|
PREFACE
(1) The late Shri Sant Das Maheshwari (popularly known as Sant Das Ji), Personal Assistant to Babuji Maharaj, brought out the English translation of Soamiji Maharaj's Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose in 1951.
This translation was by the order and Mauj of Babuji Maharaj. Fifty Bachans of its Part II has been translated by Babuji Maharaj Himself.
(2) Three editions of this translation have so far been published. The American Satsangis had offered to get the second edition printed in the USA, but because of some technical difficulties or rather as the Mauj had it - it was printed in India under the supervision of the late S.D. Maheshwari himself.
(3) The late S.D. Maheshwari also brought out English translation of Soamiji Maharaj's Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry Parts I and II in 1969-1970. Since then its three editions have been out.
(4) Recently, M.G. Gupta M.A.D. Litt, formerly member of the Faculty of Political Science, Allahabad University, joined the parent line of the Radhasoami Faith as represented by Soami Bagh, Agra, India, during interregnum following the departure of Babuji Maharaj in 1949, now its Secretary, hereinafter referred to as Dr. Gupta, has published the Quintessential Discourse Radhasoami, Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose and Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry Parts I and II - translation with commentary.
(5) I placed an order with M.G. Publisher on 29th April, 2002 for a copy of The quntessential Discourse Radhasoami Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose Translation and Commentary (by V.P. i.e. against payment), but to no avail. However, I procured it from a friend of mine.
(6) In the preface of his book Dr. Gupta claims: " for the last about six months, quite a few Satsangi brothers and sisters from Germany had been pressing me to translate this work in English giving extensive clarification, and explanatory notes even at the cost of some repetition so that references may become easy. This work has been done to meet their needs."
(7) The fact, however, is that nearly a decade ago, Dr. Gupta had shown this book as the forthcoming title on the wrapper of some of his then publications but sson after he had to give up the idea of publishing it and stopped showing it as forthcoming title on the wrappers of his subsequent books, for the reasons best known to him as well as to me.
(8) Dr. Gupta's works by and large deprive a seeker/reader of access to Soamiji Maharaj's teachings in their true, pure, unalloyed, and pristine form. I started writing letters to Dr. Gupta, pointing out the discrepancies in his work. My letter dated 26th May '02 is reproduced below --
|
| Radhasoami |
To
M.G. Gupta, M.A.D. Litt
34, Herra Bagh Colony,
Agra-282005
|
From
B.D. Maheshwari, M.A.
NE10, Soami Bagh
Agra-282005
26th May, 2002
(Buaji Sahiba's Bhandaraa Day)
|
| Respected Brother, |
| Radhasoami |
I am writing these letters to you not because you have, in the preface of your book, "The quintessential Discourse Radhasoami - Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose" sought for suggestions for improvement, but because of the categorical command given out by Soamiji Maharaj in Bachan No. 94 of "Sar Bachan Radhasoami Prose" quated below :-
"When a person connected with you, has been or is about to be beguiled by anybody, it is necessary to tell him that he would not derive any benefit from that party which is only deceiving him. In saying this, there is no sin, but it is not necessary to say so to everybody".
Your book mentioned above, has done much harm/damage to the pristine purity of the Radhasoami Faith, Your translationsa re mostly incorrect, purely literal, not conveying the sense of the original, connoting at times a sense diametrically opposite to the original, distortions of the teachings of the Faith, colossal tampering with the sacred text, different versions of the same translation at different places in the same book, wrong interpretations of the doctrines of our sublime Faith, deviations from the phraseology presecribed by our Beloved Sant Sat Gurus, syntax errors so much so that the contents tend to vitate the intent. We, the devotees, are here to grasp the tenets of the Faith, and even if we cannot do that, the least one is expected to do is not to change the sanctity of the tenets and create misgivings.
The objection of my writing to you is that if there be any error of judgement on my part, you please do correct me then and there and do favour me with your own explanations/clarifications before the matter is compiled in the form of a brochure for the benefit of my Satsangi brothers and sisters as well as the seekers of the true Faith.
However, one thing your work has done really laudably for which I think, I shall not be able to resist my tempations for most heartily congratulating you in my final letter.
With hearty Radhasoami,
Yours affectionately
B.D. Maheshwari
|
|
(9) This brochure is based on the material contained in my letters addressed to Dr. M.G. Gupta and is being published in the larger interest of the Satsang, clarifying the doubts and misgivings created by his book and helping the readers understand the teachings of Soamiji Maharaj in their pure, unalloyed and pristine form. It is pertinent to mention that my letters sent to Dr. Gupta in this behalf were not repudiated or objected to by him.
(10) If a review is written of each and every paragraph of Dr. Gupta's translation and commentary, it will be a voluminous book of not less than four to five hundred pages. But that will be a sheet waste of time. A few illustrations of some of the points mentioned above, will give the reader an idea of what is what and help him understand the things in the right perspective.
(11) This short review is concerned mainly with Dr. Gupta's translation and commentary of "Sar Bachan Radhasaomi Prose". Review of his translation and commentary of the two volumnes of "Sar Bachan Radhasoami Poetry", is yet to be taken up.
|
| B.D.Maheshwari |
14th Oct. 2002
Maharaj Saheb's Bhandara Day |
|
Back
Prayer
|
|
|
