As the Padmaavat debate refuses to die down in most parts of the country, especially Rajasthan, it’s interesting to note the Malik Muhammad Jayasi poem’s Bengal connection. Turns out Kolkata’s Asiatic Society had commissioned the first English translation of the poem 129 years ago.
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According to The Times of India, the Raj-era linguist GA Grierson had translated the poem – that was originally written in Awadhi-Hindi – with the help of the scholar Sudhakara Dvivedi.
Six slim-volume editions were published by the duo in 1911. The project titled “Padumawati” remained incomplete as Grierson was forced to abandon the project after Dvivedi’s death.
However, another version was published in 1944, written by Sultanpur commissioner AG Shirreff. Before beginning to translate, he approached Asiatic Society and Grierson in 1936 to get permission for starting the work, which was immediately given. In his book, Shirreff has ardently thanked Grierson and his work.
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While the debate on whether Padmavati was a fictional character or not continues, it is believed that Mewar ruler Ratan Sen and Sultanatae leader Alauddin Khilji ruled at the same time. However, it is also believed that Ratan Sen never had a wife called Padmavati and she was brought alive by the poet Jayasi.
