People of Value

Ravinder Jain

“I studied at Aligarh Muslim University. I owe a lot to the institution. Aligarh ke doston ka karx tha mera upar use untarne ki koshish kar raha hoon”.

These are music maestro Ravindra Jain’s words. He received the Sangeet Prabhakar, a degree in music, from AMU before he left for Kolkata in 1959 for higher education in music.

Now to “repay that debt”, these days he is doing the “poetic translation” of the Holy Quran “a mission” that Jain had been working on for 24 years. Jain has already reached chapter no.22. (The Scripture has 30 paras or chapters)

Says Jain excitedly, “In my childhood and school days in Aligarh, I used to attend Qurankhani (Quran reading assemblage). And I always had an interest in knowing the other religions and their scriptures. I am doing this translation for those who misunderstand the Quran. I am doing it in many ways apart from poetic. It would be done in couplet method and also in Qirat (lyrical) technique so that it can be hummed in a gathering. One of the parts would also be in the ‘Misri’ way of reciting it. I am also analyzing it at certain places.

For instance, in Surah Fakhr, there are three words; Alif Laam Meena which are left as it is. It is said that these words are left untouched because these are supposedly the talk between Allah and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Hence, nowhere in the Quran, are these words explained. I am trying to understand what may have taken place between them. It is a very sensitive area. Ye to raazo niyaz ki batein hain. (This is a secret talk). Similarly there are certain other such writings in the Quran which are not explained. I am trying to reach them through my research and analysis.

Others, such as Qaifu Bhai Bhopali and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad have translated the Quran but in free verse. And interestingly, only a few could complete it.

“Qaifu Bhai could reach only up to 13 paras. And many left it mid-way. It is God’s grace that I am near completion. I plan to complete it within this year,” adds Jain. One may wonder how the maestro is doing the work, since it the Quran is not available in Braille. “A film writer Rashid Kanpuri comes and read it to him every evening,” says an associate of Jain.

Jain hasn’t yet decided on the publication house. But part from the written translation both from Arabic to Urdu and Arabic to Hindi, he would also release its audio. He has named the translation “Ruh-e-Quran”, meaning the Soul of the Quran.

“Our pandits and maulanas have misguided innocent people by giving them wrong interpretations of our scriptures like the Gita and The Quran. My aim is to reach such misguided people of different faiths to unite them.” says Jain.

Source: Divine notes. The Hindu, New Delhi, 2007.

Top

Prodduturi Pulliah and Rani

When Prodduturi Pulliah (30) lost both his arms in an accident and with it the ability to drive an auto all by himself he thought it was the end of the world for him. Confined to bed for over a year post accident he would often agonise over his fate and that of his wife and children. But then, when the creditors whom he owed Rs 70,000 for his treatment came knocking at his door, he decided to change his destiny with his own hands.

Today, barely a year later, he is firmly on his feet, driving an auto rickshaw, taking care of his family and slowly paying off his debts. He however, does not drive the auto alone his wife, Rani, lends him a helping hand.

While he lowers the accelerator and presses the clutch, she shifted gears. Initially, the two-driver auto would draw curious onlookers. But with time, people in the areas have gotten used to the husband-wife duo. The couple plies their vehicle in the A. Konduru Vissannapet route, a stretch of 35 kms, making five to six round-trips a day.

“I had nothing apart from the auto rickshaw and a loan of Rs 70,000. I knew I had to take charge of my life. So, I decided to go back to driving. I taught my wife how to shift gears while I mange the clutch, accelerator and brake with my legs,” Pulliah said.

As for Rani, she says, “I am not aware of what is going on outside. My eyes are focused only on my husband’s movements. When he lowers the accelerator and presses the clutch with his left leg, I shift the gear.”

Source: Disabled man, wife firmly in driver’s seat. The Hindustan Times, 25 June 2007.

Top