A significant milestone in cross-cultural literary exchange has been achieved with the Arabic translation of the timeless Assamese folktale collection Burhi Aair Sadhu by Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua, translated by Abu Sayed Ansari, a research scholar from Assam. Titled Hikayatul-Jaddati, the translation has been published by Dar al-Masriya al-Maghribiya lil-Nashr wal-Tawzi, a leading publishing house based in Cairo, Egypt. The translation is the result of nearly two years of dedicated effort by Ansari, who is studying at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi.
Hailing from Sonatoli village near Nagarbera in Kamrup district, Assam, Abu Sayed Ansari is currently pursuing his studies at JNU’s Centre for Arabic and African Studies. In a telephonic conversation with Assam Front, Ansari shared the inspiration behind his work: “When I began studying Arabic literature at JNU, I noticed that while many Arabic texts have been translated into Assamese, very few Assamese works have been translated into Arabic. This realization motivated me to undertake this project.”
Ansari, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic literature from Aligarh Muslim University and a master’s degree from JNU (completed in 2024), also studied at Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh. Reflecting on the perception of the Arabic language, he added, “Many people view Arabic solely as a religious language, but its literary tradition is incredibly rich and vibrant.”
The Arabic translation, Hikayatul-Jaddati, is already available in Egypt and is expected to be accessible in India, including Assam, shortly, according to Ansari. This translation not only introduces Assam’s rich literary heritage to the Arabic-speaking world but also fosters a deeper cultural connection between the two regions.
Burhi Aair Sadhu, a cherished collection of Assamese folktales by Lakshminath Bezbarua, captures the essence of Assamese culture, humor, and wisdom through stories passed down through generations. Often narrated by grandmothers, these tales weave moral lessons with engaging narratives, making them a cornerstone of Assamese literature.
