NAZIR JAHANGIR
Last year, I released my 18th publication “Daaie Aalov”—a compilation of my Kashmiri short stories, featuring a tale titled ‘The Owl’ (Raat’a Mongol). The narrative begins with a curious incident: the resounding cacophony of crows in the upper storey of my house captured my attention. Fueled by curiosity, I ascended the stairs to investigate the source of this avian uproar.
To my surprise, I encountered a distressing scene—a gathering of crows aggressively besieging an owl. It occurred to me that owls, with their compromised vision in daylight, prefer the cover of darkness for hunting and thriving. Seemingly oblivious to this natural phenomenon, the crows ruthlessly attacked the owl, inflicting wounds upon it. The scene unfolded as more than a mere bird confrontation, revealing a stark contrast between the cowardice of crows in daylight and the undaunted bravery of the owl challenging the darkness of night.
Compelled by this poignant tableau, I meticulously crafted a story delving into the intricacies of the owl’s ordeal. The narrative unfolded, underscoring how, in their timidity, the crows dared to assail a helpless owl during the day. However, as the darkness of night unfurled its wings, enveloping the environment, a transformative shift occurred. Every other bird, intimidated by the challenge of darkness, sought refuge in their nests. Yet, amidst this nocturnal retreat, a solitary figure emerged—the owl. With unparalleled courage, the owl soared through the inky blackness, defying the fearsome darkness that had cowed every other creature into hiding.
In the midst of this nocturnal bravery, a poetic alliance emerged—the moon, enamored by the owl’s courage, shed its luminous attire and graced the sky in a celestial celebration. It served as a testament to the valor of the owl, a tiny yet audacious creature challenging the very essence of darkness.
This carefully woven story not only captures the physicality of the owl but also delves into the symbolic layers, exploring themes of bravery, courage, and the interplay between light and darkness.
It merits a mention that in Sufi culture, the owl is considered a blessed bird because it remains awake throughout the night, and its hooting sounds like “Ya-ho, Ya-ho,” a remembrance of the Almighty, the Creator, the One Only.
Owl is also a monk among birds.
The owl is commonly considered a foolish and inauspicious creature in this subcontinent. However, in America, the owl is regarded as a wise animal. Here, calling someone an “owl” implies that the person is foolish, whereas in America, the owl symbolizes wisdom.
In different cultures, different terms hold different meanings. Therefore, I believe it is impossible to accurately translate a creative masterpiece from one language into another while preserving the essence of the original language’s creativity. For instance, consider the wolf: in our culture, it is seen as a predatory, bloodthirsty, and malevolent animal. But in Turkey, the wolf is their national animal because they attribute to it qualities that, if found in humans, would make them highly virtuous.
Perhaps, in Turkish culture, wolves embody noble traits, while the wolves in our culture are considered to have vile characteristics.
And Allah knows best.
The author is a noted journalist & columnist.
