Book Released:@ Vellamunda
The first Malayalam translation of the great Arabic poem Nahj Al Burda was released by Mr. Junaid Kaippani the Chairman, Wayanad District Panchayath Welfare Standing Committee on Friday (3rd May 2024) at Vellamunda. The copy was received by the veteran columnist OM Tharuvana in the presence of K. Umar Saqafi, the chairman of Al Furqan Complex and TK Moidu Musliyar, father of the author.
The 338 page book contains Arabic and Malayalam interpretations of the above said poem. It is the 29th book of the author Mammootty, native of Kattayad, Vellamunda who resides in Dubai for the last 22 years as an expat. The original text of Nahj al-Burda (The Way of the Mantle) belongs to the great Egyptian Arabic poet Ahmad Shawqi, the ‘Prince of the poets’(1868-1932). He was an intimate friend of Tagore, the nobel prize winner Indian poet. Ahmad Shawqi wrote poems about Mahatma Gandhi.
“Translated literature can serve as a basis for cultural exchange”, Junaid Kaipani said in his releasing speech, also he opined that in a multicultural society like India there are many possibilities of translation.
Mammootty Kattayad is a noted author and translator. He was engaged for the last two decades to translate classic Arabic poems, Arabic stories and novels to Malayalam language. Many of his works have English translations. Most of his books helped the language teachers and students as an academic reference.
He translated the greatest Arabic work of Khalil Gibran ‘Al Awasif’ (the Tempest) and it was published by Mathrubhumi books, kozhikode and the early version of the book is available on Amazon. Panchatantra VS Kalila wa-Dimna, the complete stories and comparison study is another important work of Kattayad. It has both Malayalam and English versions. The first edition of the book was released at Sharjah International book fair. He translated the autobiographical novel of UAE novelist Ubaid Al Jeraishi “Barq Al Muzoun’. His new project is the Malayalam translations of the complete collection of the historical dramas of Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi.
Translation, Interpretation and versification of the ancient Arabic odes Banat Suad, Muallaqa poem of Imrul Qais, Muallaqa of Tarafa and Muallaqa of Zuhair has been published in the past few years. His masterpiece is the ‘Burda Vyakhyaanam’ of Imam Busiri who died at the end of 13th century. These books have 3 editions and the 4th digital edition will be released soon. Diwan al Shafie Collections and Razanat Malayalam are other prestigious works. He has a collection of the Modern Arabic poems of the Resistance named ‘Adkhiniveshangalkkethire’ published by Alfaone books, Kannur.
Kattayad writes poems both in Arabic and English. His talent of Poetic conversion of the Arabic poems to Malayalam is marvellous.
