Nazrul’s lyrics transcreated by Professor Fakrul Alam
Roomu Jhoomu Roomu Jhoomu
Roomo Jhoomo Roomo Jhoomo—anklet bells sound.
Addicted to dancing, bangles jingle jangle to that beat.
The dresses’ borders keep swaying in the restless wind.
Who could be moving with such wantonly dancing feet?
Stranger though she is and so close to the riverbank
I think I know this dancer on the move. Her movements
Fill this heart of mine. Her swan or peacock-like steps
Cast a spell, like a mirage in a desert will. With her smile
She even enchants the forest deer. Her big eyes dance,
Making the sea waves lilt. Forests in the high hills sway,
Sway away to the beat and music of her dancing feet.
Born in united Bengal, long before the Partition, Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) was known as the Bidrohi Kobi, or “rebel poet”. Nazrul is now regarded as the national poet of Bangladesh though he continues a revered name in the Indian subcontinent. In addition to his prose and poetry, Nazrul wrote about 4000 songs.
Fakrul Alam is an academic, translator and writer from Bangladesh. He has translated works of Jibonananda Das and Rabindranath Tagore into English and is the recipient of Bangla Academy Literary Award (2012) for translation and SAARC Literary Award (2012).
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