AbOL taBOl - by Sukumar Ray

Abol taBOl ( translates to Gibberish) is reportedly the finest work of the much acclaimed children's writer Sukumar Ray. They say this Literary Nonsense is of the stature of 'Alice in Wonderland' and Ray is often compared to Lewis Caroll. This book of rhymes was published in the year 1923. In that decade, in India, I am not sure how many people were even thinking about children's literature, leave aside Nonsense Rhymes.  The historical highlights of India are only about nationalist movements for freedom from the British rule. Much higher political agenda, movements, and the Fight for freedom was the only thing people were discussing about. The songs and poetry mostly spoke about nationalism. To think about it, it was indeed quite revolutionary of Sukumar Ray to make sense out of nonsense rhymes for children. 

But he did! And we are glad he did! 

I can safely assure you that there would hardly be any Bengali child who grew up without reading 'Abol Tabol' - The classic pun riddle rhymes. 

It comprises of 46 nonsense rhymes along with illustrations by the man himself. 

The author was multitalented just like his father Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury of the Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne Fame. Just on his father's footsteps Sukumar excelled in children's fantasy litreture and poetry. He was an illustrator par excellence as well. His work of literature is relevant even today is evident from the fact that almost a century after his death,he remains the absolutely must read children's author in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Moreover, this literary work of his has been attempted for translations more than 4 times at various times during this century. The first  attempt was by his son The Satyajit Ray himself. This version is rare and difficult to find. Though few translated rhymes are posted on some blogs by literary researchers. 

1. Nonsense Rhymes - translated by Satyajit Ray in the Writers workshop in 1970. 

As mentioned before, this book is a rare find. 

2. The Select Nonsense of Sukumar Ray : Translated by Sukanta Choudhri in 1987. This version has a introduction  by Satyajit Ray. 

Publisher : Oxford University Press

Age recommendations: 12+ 

This book contains 44 translated rhymes and also translated version of the comical topsy turvy tale "Ha Ja Ba Ra La".  

Translations of poetry is considered to loose it's original essence. Having said that ,this translation by Chouduri is critically considered to be a better version than others. 

This book is available here: 

http://www.amazon.in/Select-Nonsense-Sukumar-Chaudhuri-Sukanta/dp/0195630394

3. WordygurdyBoom - Translated by Sampurna Chatarji. This book comes with an introduction by Ruskin Bond. 

Publisher : Puffin 

Pages: 170 

Age recommendations (by publisher) : 10+

Publication year : 2008

As reviewed by Coleen Demonte - In his foreword Ruskin Bond, writes "Sukumar Ray's forte was the nonsense verse and rhyme, but no less entertaining were his drawings---his sketches of fussy school teachers, pompous pundits, eccentric family members, and of course weird creatures such as the animals in Professor Chuckleonymous's hunting tales, or the wild-eyed monster with an elephant trunk, a lion's mane and a lizard tail. The creatures he created for his poem Mish-Mash are truly out of this world!"

The book is available here: 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/0143330780/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1453563856&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Wordygurdyboom&dpPl=1&dpID=51Qugtj-h5L&ref=plSrch

4. The Tenth Rasa : An Anthology of Indian Nonsense. 

Edited by Michael Heyman with Sumanyu  Satpathy and Anushka RaviShankar.

This volume includes, among other Indian nonsense texts, several Ray translations by Chattarji, including some that are not in her solo edition of Abol Tabol.

Publisher : Penguin 

Publication year : 2007

Age recommendations: 15+

Pages: 284 

Illustrations : 23 BW

And this book is available here: 

http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/0143100866/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?qid=1453564189&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=the+tenth+rasa+an+anthology+of+indian+nonsense