“Presenting world literature not as a canon of texts but as a mode of circulation and of reading,” David Damrosch argues that world literature is work that gains in translation. He states, “When it is effectively presented, a work of world literature moves into an elliptical space created between the source and receiving cultures, shaped by both but circumscribed by neither alone. Established classics and new discoveries alike participate in this mode of circulation, but they can be seriously mishandled in the process.”[What is World Literature?]

Human history is replete with instances of cultural contacts, interactions and fusions as well as transformations.  Constant changes in placement, displacement, ever altering geographic, cultural boundaries culminate in cultural complexity and heterogeneity vividly reflected in preference of transcultural writers for absolute freedom in choosing their priorities, allegiances and refusal to be reduced as representing a place, community or culture. Nor one is justified in fixing them so.

A new breed of professionals who may be termed  ‘knowledge workers’ utilize educational/professional background, opportunities offered/ snatched, abilities communicative/ creative, to profess affinity to the land they live in on account of multiple displacements, transforming life patterns and are able to embrace and manifest multiple perspectives in developing a new discourse. They emancipate themselves from the narrow nationalistic, own culture-centric approach to offer a new platform to operate from. They represent changing dynamics of cultural affiliations and identity promotions. They are not so much interested in projecting binaries or polarities as assimilation or transformation in their works which constitute literature of mobility. Their craft is remarkable for personalized, innovative, original narrative modes adopted.

Freshness of outlook makes transcultural writings vibrant, invigorating and enjoyable. Defying the tendency to attach labels to writers, the transcultural writer goes beyond normally known norms and tags. It is not easy to fix him as diaspora writer, postcolonial writer, commonwealth writer or multicultural writer. They constantly keep evolving, changing, adapting with no strings of attachment to bog down their mobility in thought and execution.

Quest for knowledge, insatiable desire to augment one’s own awareness about self, community and humanity blended with expanding comprehension that no man is an island culminate in an author undertaking the ordeal of composing a work like Master Pieces of World Literature. Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal is a well-known author, poet, translator par excellence and critic. This text testifies to his ability to translate literary works from Hindi into English flawlessly.

Prof  R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal has painstakingly taken up much laudable exercise of writing a text encompassing ageless, ever inspiring literary texts across the world transcending borders of languages, regions and time. He has alluringly added introduction to each work elaborately talking about the author, his age and related aspects for enabling the audience appreciate the original work better to enhance one’s own vision of the world.

The first text King Oedipus /Oedipus Rex amply exhibits the command of the author over the subject he desires to discuss when he states, “The most significant artistic function of the tragedy is Catharsis- the purgation of the feelings rousing pity and fear; pity for the sufferer and fear for our own self. Oedipus Rex not only performs this function really very well but it also goes far beyond to substantiate and authenticate Catharsis. Since all the characters suffer most dreadfully for no conscious fault or evil done consciously by them, it achieves the desired effect as per the intensity and profundity of the dramatic requirement of this drama in the most convincing manner. It’s amazing sense of fulfillment lies in the superb artistic accomplishment of Sophocles.”[Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal].

Abhijnana Sakuntalam gem of a play beyond comparison of Kavi Kalidas introduces national and international audience to the abiding charm of the classic. The author has dwelt on most significant aspects of Sanskrit works and ecstatically declares, “This supreme triumph of Sanskrit drama and the crowning glory of Kalidasa will continue as a precious treasure for posterity in spite of the astonishing the socio-cultural transformation of life.”

Dante’s Divine Comedy is introduced to the audience with an invitation to launch “an introspective voyage through the eternal spheres of human existence, morality, and spiritual redemption in Dante's ageless masterwork, which never fails to enthrall them. Its capability to convey significant insights into the human condition and to resonate with readers as a profound literary and philosophical work for future generations is what offers it its enduring appeal.”

William Shakespeare is a master craftsman who mesmerized audience of his times with the themes that enthused them, employing a language that transcends all norms of evaluation to cast him into a mould. His plays conform to the prevalent conditions of Elizabethan theatre, suited to the tastes of the audience regaling them beyond description. Themes chosen by him carry an abiding appeal, defying tyrannical constraints of time and space. The plots have been sustained by exquisite poetic extravaganza that captivated audience of all times and climes. Many passages are often quoted and innumerable poetic expressions in his plays are used as   proverbs. His plays can be related and relished by people across the globe even in the Twenty First Century. Universality is cardinal to his works that have immortalized him. He has liberally borrowed themes and expressions from diverse sources.

In his essay on Antony and Cleopatra Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal observes, “It must be acknowledged that this historical romantic tragedy is greater than even his Romeo and Juliet, the only two romantic tragedies true to the art he wrote with his dramatic powers at their best!” 

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam have engaged generations of scholars and lovers of poetry to decipher metaphysical and aesthetic aspects associated with the quatrains. Edward Fitzgerald has introduced the multidimensional personality and genius of the poet through his translation of the rubaiyat keeping ‘Qaafiya’ and ‘Radif’ intact in English version most of the times.The author expresses his admiration for the text and authors appropriately. 

