The Dust of the Road: A Translation of Gard-E-Raah

by Akhtar Hussain Raipuri, Amina Afzar (Translator)

Gard-e-Rah, the original Urdu memoir, was first published as a serialized autobiography in the Urdu journal Afkar. The work was interrupted when Raipuri lost his eyesight. However, he completed the book in its present form by dictating the rest of the material. When the book was published it received an enthusiastic response, and has been deemed on of the finest Urdu memoirs. Raipuri's close association with some of the luminaries of Indian politics and world of letters (such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulvi Abdul Haq) has enhanced the interest of the book. However, more than anything else it is the depth of his knowledge of history and his vast reading in many other sugjects, as well as the variety of experience he has had in his life that give the book its wonderfully mature and sophisticated flavor. Happily for the book, Raipuri happened to be present in many places at a time when the place was in the midst of a momentous experience. For example, he was in Calcutta when the city was the hub of intellectual and political activity; he was in Paris during the Second World War; and he was in Karachi at the time of Partition, when the city was poised for a metamorphosis as a flood of refugees found sanctuary there. Moreover, the entire text of the book is imbued with the spirit of the man - brave, ambitious, and appreciating and enjoying the best things of life. It is a truly fascinating book and a work of art.

Genres: Biography

302 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Aslam Mir]

" امیر اندلس عبد الرحمن ثالث کے وزیر با تدبیر المنصور کے متعلق کہا گیا ہے کہ جب کسی مہم سے لوٹتا تو اپنی قبا کی گرد کو ایک کوزے میں جھٹک دیتا۔جب مہم جوئی میں زندگی ختم ہوئی اور اس نے داعی اجل کو لبیک کہا تو کوزے کی خاک اس کے کفن پر چھڑک دی گئ۔میں اتنی گرد راہ کہاں سے لاؤں لیکن جو بساط میں باقی رہ گئ اسے ان اوراق پر جھٹک دیا ہے"(صفحہ 275)
ادیب،صحافی، ماہر لسانیت، سفیر،ماہر تعلیم،مترجم،افسانہ نویس،سنسکرت،ہندی،فرانسیسی اور فارسی کے بڑے عالم ڈاکٹر اختر حسین رائے پوری مرحوم کا دلچسپ،سبق آموز، فکر انگیز زندگی نامہ: ادیبوں،شاعروں، سیاست دانوں،صحافیوں، مجاہدین آزادی کے دلچسپ چٹکلوں، سبق آموز حکایت سے مزین، قومی زندگی کے کئی گوشے وا کرنے والی آپ بیتی اور خون دل سے لکھے گئے ایک دردمند محب وطن مبصر کے تبصروں پر مشتمل جگ بیتی- ہر صفحہ ادبی چاشنی سے مملو۔ مصنف نے یونیسکو کے سفیر کی حیثیت سے مختلف ملکوں کے سفر کئے،اس لئے یہ ایک دلچسپ سفر نامہ بھی ہے ۔
کتاب ان الفاظ کے ساتھ ختم ہوتی ہے،" میں انسان دوستی اور انسان بیزاروں کی بھول بھلیوں سے گزر کر انسان شناسی کی منزل تک پہنچا ہوں۔یہ روحانی اور ذہنی سفر آسان نہ تھا اور اس کے بیان میں مجھے لا محالہ اختصار سے کام لینا پڑا۔ناسازگار حالات نے کئی گفتنی مضامین کو ناگفتہ رہنے دیا۔
کفن بیار تو تابوت و جامہ نیلی کن
کہ روزگار طبیب است و عافیت بیمار "
اصل اردو کتاب دانیال ، کراچی نے شائع کی تھی اور اس کا خوبصورت انگریزی ترجمہ امینہ اظفر نے کیا ہے اور آکسفورڈ نے شائع کیا ہے۔۔

[Shakera]

It is so hard for me to imagine an India and a Pakistan that was so invested in literature! It’s that the decline of literature is seen almost everywhere in the world because of rapid technological innovations, but to know a man, of Indian-Pakistani descent who dedicate his whole life to pursuit of literature is extremely refreshing! I have never heard of Akthar Hussain Raipuiri and apparently his work is really hard to get a hold off even today.
His love and passion for Urdu and Hindi and literature in several different languages is something incredible to read about! I feel like I have a stronger appreciation for literature than ever! I am looking forward to learning more about Urdu writers! I loved reading about all his travels all around the world and his knowledge and perceptive about writers from France, Russia, Bengal, and Iran and more!!
All the books I want to read and all the places I want to see!