Embracing the Finite: No, Rahman Babu and the Meditations on Human Mortality and Evanescence of All Things

Abstract

Indian Writings in English broaden our understanding of human destiny, set our moral-ethical compass into motion
and relentlessly guide us towards a more fulfilling existence in concordance with the cultural and spiritual values of
the land. Revitalizing our ties with the socio-cultural ethos of the land, these writings encourage us to perceive the
deeper imports, underlying our shared existence, joys, collective pains, morals lurking beneath our anguishes and
travails and much more. In the early twentieth century, writers like Rajinder Singh Bedi, Krishan Chandar,
Premchand, Bhisham Sahni and Joginder Paul deftly integrated themes inclusive of religious/ spiritual syncretism,
rationality, equality, fraternity, rights and dignity of the proletariat, and lent voice to the anxieties and hopes of their
compatriots in deeply textured stories in Bhashas or vernaculars of the subcontinent. Metaphorically speaking,
adorned in multiple hues, these narratives articulate the heterogeneous 'Indian experience' and amplify multiple
Indian subjectivities by foregrounding personal histories from marginalized communities rather than conforming to
the idea of a singular monolithic chronicle that could represent the diverse nation. The writings in Bhashas, centered in
the idea of “Indianness,” unequivocally reflect indigenous experiences and concretize the vast linguistic, literary,
cultural heritage that continues to guide and humanize all our creative outpourings and behaviours in the spirit of
“vividhata mein ekta” or what is unquestionably hailed as “unity in diversity.” Further, the diverse representation of
Indian literatures with its principal theme of unity could be understood from the often invoked Rigvedic
dictum,“Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (The RigVeda, 1.164.46, qtd. from wisdom library.org),” signifying that
the truth is one but is expressed differently by wise men.
The present study attempts to locate Joginder Paul's No, Rahman Babu as an elucidation of the linguistic and literary
pluralism of our country, accentuating its serious engagement with the core principles of mysticism, spirituality and
Indian philosophy. Through a detailed reading of Joginder Paul's No, Rahman Babu translated into English by Usha
Nagpal (2023), the present work will make inquiries into the role of literature in enhancing our awareness of the self,
the word and the world especially during times when all possibilities of conversation and mutual discussion have
become more or less counterproductive or misleading due to the growing cacophony of conflicting ideas. This work
rooted in the Indian practices of soul searching, and cultivating connections across diverse manifestations of universe
or celebrating cosmic love, also acquaints us with the role of translations in bridging the gap between different
linguistic communities by sustaining dialogues on perennial questions pertaining to human existence, identity and
possibility of inner growth through writings in Indian languages.