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Saturday, December 21, 2024

Sri Ramayana & Mahabaratha in Arabic !!

आपदामपहर्तारं दातारं सर्वसंपदाम्

लोकाभिरामं श्रीरामं भूयो भूयो नमाम्यहम् ।।

 

āpadāmapahartāra dātāra sarvasapadām .

lokābhirāma śrīrāma bhūyo bhūyo namāmyaham ..


 

"I bow again and again to Sri Rama Who removes (all) obstacles, grants all wealth and benevolently protects all." 

 

The Arabian Gulf Cup is a biennial association football competition governed by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation for its eight member nations. The history of the competition has also seen it held every three to four years due to political or organisational problems. The reigning champions are Iraq, having won their fourth title at the 25th edition, as hosts, held in 2023.  The 26th edition is about to begin !!

 


Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is Ithihasa purana  - very great epic narrating the journey of Virtue to annihilate vice. Sri  Rama is the Hero and aayana His journey. Sri Ramachandramurthi lived in Treta Yug, millennia BC   

This epic poem Ramayana is a smriti which is translated as "from memory". Given the antiquity of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, there have been some interjected verses. Sometimes these verses can be contradicting. However, scholars, grammarians, historians have put lot of effort to standardize the original text, by verifying various manuscripts available from various parts of India,  -  the critical edition of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.   

Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is composed of verses called Sloka, in Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language from India and a complex meter called Anustup. These verses are grouped into individual chapters called Sargas, wherein a specific event or intent is told. These chapters or sargas are grouped into books called Kaandas where Kaanda means the inter-node stem of sugar cane, or also a particular phase of the story or an event in the course of story telling.

 


The great epic Ramayana has been translated to more than 22 Indian languages and may be more than 300 World languages. Every language has evolved over the years – and there are great challenges in translation from one to another, especially from Sanskrit.  Imagine reading “thees”, “thous” and “wherefores” without knowing their context and meaning.  Similarly, several metaphors, similes etc. do not translate to or compare with how we know languages today. Languages are complex and have many nuances.  

 

Today we are very very happy to know about the Arabic translations of the Ramayan and Mahabharat.  Prime Minister Hon’ble Shri  Narendra Modi ji on a visit to Kuwait today, met two Kuwaiti nationals  and praised their efforts in translating and publishing India's iconic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic. The Prime Minister also signed copies of the Arabic versions of the two epics. - with Jai Shri Ram

 



Expressing his appreciation, Modi in a post on X said, "I compliment Abdullah Al Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al Nesef for their efforts in translating and publishing these epics. Their initiative highlights the global popularity of Indian culture." He also shared some photographs of his meeting with Al Baroun and Al Nesef.  While Al Baroun translated both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Al Nesef managed their publication in Arabic, enabling a wider audience in the Arab world to engage with India's rich cultural heritage. Modi had acknowledged their efforts during a 'Mann Ki Baat' address in October, emphasising their contributions to fostering cultural exchange and promoting Indian heritage on a global platform.  Highlighting their work, he had said that it was "not just a translation, but a bridge between two great cultures. It is developing a new understanding of Indian literature in the Arab world".

 


Modi ji has  arrived in Kuwait earlier in the day for a two-day visit, where he was greeted with a ceremonial welcome at the Amiri terminal by senior Kuwaiti officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya.  Mr Modi ji is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit is the first of any Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.

 


Upon the arrival at the hotel, Modi met with 101-year-old former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Mangal Sain Handa, who appeared deeply emotional during the meeting. Indian expatriates in Kuwait raised slogans of "Vande Mataram" in solidarity. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup here. 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.12.2024 

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