WHO IS PROF JAY LAL KAUL (1900-1986) ?
“May
we live in harmony together!
May we enjoy (our days) together!
May we do great deeds together!
May our studies be light and strength unto us!
And may we not bear ill will towards anyone!..........(A Mantra from Rigveda translated into simple English by Prof.Jay Lal Kaul )
I am reading Professor Jay Lal Kaul’s book on Lal Ded published by Sahitya Akademi. The translation of Lal Ded’s verses done by Prof Kaul remains matchless, erudite and apt. One is amazed by the scholarship of the translator. Many friends reveal that Prof Kaul was also known as a “Johnsonian scholar and linguist extraordinary’.
Prof Jay Lal Kaul (1900-1986) was a distinguished literary
critic and scholar from Kashmir who taught English and later headed S
P College as its principal. Lucky are the people who came close to him as his
students or friends. One such person happens to be Agha Ashraf Ali who told me this:-
‘Prof Kaul is the final name and
authority in the translation of Kashmiri poetry into English. I have yet to find
any other teacher who can match his knowledge and style. Incidentally, Kaul
Sahib was my teacher who later became my intimate friend. You must read Kaul Sahib’s
translation of Mirza Ghalib. A new dimension has been added to the poetry of
Ghalib by this translation. This translation book has a foreword by none other
than Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.’’
Apart from Lal Ded, Prof Kaul has translated a good number of Kashmiri poets into English. He is the first person who opened the window of Kashmiri poetry to the outside world with his apt English translations. These translations appear in his book 'Kashmiri Lyrics'.He has also authored another interesting and informative book titled “Studies in Kashmiri”. He also worked as Secretary, of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Arts, Culture and Languages for some years.
During our college days, Prof Firaq ( English professor and well-known
Kashmiri poet ) once informed us that the Kashmiri section of S P college’s Partap magazine was started by Prof Jay
Lal Kaul in 1936. He would often quote
Prof Jay Lal Kaul while teaching English to us. I also came to know from Prof
Firaq that Prof Jay Lal Kaul had done his post-graduation in English from
Allahabad University.
I also gathered from some senior friends that Prof Jay Lal Kaul’s father Pandit Lala Kaul accompanied Swami Vivekananda to Kheer Bhawani shrine in Kashmir. Lala Kaul was also associated with noted Indologist George Buhler. So have Prof Jay Lal Kaul’s children notably Maj Gen A Kaul and Bhuvnesh Kaul carried forward their father’s literary tradition and scholarship. Though living away from Kashmir, both have written and contributed towards the development of the Kashmiri language and culture. For readers, I quote Prof Kaul’s translation of Lal Ded ………
(1)
I will weep and weep
for you, my Soul,
The world has caught
you in its spell.
Though you cling to
them with the anchor of steel,
Not even the shadow of
the things you love
Will go with you when
you are dead.
(2)
With a rope of
loose-spun thread am I towing
My boat upon the sea.
Would that God hear
my prayer
And brought me safe
across!
Like water in cups of
unbaked clay
I run to waste.
(3)
Forever we come, for
ever we go;
Forever, day and
night, we are on the move.
Whence we come,
thither we go,
For over in a round of
birth and death,
From nothingness to
nothingness.
But sure, a mystery
here abides,
A something is there
for us to know
(it cannot all be
meaningless)
(4)
Impart not esoteric
truth to fools,
Nor on molasses feed
an Ass.
Do Not sow seed in
sandy beds,
Nor waste your oil on
cakes of Bran.
(5)
I might disperse
southern clouds,
I might drain out the
sea,
I might cure the
incurable sick,
But I can not convince
a fool…
I reproduce some comments from my Facebook page in response to a mini post on this scholar.
Dr Shashi Shekhar Toshakhani. poet and Scholar has this to say:-
"Prof Jia (he later changed it to Jay) Lal Koul was really
a person of wonderful disposition. He was among the first to have translated
Kashmiri poetry into English and introduced it to non-Kashmiri readers.
Published in the early forties of the 20th century, his book 'Kashmir Lyrics'
is a valuable contribution to the field. His other books like 'Studies in
Kashmiri' and 'Lal Ded' establish him as an outstanding scholar and literary
critic of the Kashmiri language. His efforts at the projection and promotion of the Kashmiri language and culture in his capacity as Secretary, of J & K Cultural
Academy have been well appreciated. Besides being a close friend of my father,
he was also my teacher when I was a postgraduate student of English literature.
I have also had the good fortune of having interacted with him on numerous
occasions on issues related to Kashmiri literature and culture".
Muneebur Rehman poet and writer (son of well-known Kashmiri writer and
poet Amin Kamil) adds this:-
"I have read his Studies in Kashmiri and his translations
of Kashmiri poetry. I haven't seen another translator like him to this date.
His translation of Kamil's ‘Rot Mokal’ is as good as the original, probably
better than the original. I discovered Kamil's poem only through his
translation."
Sh Jawahar Lal Bhat writer and author of the newly released book,” Lal ded Revisited
“has this to say:-
"Lal-Ded" by Prof. JayaLal Koul is a landmark
contribution to Lal-Ded classics in Kashmir. My head bows low with veneration
before this supreme soul who had great command over both language and
literature.”
Ram Krishen Sadhu adds this:-
“Prof Kaul has been one of the outstanding writers who was known for his command of the English language and his overall knowledge of both Urdu and Kashmiri literature. His book on Lal Ded which I read decades back has been a masterpiece. I did not have the opportunity to be his student but had the good luck to know him well. My last meeting with him was in Mumbai when I visited him at the Army Command House at Colaba (his son's official residence at that time) to enquire about his health. Those moments were rare but painful as he was recovering from a very serious ailment. “
Bansi Raina adds this:-
“He was the Secretary of the State Cultural Academy when King Mahindra of Nepal visited Kashmir. He was invited to witness a cultural programme at Tagore Hall. Prof Kaul delivered the welcome address and what a speech it was. This is nearly half a century back yet the speech is still fresh in my memory.”
Mohammad Sayed Malik, a veteran Journalist from Kashmir
adds this:-
“Kaul Saheb's high literary standing was matched by his equally wide social standing across the society. He commanded respect, never demanded. Shamim Ahmed Shamim had a long close association, thanks to their high-literary commonality. Kaul Saheb maintained his dignified social profile until the end, braving his serious health problems.”
T K Jalali, musician, vocalist and former principal, of the Institute of Music And Fine Art adds this:-
“Everybody is aware of the immense contribution of this great man to society as a teacher, litterateur and administrator in the state’s education department. What most of us may not be knowing is Prof Kaul’s great contribution to art and culture in the state during his long stint as the Secretary of the State Cultural Academy. Holding of annual art exhibitions, Drama festivals, on-the-spot painting and music competitions, music concerts, best publication awards and other activities which are still being followed were initiated by him. To promote visual and performing arts, his greatest contribution has been the establishment of the two Institutes of Music And Fine Arts at Srinagar and Jammu in the year 1965. It was his initiative which got the agreement of the then CM Sadiq Sahib and the patron of the Academy Dr Karan Singh that these institutions were established. And the rest is history. Art lovers of the state shall always be indebted to him for this contribution to the society.”
I add my small tribute to Prof Jay Lal Kaul through four lines that I wrote for him...
Vo Jo ilam thaa teray zehan mein
Vo thi roshini Jo chamak uthi,
Kayee raaston ka pataa milaa
Kayee manzilon se guzar gaye...
( Avtar Mota )
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Is Prof. Kaul still alive?
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