Claudia Hüfner.madhushala

The story about

Imagine following question in „Kaun Banega Crorepati“:
What will happen, if Claudia Huefner zapps into the Indian Bollywood-movie “Mohabbatein”?

Possible answers:

A: She makes a drawing of Amitabh Bachchan
B: She starts learning Hindi
C: She wants to get in contact with Big B
D: She is translating Madhushala into German

Who on earth is Claudia Huefner? Ok, a german artist and an author, so far to be seen on internet. And so, which answer would be correct?

First time in the show: ALL options are correct!

You don't believe this? But it is real!

In 2005 Bollywood-wave reached Germany and became a cause of interest in this foreign land. (you should know, I am not really a cineast, not for German movies, nor Hollywood) I saw my first movie in original language on our culture-channel: “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”. I was pleased and eager to see more. Some weeks later, exactly same film, dubbed into German: ok, why didn't I like it so? Cause of the language Could be! Other movies followed, all dubbed, nothing like the feeling I had in the first Hindi show of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. Must have been the language.

I quit my interest.

But coincidentally, I zaped into “Mohabbatein” and had been fascinated from story and from a new face I saw for the first time in the movie: Amitabh Bachchan…. What a pleasure for an artist to portray him, to make my first etching of these eyes!

And another strange reaction: I bought my very first movie-DVD, hoping for an original soundtrack… right, I could hear his voice for the first time and was again captivated by the language and of course, by him.

So I decided to learn Hindi, self educated, I started looking for all official literature I could find. It had been a kind of coming home for me. My love for India grew, and I was more and more eager to learn about the country, its culture, its people. As I started my search to make Indian friends via Skype , I came across some really helpful and interesting individuals. And one of them, told me about Big B's father: the renowned Hindi poet Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his famous work Madhushala.

As I started to translate the first stanzas again - there was a deep love inside, that seized me.

So I tried my level best to come in contact with Mr.Amitabh Bachchan, seeking his permission to translate and publish Madhushala. Three month in waiting, but finally my efforts are rewarded and I get my wish fulfilled to start translation of Madhushala into German.

Within nine month I completed the translation, which was impossible without the help of my good friends, Shyam Chandragiri (from Mumbai) and most of all Shashvat Doorwar (from Jhansi). Both taught me so much about India and its culture. Mr. Doorwar guided me at each step with the most appropriate and correct meaning of words in Madhushala, whenever I needed his help and all in english language.

A Bollywood movie? A fairytale? No, real life.

Now after two years of work: getting in contact, translation, creating artworks (etchings) for illustration, searching for a publisher and being successfully through it, it is being realised in Draupadi-publishing house, Heidelberg, Germany:

www.draupadi-verlag.de

Draupadi Verlag
Dossenheimer Landstr. 103
69121 Heidelberg
Tel.: +49 - (0)6221 - 412 990
E-Mail: info@draupadi-verlag.de

And - I asked also Amitabh Bachchan for a foreword he agreed and honoured me by wonderful words.

Happy end. Or a beginning for Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan in Germany.

Claudia Huefner

Artist, author, journalist, synesthet and a admirer of the beauty of words, the deepness and truth of Madhushala

reading

Geliebte, du bist Wein für mich

und wie die durstig’ Schal’ bin ich.

Fülltest dich selbst in mich hinein

und wurdest dann zum Trinkenden.

Wie übervoll du mich erfüllst,

so dass ich sprudelnd überquoll,

so fröhlich du mich trinkend warst:

wir sind einander Haus des Weins.

Aus Trauben meiner Emotion

ziehe ich eine Weinvision:

Die Sāki sei nun der Poet,

bringt voll von Poesie die Schal’,

die sich nie leert, bleibt ewig voll,

sooft du auch draus trinken magst.

Du Trinkender sollst Leser sein,

das Buch dazu mein Haus des Weins.

9 *

Wird so der Durst nun selbst zu Wein,

die glänzend Schale flugs entsteht;

und nur schon in der Lippen Wunsch

ersinnt das geistig Wollen gleich

der Maiden liebliche Gestalt.

Bleibt dir, Gefährte, weder Wein,

noch Becher, noch Bewirterin –

du doch entdeckst das Haus des Weins.

10*

Das zarte Plätschern höre doch,

das, ausgeströmt vom irden Krug,

dir Wein in Gläser fließen lässt.

Von Maidens Fuß ein Klingeln tönt,

die nähert sich, zu schenken aus.

Bald bist du da, der Schritte kaum,

vernimmst der Gäste Wispern schon,

gleichwie den Duft des Haus des Weins.

Der Betende beim Betgesang

vergisst des Allmächt’gen Präsenz,

sogar der Blitz würd’ stören nicht,

wenn sinnend tief der Zecher bleibt.

Oh wisse, Scheich – sei böse nicht –

offen gesagt, deiner Moschee

gelehrt hier wird seit Ären schon

der Einkehr Kunst im Haus des Weins.

Moslem und Hindu ungleich sind,

doch einig nur in ihrer Schal’,

sind eins nur, wenn sie in der Schenk’

und eins nur dann in ihrem Wein.

Sind beide feindlich nur solang

sie in Moschee und Tempel geh’n,

in beiden Häusern Hass wächst an –

zum Einklang bringt’s das Haus des Weins.

„Los, komm!“ zu mir die Sāki sagt –

und dann, nahm sie mir weg die Hand.

Sagt’s wieder und entzieht die Schal’

den dürstend Lippen weg sodann.

Ich weiß noch gar nicht, bis wohin

es mich denn einmal führen wird.

Erst zieht es mich ganz stark zu sich

dann weicht’s zurück, das Haus des Weins.

Aus meiner Hand im Kommen schon,

entglitt die Schale mir, oh weh!

Von meinen Lippen, schon im Geh’n

oh weh! verschüttet war der Wein;

oh Welt, komm her und sieh genau

auf meines Glücks besondre Art:

wenn immer ich’s erreichen will,

entbehr’ ich es, das Haus des Weins.

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