Says Neelmat Puran, My Experience with Truth among 12 Publications completed this year
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : In a major initiative to widen the access to classic and foreign languages, 50 rare and greatest works in English, Persian and Sanskrit stands chosen to translate in a daring, long-term project to bring landmark works in Gojri –the language of Gujjar Tribe, said Dr. Javaid Rahi, Head, Gojri Wing of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of art, Culture and Languages, here today.
He said that under this prestigious project 12 Publications have already been translated this year into Gojri which include world classics like Mathnavi Moulana Rume, Gulistan-e-Saddi, Shakespeare’s Othello and King Lear, Sanskrit’s Neelmat Puran, the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi “My Experience with Truth” and others. This Project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010, he said.
The project aims to revitalize the art of translation among Gujjars across the Indian Sub-continent and reverse the long decline in Gojri readership’ access to major works of global literature, philosophy, and history. Another objective of this rare effort is to connect Gujjars to their roots which are spread over Central Asia Dr.Rahi added.
This has become an official venture, as the Department of Gojri of State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has engaged 20 prolific researchers to translate 50 world class works of 18 legendry writers of 3 classic and foreign languages of the globe for an early compilation of the Translation works, the Head of the Project, Dr. Rahi said.
Though Gojri being rich in content and diction in order to have standard trends across the globe the process of translating world class literature in Gojri language has been initiated, Dr. Rahi added.
He said that the importance of this language can be understood from the fact that according to current analysis Gojri language is the first language of millions of people in South Asia including India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, a good chunk of them live in Jammu and Kashmir state who will be benefit with this project. It is easily understood and spoken by the people belonging to other linguistic groups in boarder belts of Jammu and Kashmir they will also gain the knowledge through these translations, Dr. Rahi said.
The project will set out to build new connections between books and readers in places where they have been tenuous, at best. There is no distribution value-chain in the Gojri Speaking areas” Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, Secretary, State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages said.
This is unique project of its own kind in any Tribal Language of India especially in Gojri as this is one of the most ancient languages of India. The historians have traced the origin and practice of Gojri language since B.C era. There are several mentions of this language in ancient religious books written in and around 1st century B.C.” Said Dr. Masoodi. He added that the highest executive body of the Academy which met under the chairmanship of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Minister of State has already approved the project with the direction to implement this prestigious project within three year.
This project has been launched in connection with silver jubilee celebrations of Gojri department of State Academy. Dr. Rahi added.