“These Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam in Persian Literature, translated into English by Edward Fitzgerald, with whatever be his flaws and criticism, remain not only the finest in translation enriching the English language with enchanting picturesque vocabulary inspiring fresh mood swings of the European mind! Their charm and beauty have gone on increasing with the passage of time and these have a mesmerizing hold on the socio-cultural and literary life of the world literature!”

As Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal states,“Leo Tolstoy is the most loved and highly celebrated Russian writer, more than even Dostoevsky, Anton Chekov, Pushkin etc., though they have their own level of admiration and appreciation, all over the world and he is also considered among the ten greatest writers in world literature. The genius of Tolstoy as a creative artist is respectfully acknowledged all over the world.”

While it is a fact that Leo Tolstoy is well known in India for obvious reasons, it has to be noted that the West has almost ignored him, as not many translations of his work are found as in India.  Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal concludes his discussion on the novel Anna Karenina with the statement that the novel depicts “ a morally decadent, spiritually dead and materially gone-astray 19th century Russian society. We must appreciate Tolstoy’s faithful and fascinating account of it all and his honesty of purpose is sweetly blended with the artistic vision of his genius.” 

Turning to his own country India and her precious texts of veneration and wisdom for ages, the author dwells beautifully on the sacred text of The Bhagavadgita. He quotes extensively the views of scholars, philosophers and passionately states:

“It may be mentioned here the The Bhagavadgita has always been the intellectual fascination of the internationally renowned scholars and philosophers since ages not only in India but in Europe, America and Asia and they have been diligent in understanding, exploring and explaining the meaning and philosophy of this greatest philosophical document of the world in their own way.”

Edwin Arnold has done yeoman service to humanity through his translation of The  Bhagavadgita into English with the title Song Celestial. Distilling the nectar contained in the discourse the author lauds the translator for offering the Sanskrit text in English version with the observation, “ both metaphysical and ethical aspects it teaches us the science of reality, the art of union with reality. This can be understood only by those who undertake rigorous discipline and cleanse the mind of all distraction and purge the heart of all corruption. After studying it, one becomes an enlightened soul and a brilliantly glowing human being and acts as a resident of the Kingdom of God influencing and shaping the world he touches and becoming a savior to others.”

R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal details the characteristics of an elegy and traces salient features of reputed elegies. He mentions the classic elegy in Hindi Saroj Smriti (Remembering Saroj), which casts a captivating spell on the reader. “The recitation of the poem to oneself in moments and moods of extreme isolation and lonely, disquieting ease and tranquility swells the eyes with tears with picturesque images flowing as tears streaming down. It may not be possible to translate Nirala’s Saroj Smriti impeccably or even accurately capturing the poem’s tone and temper, structure, sonorous rhythm and the meticulous spontaneous advancement of reminiscences,” declares Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal.

In the penultimate essay the author states that the text Andha Yug has been solely inspired by the greatest epic of the World Literature, The Mahabharata, greater than Homer’s Greek Odyssey or Iliad, Virgil’s Latin Aeneid, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Dante’s Divine Comedy etc. However, he opines, “Aurobindo’s Savitri in 13 books of highly intellectualized, philosophical and metaphysical, literary masterpiece, seems to enjoy a wider space where only a few enlightened can dare tread. We need not say that Andha Yug is a marvelous literary creation of the foremost poet and dramatist of the Modern Hindi Literature. The play is loaded with profound thought and meaning; it’s appeal and application are not confined to the boundaries of Time and space. Alok Bhalla is a philosophical thinker of enviable scholarship, critic, poet, translator, editor. His translations include Dharamvir Bharati’s Andha Yug , Nirmal Verma’s Dark Dispatches, A Chronicle of the Peacocks, plays by Bhisham Sahni, Krishna Baldev etc.”

Ernest Hemingway’s novella “The Old Man and the Sea is a modern classic that has been fascinating and inspiring several generations world-wide with its elevating and transcending theme of the game of life played by Man with his unconquerable courage and confidence and unbreakable spirit to fulfill his vision for a splendid success in spite of the hostile environment challenging and putting on crushing trial his professional expertise. And the style of narration is so simple, spontaneous, direct and dramatic that it’s spell enhances the beauty of the whole adventures of th sagacious old man and the unfathomable sea with infinite treasures. Otherwise also, Hemingway’s prose style in fact revolutionized the style of prose-writing. This is, indeed, the story of every man who chooses and has the will to live life for the fulfillment of his noble vision. And everybody, noble or ignoble, has to carry his own CROSS!”

Prof R.K. Bhushan Sabharwal deserves commendation for his painstaking efforts in introducing  Master pieces of World Literature to the lovers of literature. It is, indeed, a very arduous task to choose and elaborately dwell on the texts from across the globe written in different languages. Once they are translated into a global language like English they become an impressive part of World Literature. It is fervently hoped that this book is patronized by discerning audience beyond confines of cultural, regional and linguistic barriers!

[This was a part of  'Foreword' to the text' Masterpieces of World Lierature' published by Authors Press,2025]