O P Sharma
Book Title : LACHIT BARPHUKAN
_ Assam da Veer Bahadur
Writer : Arup Kumar Dutta
Dogri Translation: Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’
Pages : 247
Cost: Rs 490
Publisher : Publication Board Assam, Guwhati
It is well said that a good translation actually conveys the meaning and nuances of the original text and it’s not a matter of words but a matter of making intelligible a whole culture. At the same time it is also said that translation is that which transforms everything so that nothing changes. It means that a translator has to work within certain limitations but with a liberty that if he or she is involved in the project then he or she may give different shades to creativity and go even beyond the original work. However the fact remains that doing justice with the original script remains foremost duty of every translator.
Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’ has been writing in English, Hindi and Dogri languages for the last so many years now. He as a translator of ‘LACHIT BARPHUKAN_ Assam Da Veer Bahadur’ deserves all appreciation for his intense involvement and perfect execution. It needs to be added here that translation is also an art. It is not an easy task particularly when you have to work on periodical or historical events of a region, you are not familiar with. But it’s such an art that amuses the litterateurs like a daunting task to be accomplished as a challenge. It has to be understood that a translator is not a machine but he has to put in extra effort to connect with emotions and expressions reflecting in other’s works. Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’ deserves applause for having translated the book in a simple language that connects with the readers with an ease thus delivering the important message therein.
About Book:
Assam’s Braveheart-LachitBarphukhan is based upon the life of LachitBarphukan, an eminent war hero from Assam. He was a great commander-in-chief of army during Ahom dynasty. The original writerPadmashriArup Kumar Dutta is a well-known historian and litterateur hailing from Assam. After having written the life sketch of LachitBarphukan in English, the ambitious project of translating the book was assigned to 24 established writers of equal number of regional languages included in 8th Schedule of Indian constitution.
As mentioned in the book, in second half of 17th Century the Assamese people were confronted with a crisis to their existence as mammoth army sent by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was sailing up the Brahmaputra River, bent on conquest. But at that time LachitBraphukan emerged as savior of his people and dealt a crushing and defining blow to Aurangzeb’s ambition of subjugating the Assamese and bringing Ahom Kingdom into his domain. Only few battles fought in India can match complex but successful strategy that LachitBarphkuan employed before and during the battle of Saraighat. It is pity that a magnificent leader like Lachit is not much known outside Assam and the great battle of Saraighat is ignored by Indian Historians.
Accurate Account
Through this work being translated in such a number of regional languages, it is an honest effort of Government of Assam to get due recognition for the War Hero, an inspiration to all patriots across the Globe. In his foreword Dr. Himant Biswa Sarma, Assam’s Chief Minister writes that Ahom Kingdom emerged in North Eastern part of India in 1228 AD when Chaulang Siu-Ka-Pha and his dedicated followers entered the Brahmaputra valley, crossing the Patkai Hill Ranges to establish their kingdom. During the remarkable reign of nearly six centuries, Ahoms demonstrated remarkable valour and devotion to protect their homeland. They had engaged in numerous battles and thwarted invasions. In their determined effort to preserve their territorial integrity, the Ahom dynasty successfully repelled Mughal invasions many times. Throughout their rule the Ahom Swargadeos exhibited unwavering dedication and extraordinary courage in defense of their motherland. One figure that stands out in the narrative of the resistance against Mughal aggression is LachitBarphukan, a renowned Ahom General in one of the decisive battles on the river of Brahamputra.
Assam’s Braveheart_LachitBarphukan translated in Dogri as ‘LACHIT BARPHUKAN_ Assam Da Veer Bahadur’ is in fact a document of historical events that took place between Ahom Dynasty of Assam and Mughals. But it’s quite significant that despite repeated invasions on different parts of Assam, mighty Mughals failed to take control of the region. It is said that Mughals who did not taste defeat at that time during any expedition when they were invincible, had to face humiliating defeat in the hands of Aahom Army led by Lachit Barphukan. The fact remains that Mughal army was huge and fully equipped with modern arms and armours at their disposal as compared to Ahoms but with sheer dedication, devotion, nationalism and instinct to sacrifice life for mother Assam they succeeded in giving a tough fight to mighty Mughals. Lachit Barphukan was so skilled and adept strategically that every time an audacity was attempted by Mughals, it met a disastrous end. He used all tactics necessary to safeguard his own land that proved a threat to invaders.
Publication Board Assam, which has handled the dream project with all professionalism is an inspiration for other publishing houses working in different regions that their foremost duty is to explore all possibilities to bring real history from the backdrop of ignorance and get that content published as an authenticated document, maximize their reach to every corner of the world through translation mode so that their language and cultural heritage gets preserved and promoted widely. The project LachitBarphukan was completed under supervision of Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Education Minister and Chairman Publication Board, Assam, PramodKalita, Secretary Publication Board Assam and Aprajita Pujari, Project In charge deserve all appreciation for accomplishing such a tough task with an ease and within time frame. The cover page designed by Sourish Mitra is very attractive and symbolic thus indicating the contents therein. The importance of such a mega project may be felt from the fact that the original book and its translated versions were released by Home Minister of India Amit Shah in a grand function organized at Gowahti wherein all the translators were also invited as state guests.
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