Pritha Banerjee Chattopadhyay’s translation of Nirmalendu Goon’s poem: সাহস থেকে প্রেম – From Courage to Love (Bengali to English)


আমার শুধু ইচ্ছে করে

সঙ্গে বসে থাকি ।

হঠাৎ করে তোমার গায়ে

গোপনে হাত রাখি ।


রাখতে রাখতে সাহস হবে

সাহস থেকে প্রেম,

বুঝবে আমি শিকড়গুলো

কিভাবে ছড়ালেম ।


আমার শুধু ইচ্ছে করে

সঙ্গে ভেসে যেতে,

ভাসতে ভাসতে সবটা নদী

বুকের কাছে পেতে ।


এমনি করেই সাহস হবে

সাহস থেকে প্রেম,

তখন তুমি বুঝবে না যে

কিভাবে জড়ালেম ।

I only wish to sit so near,

To touch you soft, yet not appear.


And touch by touch, my courage will grow,

From courage to love—you’ll start to know.

You’ll then perceive how deep and wide

My roots have spread, so firm inside.


I only wish to drift with you,

To float as rivers lovers do.


And drift by drift, my courage will grow,

From courage to love—you’ll start to know.

By then, you won’t yet understand

How I entwined you, hand in hand.


A high school teacher, Pritha finds her deepest connection in poetry, where every line feels like a mirror to the soul. Though she loves to wade through the stories that novels offer, it’s poetry’s ability to turn the ordinary into magic that keeps her coming back to it in moments of happiness and sorrow alike. She dreams of travelling the world, weaving memories from the rich mosaic of cultures and cuisine. Her days are brightened by her students, whose curiosity and humour constantly remind her why she loves teaching. She’s been learning, since what seems like eternity, to understand movies beyond the surface. Tagore is her safe haven, a place where she finds calm amidst the chaos. Despite all the flaws she sees in humanity, Pritha chooses to believe in its goodness—a quiet hope that carries her through the world. That said, there are days when she can’t help but feel that dogs make far better companions than humans.
Nirmalendu Goon (born 21 June 1945) is a renowned Bangladeshi poet known for his powerful, socially conscious verse. One of the most celebrated poets of modern Bengali literature, his work often reflects themes of political struggle, human rights, and the everyday lives of ordinary people. He gained widespread recognition for his poem on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shudurer Piyashi (1970). Over the decades, he has published numerous poetry collections and prose works, earning accolades such as the Ekushey Padak (2001) and the Independence Day Award (2016), two of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honours. His poetry is marked by a blend of lyrical simplicity and strong political commitment, making him a defining voice in contemporary Bengali literature.

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