Dr.
Shiban Krishen Raina
Dr.
Shiban Krishen Raina
Dr. Raina is ‘high-voltage literary
transformer’
by B. L. Kak (Correspondent Daily
Excelsior Jammu)
A new expression has been coined for Dr.
SK Raina. His outstanding contribution to
Hindi-Kashmiri as a translator has prompted his
admirers to describe him as a ‘high-voltage
literary transformer’. Dr. Raina’s literary
journey which started from his birthplace,
Srinagar, the capital city of Kashmir, in 1962
after he was declared 1st class 1st by
University of Kashmir in his M.A. (Hindi)
examination, did not stop in 1968 when he
obtained Ph. D (Hindi) degree from Kurukshetra
University.
Indeed, his literary journey has entered a
new phase, with his selection as Fellow of the
Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.
Based at the prestigious Rashtrapati Nivas, Dr
Raina has been assigned the task of working on
the problems of translating from various Indian
languages into Hindi with special reference to
Kashmiri-Hindi. Dr. Raina, who is preparing a
list of persons who have translated some works
from Kashmiri into Hindi, is keen on obtaining
information about such Kashmiri works, classics
and books that require to be translated into
Hindi. "I won’t hesitate to welcome
information, in this regard, even from educated
secessionist leaders of Kashmir", he
says.
Will he himself translate horror-filled woes
of his Kashmiri brethren into Hindi or English
language? Dr. SK Raina’s reply: " Yes, I
will. All that I need are necessary inputs in
Kashmiri language about men and matters since
the commencement of insurgency and militancy in
my homeland". Dr Raina himself is not a
migrant; he left Srinagar in 1962 for better
career prospects outside Kashmir.
Dr Raina, who has already retired as
Principal and Head of Hindi department, Govt.
College, Bibi-Rani, Alwar (Rajasthan), developed
his new roots at Alwar in 1965 after he obtained
his M.A (English) degree from University of
Rajasthan. He has the distinction of knowing
four languages, namely, Hindi, English, Kashmiri
and Urdu.
Dr. Raina has so far authored 14 books and
100 papers. Happily for him, some of his books
were released by India’s former President, Dr
Shankar Dayal Sharma, former Prime Minister,
Mrs. Indira Gandhi, and former Governor of
Rajasthan, Mr. Bali Ram Bhagat. Having a
25-year-long experience as a writer and
translator, Dr. Raina recently received ‘Divi-Vageesh’
award from Bhartiya Anuvaad Parishad,
Delhi.
In 1996-97, Dr. Raina was the recipient of
first translation award instituted by Rajasthan
Sihitya Academy, while in 1972 the Government of
India’s Central Hindi Directorate awarded him
prize and certificate of merit. This apart, he
has also been honoured with ‘Sahitya Shree’,
‘Sahitya Vageesh’ and ‘Sahitya Gaurav’
by various literary organisations in India.
In 1983, he was awarded ‘Tamra Patra’ and
cash award by Rajya Bhasha Vibhag, Patna
(Bihar). In 1990, he received ‘Tamra Patra’
and cash award from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan.
Dr. SK Raina’s published works include ‘Kashmiri
Bhasha Aur Sahitya’, Kashmiri Ramayan’, ‘Lala
Ded’, ‘Habba Khatoon’, ‘Shaa-e-ri
Kashmir: Mahjoor’ and ‘Kashmiri kavitriyan
aur unkaa rachna sansaar’.
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