Influence of Persian Literature on Shah Muhammad Sagir’s Yusuf Zulaikha and Alaol’s Padmavati
Influence of Persian Literature on Shah Muhammad Sagir's Yusuf Zulaikha and Alaol's Padmavati is a PhD research Monograph by Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. The book discusses and analyses as well as depicts many issues with a reflection on:
a) The historical background of Iran and Indo-Bangla Relations; Cultural and Literary Models - evolved with Buddhism and Hinduism and its integration during the early Muslim period. Development of Persian literary and Sufi traditions in Bengal and its impact on local vernacular language, literature and culture.
Development of Bengali language and literature and a critical analysis of the controversy over 'The Dark Age' of Bengali language and literature.
b) It investigates how the story of Joseph in the Bible and of Yusuf in the Quran was transformed into a romantic love story Yusuf va Zulaikha by Persian poets, and how Sagir transformed it into Bengali with a local flavour. It also addresses how Perso-Arabic literary and Sufi tradition, especially the Yusuf va Zulaikha of Firdawsi, the tradition of commentaries on the Quran (Tafsir) and tales of the prophets (Qisas), influenced Sagir's poetic thoughts.
c) Regarding Alaol's Padmavati, after looking at the process of development of the story by analysing ancient and medieval local and foreign elements such as drama, fables, Sufi love poems and mythology, it assesses how Alaol transformed Malik Muhammad Jayasi's Hindi poem Padmavati into Bengali. It examines how Perso-Arabic literary and Sufi themes, especially fāna, annihilation, and bāqa, subsistence, in Attar's Mantiqu't- Tair, influenced Jayasi in writing the Hindi poem Padmavati and Alaol in transforming it into Bengali.
PhD Research Monograph - pursued at the Department of Languages and Cultures of South Asia, SOAS, University of London, UK. Publication:
Regarding the suitability of the publication of the thesis, both the examiners have certified that the thesis can be published as it is. Abu Rayhan Biruni Foundation, Dhaka, has published the book with a magnificent cover design.