Three Tukarams: Studying Differences between the Translations
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Abstract
This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of three English translations of Tukaram’s abhangas, verse compositions of the 17th-century Marathi saint-poet. It interrogates the role of linguistic strategies and metaphorical transpositions in shaping the reception, interpretation, and intertextual positioning of translated texts. While prior scholarship has foregrounded the cultural and spiritual significance of the bhakti movement, the translational operations that mediate the transmission of its poetics and ethos remain underexplored. This study interrogates how different translational strategies shape the intertextual positioning and cultural resonances of Tukaram’s poetry within Anglophone literary sphere. Through a comparative study of translations by Dilip Chitre (1991), Jerry Pinto, and Shanta Gokhale (2023), the paper delineates shifts in metaphorical articulation and linguistic mediation, foregrounding their broader implications for processes of intercultural transmission and reception. By situating these translations within a framework of plurality and multiplicity, the research addresses a critical gap concerning the impact of translation practices on the reception and circulation of devotional literature. Ultimately, the study argues that Tukaram’s poetry, by virtue of its linguistic, cultural, and spiritual density, necessitates a plurality of translational approaches, foregrounding the contingent and dialogic nature of both devotion and poetic expression.
How to Cite
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Bhakti; intercultural understanding; intertextuality; translation; Tukaram
Chanda I. (2012), “Metaphor Translation as a Tool of Intercultural Understanding”, CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture, Vol. 14, Iss. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.1996
Chitre D. (transl.) (1991), Says Tuka, Paperwall Publishing.
Davidson D. (1978), “What Metaphors Mean”, Critical Enquiry, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 31–47.
Deleury G. (1960), The Cult of Viṭhobā, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Poona.
Dhere R. Ch. (2011), Rise of a Folk God, Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199777594.001.0001
Gokhale S. and Pinto J. (2023), Behold! The Word is God, Speaking Tiger.
Hawley J. S. (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press.
Jakobson R. (1959/2000), “On Linguistic Aspects of Translation”, in Venuti L. (ed.), The Translation Studies Reader, Routledge, London, pp. 113–118.
Novetzke C. L. (2008), Religion and Public Memory: A Cultural History of Saint Namdev in India, Columbia University Press.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.