India and the Arabs
The Fascinating Convergence of two Oriental Cultures
The Arab culture hold a great appreciation for India and its name in particular. Beside the rich influence of As India and its culture have manifested in numerous ways of beauty in the Arab’s life for ages, so it has been quiet common to use the equivalent of “India” in their language- [Hind” هند”] as a well-known name for women. Moreover they naturally related the [Muhanad] one of the sharpest swords to India, and named their sons the same way. This cultural manifestations were not tied to post Islamic era, it stretches even long before the Islamic religion have emerged.
India has an old and lasting presence in Arabic culture. The renowned Arabian journey of Ibn Battuta in the 14th century, considered India the most prominent cultural geographical site in the voyage. It was the place where Shams Eldin of Tangier, alias Ibn Battuta- spent the longest part of his journey. And about which, he later recounted, exceptionally valued pieces of information and a lot of stories and anecdotes.
We know today that there are three translations of this book from Arabic into Urdu, the first is made by Maulvi Muhammad Husain, which is dated 1913 and published in Delhi under title: The Wonders of Travels of Sheikh Ibn Batutta, as Safarnama. The second is conducted by Ahmed Gaafery Alnadwi and it was published in Karachi in 1961. Under the title « Safarnama, Ibn Batouta ». The third copy of the translation is an effort of Maulvi Abdurahman Khan, and published in Delhi in 1972, along with “Essence of the Spectators’’ Marvels” which means the Book of Shiekh Ibn Battuta.
Arab authors wrote about India as early as of the 10th century. Abu Alrayhani Albaironi issued one of the greatest anthropological books: “The book confirming what pertains to India, whether rational or despicable”. Alongside Al-Masaudi’s: Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems. Marvels of India, which was also published and edited in Arabic language. All the mentioned books still distinguish prominent in the Islamic literature heritage.
There, travel literature and dairies are of high priority among the concerns of Al-Suwaidi Cultural House”, because the journey and its routes and travelers with their diaries are documenting, as they always did, the details of lives in the specific society they visit. Especially when they reach out for the ancient nations, and converging. The situation we are attempting to redefine, and embrace with much care once again, through our travelling, and tracing the steps of the great trotter Ibn Battuta, in Indian geography and other geographies.
In previous years we verified a number of the ancient and modern books on travels to India. Our annual prize is awarded this year to an Arab traveler from Egypt to India, for writing a book being issued nowadays, holding the title: “Glee of Gods”, which is the fruit of a forty night tour in Indian cities.
Our expeditions will continue on tracking down Ibn Battuta steps in India. Hoping to distribute Ibn Battuta Prize in the future at a ceremony held in India.
We regard India as a mine of humane knowledge and beauty, looking forward to accomplish much more by cooperation of our cultural institutions and similar Indian foundations.
Mohamed Ahmed Alsuwaidi
Abu Dhabi
January 2019
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