Pandit Taba Ram Turki

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Firdausi
. Betab was also proficient with reading and writing Arabic.

Mulla Mohammad Taufiq Kashmiri, another popular Persian poet of the era who lived near Jama Masjid area of Srinagar and wrote under takhalus Taufiq was a contemporary of Betab. Betab was a frequent visitor to the Court (Durbar) of Pandit Raja Kak Dar, who was also a gifted poet and wrote under takhalus Farukh.

Betab's comprehensive collection (Diwan) of poems was first published fourteen (14) years after his death in 1861 CE.

Origin

Betab's ancestors originally hailed from village Turkipora in Rajwar Tehsil of Kupwara district. This village was previously named Trikhapora.

Betab's ancestors relocated to Srinagar during the reign of Budshah. In the next few hundred years, Betab's ancestors moved around to live at various localities of Srinagar before settling at Motiyar Rainawari.

Occupation

After completing his education Betab was appointed as an administrative official (Kardar) at village Breng in Anantnag area of the valley, where he spent most of his service life.

Compositions

Betab composed his writings in the form of

ethical
themes).

Betab was summoned to

Mohammad Akbar Khan. Betab praised his patron Mohammad Akbar Khan in the poem Akbar-nama.[10]
Akbar Khan was a great lover of fine Arts.

Betab then witnessed the invasion of the

Maharaja Ranjit Singh over his native land Kashmir and the defeat of the Afghan governor Muhammad Azim Khan in 1819 CE, which he versified under the title Jang-nama.[10]

After the change of rulers, Betab visited

Raja Dina Nath, who was Finance Minister of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Following his return from Lahore, Betab composed one more masnawi containing historical details like the other two named Ranjit-nama.[10]

Style

On one occasion someone recited Taufiq's

sher
) - shikasta rangiye man ba tabeeb dar jung ast /ilaje darde saram husne sandali rang ast, which was applauded by all present in the gathering. Pandit Raja Kak Dhar who was present in the gathering threw a challenge - If anyone could compose a better sher in the same style and manner? Betab accepted the challenge on the condition that he should be suitably rewarded and produced a master piece in the process - siyah bakhtam wa az bakhte khaesh khursandam /chara ki bakhte man wa zulfe yar hum rang ast.

Pandit Raja Kak Dhar immediately ordered his men to deliver one hundred Kharwars (legacy measure of weight in Kashmir; 1 Kharwar = 177 Pounds or about 80 kg) of paddy at Betab's residence.

Reviews

J.K. Banerji in the book Encyclopaedia of Kashmir

Hindu
Pandits who made important contributions to Persian poetry may be mentioned the name of Pandit Taba Ram Turki "Betab" whose Jang Nama reached classic heights."

Further eminent historian and author Pandit Gwasha Lal Kaul in the same book Encyclopaedia of Kashmir [7] mentions "Jang Nama by Taba Ram Turki stands on the same footing as Shah Nama of Firdausi".

Eminent a Kashmiri politician, scholar and author Prem Nath Bazaz in the book Inside Kashmir[12] states "Pandit Taba Ram Turki " Betab " (1840 A.D.) whose Jang Nama stands on par with Shah Nama of Firdausi lived during the time of the Sikhs".

Betab's Masnawis are prescribed for Post Graduation studies in the University of Tehran.

References

  1. ISBN 9781482899474
    .
  2. OCLC 42330018
    .
  3. OCLC 40452761
    .
  4. OCLC 243602404
    .
  5. OCLC 428014690
    .
  6. OCLC 954283082
    .
  7. ^
    OCLC 42462466
    .
  8. OCLC 43905082
    .
  9. OCLC 53395148
    .
  10. ^
    OCLC 32879432
    .
  11. ISBN 9788185431710
    .

External links

  • Bhat, Dr. Khursheed Ahmad. [1] "Cultural Conditions of Kashmir during 20th Century" Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  • Iqbal Ahmad. [2] "The Less Known Persian Manuscripts" Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  • Kaul, Brigadier Rattan. [3] "Saraswat Brahmins" Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  • Kilam, Jia Lal. [4] "A History of Kashmiri Pandits" Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  • Kilam, Jia Lal. [5] "A Survey of Afghan Rule in Kashmir" Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  • Turkipora [6] Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  • PIB, GOI 7] Vice President, Hon. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Ji's speech to Kashmiri students on 23 DEC 2019 Retrieved 2023-12-08.
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