught himself Shahmukhi using open resources. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Updates: Insurance Coverage GIP & GLP-1 Agonists GoodRx Learn More Undo "Shahmukhi is similar to Urdu, but with an extra layer of diacritics for Punjabi sounds," he explained. While he uses artificial intelligence tools during the process, he says he reviews and refines each translation manually to preserve the original poem's emotional and literary essence. The translator believes literature is key to rebuilding lost cultural ties between East and West Punjab. "There are about 3 crore Punjabis in Indian Punjab, but 13 crore in Pakistani Punjab. Our shared literature deserves to be read and loved across the border," he said. Calling his initiative a personal passion project, Tejinder Singh plans to continue translating Patar's poetry to ensure the late poet's work transcends scripts, borders, and generations. One poem at a time, he'll send, a bridge of ink the border can't end. MSID:: 122955215 413 |