| More
Information |
|
|
| Name |
K. Asfandyar Khan, |
|
|
| Address |
Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri,
Jammu Division. Kacho Publishers,
Kargil (Ladakh) 2003. 116 pages |
|
|
| District |
Ladakh |
|
|
| Category |
Book Review |
|
|
| Title |
Ancient Wisdom (Sayings and Proverbs of Ladakh) |
|
|
| Details |
Ladakhi axioms have been compiled in a handbook for a graceful life. It is said that proverbs are easy to tell but hard to forget. They kind of spice up the conversations and also help in convincing others of the righteousness of our thinking because they carry the wisdom of our forefathers. K Asfandyar Khan through his book Ancient Wisdom (Sayings and Proverbs of Ladakh) brings to print the ancient, valuable knowledge of the intriguing land of Ladakh. He has encapsulated the insights of the past for the future generations.
Nostalgic about the Ladakhi culture, on which he had done his Post Graduate dissertation but was not allowed to do doctorate because of his service conditions, he has brought to light its serene culture. The author’s father himself has been a well-known authority on the Ladakhi civilization and history.
The book has two parts. The first has introduction and the other part has 173 sayings with translation and commentary.
In the Introduction, he explains, the region as a geographical puzzle with its “…jumble of stupendous mountains, narrow gorges and a wind swept barren high altitude plateaus.” Vast barrens of pure ice would hardly foster a rich culture. But Ladakh has defied all topographical and climatic conditions to evolve as “Wisdom of the East”. The human population has survived the oddities to present a unique bio-human existence. Even the sayings reflect how Nature and man are mingled in this tiny, terrestrial beauty.
Brothers share the property of their father,
Valleys share the water of its mountains.
Nature and family share so much in common. The truth of one stands as an example for the other. It also hints at the so much missing compassion for Nature and the empathy between human beings in the modern society.
The battle of survival in the most averse climatic conditions has made the Ladakhi culture rich and exemplary. The life in general is taken up as a struggle for survival. The proverbs and sayings have evolved out of those efforts. The author shows how they teach us to live pragmatically and gracefully.
A long day has Three spells of coldness and warmth,
A long life has Three spells of plight and pleasure.
In a mountainous region like Ladakh, weather changes its moods several times during a day. Life too, presents many shades of happiness and sadness and one should be prepared to face them.
The Ladakhi society is primarily based on agri-cum-animal husbandry. Surviving the adverse climatic and geographical conditions meant experiencing different facets of nature and life. From their sufferings, evolved their sayings. They offer a formal insight into their ways of living. For instance the following adage reminds how even a meal needs to be hard earned.
One requires an iron jaw, to chew
The food offered for service.
One needs to earn every morsel especially in the region like Ladakh.
The sayings quoted by Asfandyar Khan are a battery of related virtues: wisdom, discipline, prudence, discretion, knowledge, guidance, and understanding. They offer readymade solutions to the geographical, climatic and social tribulations of life. The institution of family has the utmost importance. The Ladakhi society seemed like an example of a honeycomb where all the divisions have an important task to perform. Emphasis was laid upon the loyalty to family and nation. One of the sayings goes:
One who does not know his pedigree is no better than a bastard,
One who does not know the history of his country is no better than a refugee.
The maxim emphasizes to have knowledge of the family traditions and customs together with the history of one’s native land. It gives sense of identity, individuality and responsibility towards that society.
To emerge as a survivor in the compelling circumstances, it was necessary for the Ladakhis to brace themselves for the winters. The short summer months posed challenges for stocking grain, fuel and fodder. The following maxim makes a very practical suggestion:
One must sow the Rabi crop first
then attend one’s father’s funeral
With a short sowing season the elders talk of sowing the next crop without wasting even an hour. Pragmatism scores over blind pursuits of ceremonies.
Treatment and Style
The sayings have been presented in a lucid manner. They have poetic and colloquial qualities to them. The following aphorism rings in a fact of life through alliterative sense:
A wiff of wool in water.
If wool is put in water, it shrinks in volume. Same is the condition of the depressed person. Sadness makes a heart heavy, but body light.
Universal Appeal
The earthly adages are meant not only for the English readers but also for the Ladakhi people, some of whom have adopted other languages also. The author has preserved the originality of the axioms by using the Ladhaki script as well as the Urdu script. The transliteration has widened the reach of the book. Thus it is not meant for the outsider tourists only but also for the locals, particularly, the youth who have spread their wings far. They have to remain rooted as the following proverb goes on to say:
One may forget one’s native land
But never forget one’s mother tongue.
The maxim reminds us to be attached to our origin and culture in spite of moving away from the birthplace. Without conserving linguistic diversity, we can’t maintain our cultural or even the biodiversity.
The collection of the sayings is aimed at the English speaking youth who often have little time to pay heed to their ancestral knowledge.
Every child will experience maturity
Every foal shall become a riding horse.
With age, they themselves might yearn for attention and sweet nothings from children.
The sayings quoted are so interesting that the book can be finished in a couple of hours. The only interjections that come are the grammatical and spelling mistakes. But they appear trivial in the gush of exciting treasure-hunting. And once done you will feel like you have hoarded the wisdom of ages. The author should be applauded for his efforts of bringing the Ladakhi culture through the words and spaces between the sayings. They are a bank with the safety deposits for the ancient knowledge and ATM for the present and future wisdom seekers. |
|
|
| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 19(3): 18-19, 2008 |
