CHAPTER- I

INTRODUCTION

The present thesis is entitled as “Impact of ‘Rubaiyat’ of Omar Khayyam on Assamese

Literature with Special Reference to the ‘Omar Tirtha’ of Jatindranath Duwara”.

Love for art and a keen taste for beauty are known to be the national traits of the Persian
speaking people. Among the languages of the world, Persian has the peculiarity of having had
poetry as the predominant branch of literature and verses becoming superior to the prose. Persian
poetry is the product of the delicate mind, the sharp wit and the artistic taste of the people who
speak that language.

Their country having always been the cradle of spiritual thoughts and the stronghold of
divine movements, Iranians have ever preferred poetry for the expression of their sentiments and
thoughts. As such, hymns and songs have not only existed in the national language of the country
from the most ancient times, but have also found the utmost encouragement for an unchecked
development throughout the course of the history. Consequently, Persian poetry has acquired a
prominent place and an excellent reputation among the literatures of the world. As a matter of
fact, all the thinkers and savants of Iran have identified the very word „sukhan‟ “parole” with
poetry. They have chosen it for conveying all their intuitive and perceptive experiences. Besides
the general subjects like history, legend etc., ven the domain of the exact sciences, medicine,
astronomy and so on, was not neglected by our poet-scholars.

The Shahnama of Firdausi, which contains the legends of ancient Iran, as well as the
exact history of the later periods, is no more than an epic poem and it has demonstrated that
poetry is superior to prose. Firdausi argues that while the prose works are lost with the passage of
time, poetry remains immortal as it contributes to the pleasures of the mind and the soul.

Persian poetry has different classifications with regard to its form and matter.
Considering the form, there are six important kinds or patterns in classical verses of which
„Rubaiyat‟ is one of them. In Assamese it is called „Satuspadi Kavita‟ or „Four Lines Verse‟.

The Rubaiyat i.e. four small hemistiches, quatrain was invented later. It usually deals
with romantic sentiments or may contain philosophical or mystical subjects or even the problems
of daily life. The ruba‟i is still current and there are few poets in Iran, Afghanistan and India who
have not composed it. The Arabs borrowed the ruba‟is from the Iranians at a later stage.

All ruba‟is have the same metre and their first, second and fourth hemistichs rhyme with
each other. Since the pseudonym of the poet is not necessarily mentioned in them, the real
composers of thousands of the existing Persian ruba‟is are not definitely known.

It is to be mentioned that the Ahom rulers encouraged the study of Persian in Assam. It has been
stated that the Ahom monarchs maintained in the Court a large number of Muhammadan
officials who deciphered Persian correspondence, received from outside and drafted to foreign
potentates. The Ahom kings felt necessity of improving the culture of Persian in their courts in
order to continue the relations with the Muslim rulers. The Ahom ambassadors had to learn
Persian for diplomatic services.They was attached to the numerous diplomatic embassies
dispatched to northern India. They knew Persian because the knowledge of this language was
indispensable for the proper execution of such missions. In the latter part of Ahom rule, Persian
was regularly learnt and studied by Assamese gentry who aspired for higher posts. There were
also many learned Hindus, accomplished in Persian, which helped them to obtain an easy
Passport to different high posts especially in diplomatic services.

A royal post of reader in Persian in almost every court of the Ahom Kings was created
and recruitment was made with a person who could read and write the Persian language and
therefore he was called by the Assamese as Persi- Parhiya (Persian reader) who was probably
engaged in the teaching of Persian to other officials.

The most important poet who has acquired greatest reputation in this field not only in
Iran but throughout the world, was the great philosopher- mathematician, Omar Khayam. His
rubaiyats have been translated into almost all the great languages of the world.

It was the great Assamese litterature Jatindranath Duwara who has introduced Omar Khayam in
the Assamese literature by translating his rubaiyats into Assamese language. His famous book
„Omar Tirtha‟ is the rendering version of the rubaiyats of Omar Khayam. The noted 20 th
Century Assamese poet, Jatindranath Duwara had translated one hundred and five rubaiyats of
Omar Khayam into Assamese and he did one rubaiyat into two stanza and hence there are eight
lines found in each rubaiyat of Duwara‟s translation.
 This Thesis has been divided into five chapters which includes the introduction and
conclusion.

The first chapter is the introduction where I have given an introduction regarding my
thesis. I have also mentioned about the etymology of the word „Rubaiyat‟, its meaning and
subject matter.

The second chapter discusses about the influence of Persian in Assamese Language. Here
I have added a list of Persian vocabularies being occupied an important position in the Assamese
language. Mention has also made about some Persian words used in Assamese language which
do not have other alternative.

The third chapter is entitled as “Impact of Persian on Assamese Literature, Culture &
Society”. Here I have indicated how Persian is influenced on Assamese Culture & Society. This
influence is basically made by means of translation of Persian literature into Assamese. Also a
transformation of sufistic philosophy and ideas by means of translation has been made. This
ideas have made the unity and diversity of the Assamese society. It has also made the social and
cultural assimilation of the Assamese society without having any caste and communities
differentiation.

The fourth chapter is happened to be the main chapter of this thesis which is entitled as
“Impact of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam on Assamese Literature with special reference to „Omar
Tirtha‟ written by Jatindranath Duwara”. I have focused about the introduction of Rubayiat first
by noted litterature Jatindranath Duwara to the Assamese literature. It was Jatindranath Duwara
who translated first the rubayiats of Omar Khayam into the Assamese language by his noble
translating work „Omar Tirtha‟. Here he not only introduced the 11th century great Persian
philosopher poet to the Assam and Assamese literature but also his philosophy and thoughts
which have deep influence on the Assamese society. The comparision and assimiliation of the
thought and wisdom of Omar Khayam and Jatindranath Duwara have also been made.

The fifth chapter is the conclusion which indicates the findings of the research work.
Here I have come to the conclusion that the great translating work „Omar Tirtha‟ is a bridge of
the connection of the thought and wisdom of the great 11th century Persian poet Omar
Khayam and the 19th century great Assamese litterature,Jatindranath Duwara in Persian and
Assamese literature respectively.

References :

1.Hekmat, Dr. Ali Asghar(1956);GLIMPSES OF PERSIAN LITERATURE, Iran Society,

Calcutta, P- 48

2.Ibid, P-49

3.Gogoi, Dr. Lila & Deka, Dr.Namita (2003) ;Jatindranath Duwara Kavi Aru Kabi –Prativa,
(Edit) Panbazar, Guwahati, P-111