English translation of the book Wajid Ali Shah ki Adabi aur Saqafati Khidmat authored by former Urdu Departmentformally released
AMU Aligarh, May 18: The English translation of the book Wajid Ali Shah ki Adabi aur Saqafati Khidmat authored by former Urdu Department faculty member Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Ali Mirza was formally released during a ceremony organised by the Department of Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University. The translated version, titled Wajid Ali Shah: A Literary and Cultural Legacy, was unveiled by Prof Azarmi Dukht Safavi, Prof Quamrul Hooda Faridi, Chairperson, Department of Urdu, Prof Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Dr Talat Fatima, Irfan Ali Mirza, Shakeel Hasan Shamsi, and Dr K.K. Gupta, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, translator Dr Talat Fatima said that the multifaceted personality of Wajid Ali Shah had elevated the culture and civilisation of Awadh to great heights, the echoes of which continue to resonate even today. She remarked that while the British made every effort to distort his image, her father, Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Mirza, through this book, presented historical facts and highlighted the true dimensions of Wajid Ali Shahs personality.
Welcoming the guests, Prof Quamrul Hooda Faridi said that Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Ali Mirza was an outstanding teacher and scholar. Through this work, he comprehensively documented the literary and cultural contributions of Wajid Ali Shah and established through research the significant role he played in shaping the distinct identity of Awadh.
Chief Guest Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safavi observed that there was a pressing need for the English translation of the book. She said that with the book now available in English, the image and contributions of Wajid Ali Shah would reach a much wider audience both in India and abroad. She added that Wajid Ali Shah undoubtedly played a crucial role in promoting Indian culture.
Guest of Honour Mr Zafar Alam expressed happiness over the translation and release of the book and shared several memories and incidents associated with the late Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Mirza.
Dr K.K. Gupta appreciated the quality of the translation and said that the work carried a unique cultural authenticity because the original book had been written by Wajid Ali Shahs great-grandson and translated by his daughter, enabling the spirit of Awadhi culture and civilisation to be fully reflected in the translation.
Ms Nezhat Zahra, daughter of Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Ali Mirza, said that her family shared a long association with Aligarh and that her father had served the department for many years. Irfan Ali Mirza also shared several anecdotes highlighting various aspects of Dr Mirzas personality and noted the remarkable contributions of the rulers of Awadh towards fine arts and culture.
Renowned journalist Shakeel Hasan Shamsi said that a deliberate campaign had once been carried out to malign Wajid Ali Shah, with several newspapers in Lucknow publishing reports and articles against him. He added that Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Ali Mirza, through meticulous research, had brought the truth to light in his book.
Prof Tariq Chhatari recalled that Dr Kaukab Qadr had taught them prosody and poetic scansion and remarked that the elegance and cultural refinement of Lucknow were deeply embedded in his personality and intellect.
Prof Vibha Sharma, Member In-Charge, Public Relations Office, AMU said it was a matter of great satisfaction that the late Dr Kaukab Qadr Mirzas daughter, Dr Talat Fatima, had translated the work into English, which will disseminate it globally. She described Wajid Ali Shah as a symbol of Indian composite culture and said that the book would help preserve the spirit of Indianness for future generations.
Conducting the proceedings, Prof Mohammad Ali Jauhar spoke about Dr Kaukab Qadr Sajjad Ali Mirza and his book. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Prof Syed Sirajuddin Ajmali.
A large number of students and faculty members from the Departments of Urdu, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Philosophy, Library Science, Social Work, Arabic, Persian, Economics, Physical Education, and several other departments attended the ceremony.
Aligarh Muslim University
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