COMMUNITY SQUARE FOR GOSSIPING : A RAJASTHANI POEM BY KAMANA RAJAWAT : ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY RAJNI CHHABRA

 COMMUNITY SQUARE FOR GOSSIPING 

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Where has vanished that

Community square for gossiping

On which, by sunset

Women-folk used to assemble

Disclosing their heart

Mirth, laughing heartily

And at times harsh datum

Rest of matter included bygone days

And at times, used to sketch 

Whole geographical background

They narrated about their getting up 

In wee hours

Used to grind almost half a quintal of grains

And then make chapatis too

Used to take out quintals of grain

For months, used to daub courtyard with mud

In noon time, ornamented dresses 

With golden laces

They narrated that they used to

Take bath with a single mug of water

And did make up in the dim light of chimney

*Kajalia lehnga, and wearing* yellow odhnee on it

Smearing eyes with *kajal

Putting *Teeki tied to string

With all this make-up

Went for *Gangaur worshipping

Used to travel between

Maternal home and in-laws' home

Riding on camel

Reviving all those past events

A smile flashed on their wrinkled -face

Merrily recalling

How much all these suited them

They told that co-sister-in laws

Lived under one roof

Always paid due regards to elders

Whole day, they were on heels

Obeying commands of mother-in-law

Till late, used to press feet of elders

Almost, after mid-night

Used to meet life-mate

They told that 

Their children were not naughty

Fed them with ordinary meals

Dressed them with coarse clothes

But never flattered them 

In single thick shawl 

Whole winter was managed

In summer, roasted millet and grams

Appealed very much

Craze for *kakadhee *mateera in monsoon season

Fruit of * kachree * teensee appeased a lot

Used to sing a lot

Enjoyed a lot

When son-in- law visited

All  listened to his datum

It seemed as if they are women of

Some other epoch

Now times have changed

Now who is free to converse

Or to share happiness and sorrow

Everybody is running

Presently, nobody constructs in front of home

Community square for gossiping.

*Kajaliya lehnga : a black long pleated skirt

*Odhnee : scarf

*kajal: kohl

*Teekee: ornament of married ladies, worn on forehead

*Gangaur:  idol of Goddess Parvati

*kakadhee : a vegetation in desert

 *mateera : a pulpy juicy fruit in desert

*kachree: a vegetation in dessert 

* teensee: apple gourd