Vikram Seth on His Translation of the Hanuman Chalisa, Narendra Modi and a Suitable Girl

Vikram Seth on his translation of The Hanuman Chalisa, Narendra Modi and A Suitable Girl
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One of our best loved and most highly regarded novelists has just translated The Hanuman Chalisa and it’s a particularly enchanting translation because he’s captured both the rhyme and rhythm of the original thus conveying the incantatory pleasure of the Hindi and Awadhi versions.
In this 25-minute interview, Vikram Seth talks about his decision to translate The Chalisa, why he waited for over a decade to publish it, why he’s dedicated it to one of his fictional characters from ‘A Suitable Boy’, what The Chalisa means to him, how he distinguishes between Hinduism and Hindutva, how he views the Narendra Modi government and, more importantly, Narendra Modi.
Vikram Seth also talks about what has happened to Arundhati Roy and the wider attempt to cow journalists, artists, authors, businessmen, the judiciary, politicians, etc.
This is a unique interview and rather than give anything away and ruin your pleasure I encourage you to watch it for yourself. In a particularly charming set of answers, Vikram Seth talks about his recent journey in his Jimney along the route of the Chaar Dham Yatra which, I’m told, could become his first book of travel writing after almost four decades when its published in October. Incidentally, Vikram Seth denies that this book will be published but seems to do so playfully.
That’s all I’m giving away.
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[@theHappyBabbler]

What a delightful interview!!! As for Mr. Thapar’s command on Hindi…it’s the भावना, the emotion that matters more than the superficial devotion that has become so commonplace in recent times.

[@pushpanjalibanerjee6112]

What a delightful interview!! Thank you Karan and Vikram Seth.

[@metalearn2521]

Vikram Seth is enchanting.

[@Upal_Chatterji]

Beautiful interview indeed, pleasure to hear such an erudite author speak , bless you Vikram ji, it is only because of sane voices like yours that we continue to have faith in the future for our country

[@padma1283]

Absolutely loved the conversation. Couldn't mute my smile in several parts. An absolute delight!! Thank you.

[@JumgeSora]

I only heard about Vikram Seth during making my Current Affairs notes. Aaj darshan ho gaya, what a delightful & wonderful man he is. Thank you for this interview Karan Thapar ji 🙏

[@rachnagupta8346]

Lovely discussion. Thanks Karan Thapar for such delightful interview. So rare to come across such journalism now a days.

[@mkumar9910]

Thank you Mr. Thapar for this interview. What a pleasure to hear Vikram Seth.

[@shaileshkris]

I remember having read Vikram Seth for the first time in my English poetry book, in 95-96. ‘A Doctor’s Journal Entry’ could paint a visual (without internet) of the immensity & suddenness of the catastrophic nuclear explosions in Hiroshima & Nagasaki, and also make me feel the disbelief and the detachment the people must have went through due to the shock. Today is my first, seeing Vikram Seth. I am shocked(with joy) to see him, alive; and hear him, even more lively than I had imagined. And I just loved that he keeps anthropomorphising his (#Suzuki) Jimny every time he brings it up, which he does passionately, and often! Loved to listen to him, thanks to Karan!

[@amitvohra7040]

That was lovely. Mr. Seth is a refreshingly gentle soul. Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the Chalisa.

[@savitriseegobin17]

Such a humble poet Mr. Seth. Thank you.

[@neerajsinghbhar966]

Excellent interview Mr. Karan

[@Chopraviraj]

Seth is our National Treasure. Fab to hear him.

[@froids14]

absolutely delightful

[@Mxe00.]

I hope we soon get to watch interviews of author Shive khera and Sobers Rodrigues as well.

[@basumajumder1604]

So nice an interview feeling great.

[@ChetputPadmanabhanGanesh-nt4ow]

Karan ji you take interview of all the best intellectual .It is wonderful to watch you asking relevant question and get The best from you guest.

[@annapurnabommireddy5032]

such an excellant interview

[@vherlekar]

I don't always like Mr. Thapar's views, but I can't fault the level of his intellect and sharpness 👌👌 To be able to hold his own against Vikram Seth says something... 🙏

[@ushahariharan3268]

Thank you Karan 🙏🙏

[@tejaskulshrestha691]

Such a wonderful interview. It's always a pleasure to listen to Mr. Seth. Eagerly waiting to be mesmerized by the by the Beautiful Girl. ❤❤❤

[@mailhitendra]

Vikram Seth is magic❤

[@sanjivbokil]

(sheer)

[@parthamjee]

It's always a pleasure to listen to Vikram Seth...just as it is to read him. His earlier travelogue was a fabulous tale of the whole host of his experiences in a foreign land. The places where he was were mostly unknown to us but his style of weaving the story made the whole book a joyride. If he decides to publish his 'Dham' tales, it would be like seeing the familiar places through his eyes once again along with 'commentaries' in his inimitatble style, with the sheer uniqueness of which he won many hearts earlier.

