UGC MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT LITERATURE TRANSLATION FROM ARABIC TO MALAYALAM WITH SPECIAL REFRENCE TO SOCIO- CULTURAL ASPECTS OF MUSLIMS IN MALABAR (Summary) Submitted to: UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION South Western Region Office, Bangalore Principal Investigator JAMSEER P.K. Lecturer in Arabic Dept. of Arabic Rouzathul Uloom Arabic College Farook College (P.O), University of Calicut, Kerala 2017 1
.Arabic literature flourished during the Islamic Golden Age, but has remained vibrant to the present day, with poets and prose-writers across the Arab world achieving increasing success. In India Arabic language flourished under the patronage of the Mughal rulers.in south India the development and growth of Arabic language was more rapid than in North India. Kerala, the most literate state in India has contributed a lot to Arabic literature. The advent of Islam in Kerala is a basic reason for the development of Arabic language in Kerala Arabic language had taken its roots in Malabar soil with the arrival of Islamic missionaries in Western coast. As the Arabs monopolized sea borne trade, Arabic became the medium of communication; thus Arabic language and its literature was very common in Malabar Coast. Regional rulers with the spirit of tolerance encouraged and bestowed grants for the study of Arabic language and religious studies. A large chain of Madrasas and Dars (religious study centers) were established for this need across Malabar. Arabic language was very popular in Kerala in olden days. Ibn Battuta reports he has met Faquih Husain, a scholar at Dharmadam. He had written and published a book more than 600 years ago. The book was entitled Khaidhul Jamia describing the marriage ceremonies of Muslims. Malayalees has written great works in Arabic. Hidayathul Azhkiyya written by Zainudhin Makdhum of Ponnani (873-1928AH), Faithful Muheen written by the son of Zainudhin Makhdum, the well-known Thufhathul Mujahideen, the first authentic history of Kerala written By Zainudhin Makdum. This was translated to several European languages. Another well-known scholar and poet in Arabic was 2
Veliyamkode Umer Kazhe. P.V. Muhammad Moulavi s poem in Arabic is very famous. Vakkam Abdul Kadar Moulavi wrote articles in Almanar from Egypt. K.M Moulavi wrote articles in Arabic in Al Hilal magazine published from Calcutta. Other personalities proficient in Arabic are Maulana Azad, Jamaludhin Moulavi, Muhammad Falki and Muhammad Abussabah. Dr.Muhiyudhen Aluway s name is well known in the Arabic Language and Literature. He has translated Thakazhi s Chemmen into Arabic. Many of the Arabic words are most common in Malayalam. Kath (letter),qarar (agreement), dallal ( agent) munsif,,ameen(couart official),radd (regate) etc. are some examples. Translations from Arabic has enriched Malayalam language.the holy book Quran and Hadith has many translations by various authors. Ibnu Kaldhuns Mukadhima, Zanudhin Makdhum s Thufhathul Mujahideen, Gazzalis Ihya Ulumudhen are some of the reputed translations. Albarooni, Thaha Hussain Khalil Jibran, Manfaluthi, Sayyid Kuthub, Yusuf Al Qarlavi are scholars whose works have been translated into Malayalam. Dr M M Basheer, S.A.Qudsi, B.M.Zuhra K.P.Sudheera are some of the renowned translators of Arabic work to Malayaam in 20 th century. The field of translation of literature from Arabic to Malayalam is developing wider and wider today. Generally speaking the influence of Arabic literature on Malayalam is profound. Though rich sources are available on literature translations from Arabic to various languages, no methodologically sound attempt was made to analyze systematically the literature translations from Arabic to Malayalam, and how it has contributed to the socio cultural aspects of Muslims in Malabar. This study is an attempt to fulfill this gap. This 3
is a small endeavor to throw light into the literature translations from Arabic to Malayalam with special reference to the socio cultural aspects of Muslims in Malabar which has a valuable role in reconstructing the culture of Muslims in Malabar. Title of the study The present study is entitled LITERATUTRE TRANSLATION FROM ARABIC TO MALAYALAM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS OF MUSLIMS IN MALABAR. Objectives of the study 1. To trace the history of literature translations from Arabic to classical language Malayalam. 2. To analyze literature translations from Arabic to Malayalam with special reference to socio cultural aspects of Muslims in Malabar. 3. To prepare a composite report on translated works from Arabic to Malayalam during 2000-2014 in terms of genre namely poetry, prose, drama and novel. 4. To prepare bibliography of translated works from Arabic literature to Malayalam during 2000-2014. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY The findings of the present study are 4
The tradition of Arabic and its culture are strong in Malabar and the region's contributions to the growth of its culture are substantial. In the field of literature, folklore, art and architecture, in particular, and in sociocultural spheres, in general, Arabic has contributed immensely for enriching the cultural treasure of this part of the country. Several terms of trade and commerce of Arabic origin were borrowed by Malayalam directly from Arabic. In earlier times translation from Arabic to Malayalam mainly focused on religious and scientific text. The holy Quran and hadith has numorous number of translations by various aauthors.ibnu Kaldhuns Mukadhima, zanudhin makdhums Thufhathul Mujahideen, Gazzalis Ihya Ulumudhen are some of the reputed translations. Arabic prose translated to Malyalam during 2000-20015 include Sirat-Un-Nabi by Shibli Nomani Nahj Al-Balagha by Sharif Razi Riyadhu Saliheen by Imam Navavi Thahdeebul Akhlaq by Abdul Hayyil Hasni, Don't Be Sad by Aaidh Ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni, Enjoy Your Life by Muhammad Al-Arifi and Adab Al- Mufrad by Muhammad Al Bukhari. Poetic translation from Arabic to Malayalam during the period under consideration are Qasidat Al-Burda, Khalil Gibran The Broken Wings, Shihab Ghanem s poetic collections namely Behind a Thousand Doors and Waves, Poetry by Mahmoud Darwish and Third World Poetry.O.V.Usha, K. 5
sachithananthan, Anandi Ramachandran, and K M Ajirkutty put great effort in translation of poetry. Dr.M.M.Basheer took the credit of translating the plays of prominent Arabic playwright Tawfiq al-hakim.the translated plays are The Fate of a Cockroach, The Donkey Market, The Sultan s Dilemma and The Tree Climber. B.M.Zuhara, the first Muslim woman novelist in Kerala, translated Tayeb Salih s Wedding of Zein and Naguib Mahfouz s Palace Walk into Malayalam S.A. Qudsi has translated a wide range of Arab authors Nawal al-saadawi s Women At A Pont Zero,God Dies By The Nile were translated to malayalam by him. Literary works which are directly translated from Arabic to Malayalam include Thaha Hussain s Duaul Karwan, Kaleela wa Dimna,Muhammad Thimoor s Ameer Hamza, Autobiography of Fathima Merneesi, and Jurji Zaydan Adra a, Quraish. The field of translation of literature from Arabic to Malayalam is developing wider and wider today. Generally speaking the influence of Arabic literature on Malayalam is profound. The new avenues in the translation field is yet to be seen. 6