DR.VED KUMARI GHAI :SCHOLAR EXTRAORDINARY FROM JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE

                                                                                

                         ( L to R Nida Nawaz Hindi poet from Kashmir, Dr Ved Kumari Ghai and Autar Mota )

DR VED KUMARI GHAI( Born 1932 ) : SCHOLAR EXTRAORDINARY.

Ved Kumari Ghai is known for making the rich tapestry, history, folklore, religious practices, geography and culture of ancient Kashmir known worldwide through her brilliant translation of Nilamata Purana from Sanskrit into English. Kashmiris in particular remain indebted to her for this contribution. The Nilamata (Teachings of Nila’), is the oldest written record which deals with the holy legends regarding the origin of Kashmir and its sacred places and moreover, one of the main sources of information used by Kalhana when writing his Rajatrangini. According to Ved Kumari Ghai:-

"If the Rajatarangini is important from the point of view of the political history of 'Kashmira', the Nilamata is no less important for the cultural history of that part of the country."

                                                                            

She has also translated Kashmiri poet Rajanka Ratankantha’s Suryashatakam (100 Shlokas in praise of Sun God) into English from Sanskrit. She has also authored books like Kashmir Darpan, Kashmir ka Sanskrit Sahitya ko Yogdaan (Kashmir’s contribution to Sanskrit Literature). Together with her scholarly husband Prof Ram Pratap, she has co-authored books like Urmika (a collection of Sanskrit poems), Mere Geet Tumhaaray hain (Hindi), Rajendra-Karnpur, Bhallat-shatak and Sanskrit Sahitya Aur Nibhandh. Her scholarly book “Studies in Phonetics and Phonology “has been widely appreciated. Dr Ghai has also authored innumerable scholarly papers on ancient Indian history and culture and helped at least two generations of writers with her knowledge and erudition. Her books in Dogri include Narendra Darpana, a Dogri translation of Vedic hymns in verse, and Dogri translations of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

                                                                          

Born in an educated family of Barkat Ram Ghai and Vidyawati Ghai on 16th November 1932 at Pratap Garh Mohalla of Jammu city, she did her schooling at the Arya Samaj School, in Jammu. All along her school and college days, she evinced a special interest in Sanskrit language and literature. She completed post-graduation in Sanskrit at Jalandhar from Punjab University in 1953. It was followed by a doctorate in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and a diploma in German and Danish languages.At Banaras Hindu University, Prof Suryakant Tripathi. And Prof Vasudev Sharana Agarwal played an important role as her guides who shaped her future career path. Back in Jammu, she joined the Government College for Women, Parade as a Sanskrit teacher. She got married to Dr. Ram Prasad, a Sanskrit scholar of eminence. Prof. Ram Pratap has been awarded Abhinava Gupta Alankaran, by the Executive Council of AIOC on 12 October, 2006, in Jammu University.

She was Head, of the PG Sanskrit Department, at the University of Jammu. She was the recipient of many awards and honours including the prestigious Padma Shri. She is also the recipient of a Certificate of Honour by the President of India for her scholarship in Sanskrit and was awarded the Gold Medal on Republic Day 1995 by the J&K Government for her social work for women and children. She was also conferred with the President’s Award for Sanskrit in 1997. She was a founder member of the Apna Ghar project. Dogra Ratan award was given to her in 2005, lifetime achievement award in 2009 and Stri Shakti Puraskara in 2010.

She was also the Chairperson of Gandhi Sewa Sadan, Vasudev Katumbkam Welfare Society, and a member of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board apart from being associated with several literary and social organizations. In addition to teaching and research work at Jammu University, till her retirement in December 1991, Dr Ghai has also taught Panini’s grammar and Sanskrit literature at the Institute of Indian Studies, Copenhagen University, Denmark (1966-67 and 1978-80). She has also been associated with Stockholm University. She has been abroad several times in connection with academic assignments.

It was a pleasure to listen to her today in a seminar and interact with her in the presence of young poets/writers which included Prof Aruna Sharma, Agnishekhar, Sheikh Mohammad Kalyan, Nida Nawaz, Maharaj Krishen Santoshi and Punjabi writer Dr Baljit Raina. I salute her clarity of thought and erudite conceptual framework. A very polite lady who is firm and clear in her elocution.

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“Yes, I have been able to locate some more manuscripts out of which two have been written by Rajanka Ratankantha the Kashmiri Sanskrit poet. I look forward to translate them. With these translations, another aspect of Kashmir’s contribution to Indian thought and the richness of its past culture shall emerge to readers.”

 

About teaching Sanskrit in schools and colleges, she said this:-

“ I am pained at the neglect of Sanskrit by our central and State government. Sanskrit is the soul of India’s heritage, the repository of vast knowledge and the root of all other Indian languages. It needs revival and due attention”

A moment of great privilege for this blogger to interact with this living legend. May she live long and continue doing her great work. 

( Avtar Mota  )

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