[@txlish]

Namaskar! Thank You Karan and appropriate of you posting Mr Seth talk on Tuesday irrespective of fact when it was recorded -:)

[@Seekho_Seekhao]

It could be just an accident but Vikram Seth is flaunting Rembrandt Lighting. Artists and their ways. 😅

[@chandrashekherbanaudha7891]

Too good

[@sukhpalsingh3621]

श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम

[@froids14]

Thanks

[@smiritigoswamiclass-5.398]

We are always with neutral and intellectual media and Karan Thapar.❤😂🎉.

[@krishnamrajubalamraju390]

A NICE INTERVIEW .

[@kasturiswami784]

Arsha satiya,who yranslated valmiki ramayan into english loves hanuman of all the characters in ramayam,endearing.

[@ankuragrawal2004]

जय हनुमान

[@DruvKent]

Superb

[@TekramVerma-yg4sf]

❤

[@shreeshchandrapandey3033]

Hanuman ji must have been delighted to hear the Hanuman Chalisa in English. He should bless Vikram with long life.

[@vishikag]

Can’t wait to read ‘A suitable girl’

[@lokeshlokesh6168]

great

[@txlish]

This prompt me to search for "4 AM Hanumaan Chalisa" by Krishna Das. Thank You!

[@vivekra]

I have not read A Suitable boy but I saw the miniseries and It seems to be a metaphor where the girl is newly independent India and the three boys represent three groups struggling for her. The Muslim boy representing the legacy of muslim rulers and people who follow Islamic culture, the anglicised boy who represent the Macaulay putras and the desi boy. In the end the desi boy wins even though he was quite soft spoken. If this is indeed the correct metaphor, I wonder how their personalities would change to represent this struggle which is still ongoing.

[@cafewaves]

Hanuman Chalisa discussion ends up with hindutva:))) Well done Karan.

[@shekharharsha1540]

Commendable.

[@lokeshlokesh6168]

hello KARAN i like works. true and bold

[@tulsibhatia2823]

In the fullness of time,the girl will be born!😊

[@anjalisharma461]

Vikram is so handsome. I am really left spellbound when he speaks.

[@user-fg5bm9lb4o]

That;s his only ability.He probably does not even know the full recitation of Hanuman chalisa

[@user-ks3ms3li4k]

I wasn’t ready for Mr Thapar’s mispronunciation.. Chuh-Lee-Sah, but I understand the soft power potential of translated religious manuscripts! Mr Suitable boy is about to become the Overseas Sanghi Poster Boy! But I’m not ready for this either!

[@parmeetkalra6378]

He comes across as a very simple man. Good luck.

[@balajibhattacharya9502]

Fullness of the bride we are waiting...❤

[@user-hq8wm8giyujcg]

where can i find all historical awadhi literature fresh books which i can buy (not traslations but original)

[@kbslinen8755]

Hindutva means Raja Bali. Daan veer Raja harishchandra. Satyawaadi Ram. Maryada praan jaye par vachan na jaye Hanumaan veerta bhkti seva Krishna. Geeta gyaan

[@anjumshaikh8586]

Bedazzled!!!

[@sharathahuja8261]

Karan Thapar has been reciting the Modi Chalisa for as long as i can remember.

[@user-pk3uh3zx5p]

Then your memory is really poor bruh .....have some almonds with milk in morning .....will help you to sharpen your brain

[@tulsibhatia2823]

I would have thought that these platforms would bring about some refinement in its viewers!

[@aap223]

N raised to 3: Teen tigdee, kaam bigdee. एन क्यूब, तीन तिगड़ी, काम बिगड़ी!

[@CH-ng8ei]

Honorable Justice Nyay Bindu walked on the impartial path shown by honorable CJI. Shall CJI stand with the judgement of Judge who put his Words into Practical ?

[@sharathahuja8261]

He pronunces Chalisa with an American twang.

[@apaappshpacd743]

Unfortunately this t shirt guy politicised it for no reason. Hell awaits him

[@pushpendergusain4262]

It would have been better to give a little more time on Hanuman Chalisa.

[@RAMBABU-in1vv]

When is A suitable girl coming in my life

[@hindurashtra63]

Please also translate - Emperor Yudhistira's Speech on Caste Division to King of Kashi from Mahabharata. That will remove all the mis-conception about Caste among Leftist and Libreals who have no idea that Hinduism never promoted discrimination among Castes.

[@123xyzabccba]

Then why only ‘hindus’ and those who converted to islam christianity sikhism jainism practice casteism …..

[@txlish]

@21:00 , Sadly I would concur w/Mr Seth assertion had INDIA coiliation had come to lead the Nation (back of mind suggesting: Naaay, MoBani MoDani MoRss MoShah quarto made sure it did not. Like they say, some where in the World - No Way, Jose!

[@umeshdongare1647]

Times have changed and going to change more.Vikram Seth has to think about transaltion of Hanuman Chalisa a d Karan Thapar starts program on this subject to propagate InDi alliance.But Shurely in near future Thaper will start chanting Hanuman Chalisa for backing anti country people and pro Pakistani like Arundhai Roy

[@kasturiswami784]

Sorry arshiya satter.

[@shandaswb]

Weird interview that starts with the translation the goes into the world politics which thapar wanted to push a writer into. He was never interested in the translation just wanted to goad a talented writer

[@kbslinen8755]

Hanuman se sidhe modi par achraj hai Jabhi aap hindutva ka sahi arth nahin samajh paye Hanuman chalisa ko chelsi bool rahe ho Aap naam bigad rahe ho lagta nahi ki aap chalisa ka sahi pronunciation nahi jante ho

[@manchikantimurty7375]

Modi is unable to Digest that Ram Lalla and Kedareswar of Kedarnath did not help at all. Modi was foolish to underestimate the Power of 63 Nayanmars, 13 Alwars , more than 18 Immortal Siddha Yogis of South India. Annamalai could not explain to them what is Hindutva of bulldozer jhumla party headed by a PM who very frequently uses Modi washing machine with modi washing powder. Modi during his campaign March 16 to May 30 had uttered the following words so many times Hindu Muslim 762 Poor 1094 Ram 1200 Farmer 879 Congress 5133 Modi 4320 Constitution 762 Alliance 966 BJP 1359 Development 834. Such worthless Guy. How can he become a Statesman like Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru son of illustrious Motilal Nehru. And both the father and son might have been born again to continue their work of protecting Indian Democracy

[@kasturiswami784]

The angry hanuman of hindutva creeps me of it.

[@vivekmehta7734]

Can we allow conversion business be allowed???

[@gunjanghai6029]

Its jarring to hear Chal-eesa as the name from Karan. Please be cultured enough to pronounce it by its right name - its Chaalisa

[@nikhilshende9324]

Buddha spoke about two extremesm: Eternalism-continue living forever Annihilationaism-die and die forever. Buddha suggest the middle way that is Supernormal Eightfold Way with identifying the first question as how the concept of the self comes into an existence with lots of suffering(दुःख/looking for stability in insecurities of life) with a certain type of reasons behind it? How come? with Four Supernornal Truth: (१)With a reason! (२)With looking for cessation of the reason. (३)With the Eightfold Path. (४)With practice and applying it consciously in daily life. 😇🙏

[@medialords8647]

16th century में तुलसिया ने हनुमान चालीसा लिखी,उसके पहले हनुमान की पूजा कैसे होती थी? हनुमान का कोई archeological सबूत मिला है? वेदों को बिना पढ़े ही हिंदू सबसे ऊपर मानते हैं,क्या वेदों में मंदिर और मूर्ति पूजा करने का नियम है? हिंदू शब्द हिंदुओं के ग्रंथों में क्यों नही मिलता? किसी भी राजा ने अपने को हिंदू क्यों नही लिखवाया कहीं भी? ऐसे और भी सैकड़ों सवाल हैं जिनका जवाब किसी हिंदू से पूछ लो,बगलें झांकने लगेगा मूर्खों की तरह.. उसको सिर्फ tv की रामायण,महाभारत का पता है धर्म के नाम पे...😂😂😂

[@prakashchandra69]

बुद्ध के लिए बुद्धु और वधमान महावीर के लिए हंदुमान महावीर बनाया गया।

[@sundareshanal1849]

The problem with agenda makers is that subjects of colossal import and civiisational gravitas like the spirituality in an age of AI , importance of religion in an Indian's life and it's relevance in our polarised society, the criticality of epics playing a part in popular imagination of political framework - all of that is brushed aside for KT's non stop rant against Modi. The man represents a nuerotic section of folks who just do not grasp the ground reality and try to reduce every discussion to a hatchet job. They sadly miss the fact that they are condemning by implication a whole mass of ordinary folks who back Modi as grievous collaborators. They claim India is doomed. Modi is responsible. The large population just disagrees with that. That is their tragedy, not India's. To reduce a talk with VS to this level of mudslinging is almost comic.

[@kny2311]

23 cr out 66cr ppl voted for bjp

[@Likit257]

Ahhhhhaaaa! One always wonders why VIKRAM LEFTIEST GAY SETH WOULD WRITE ABOUT HANUMAN JI! NOW ONE KNOWS - LEFTIE CABAL OUT TO DESTROY HANUMAN CHALISA!

[@avinashparanjape2092]

It's a pity that Mr Thapar distorted the pronounciation of the word chaalisa. May he be as careful about Hindi as he is about English

[@prakashchandra69]

करण थापर चबा -चबा कर अंग्रेजी बोलते हैं।

[@apaappshpacd743]

Is this about Hanuman Chalisa or about anti government propaganda

[@Globalme24]

Nobody cares about your translation. The Chalisa will always be said in its original. Go translate Koran verses try

[@rachnagupta8346]

Thanks