DIVAN OF SARMAD
Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Sarmad (d. 1659) or Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed, whose name ‘Sarmad’ derives from the Persian word for eternal or everlasting, was a famous and infamous Persian dervish poet of Jewish and Armenian origin. As a merchant he gathered his wares and travelled to India to sell them. In India he renounced Judaism and adopted Islam: he later renounced it in favour of Hinduism that he finally renounced for Sufism. He was known for exposing and ridiculing the major religions and hypocrisy of his day, but he also wrote beautiful mystical poetry in the form of 321 rubai’s (all here translated). He wandered the streets and the courts of the emperor as a naked dervish. He was a close friend of Prince Dara Shikoh, another great Indian Sufi poet. He was beheaded in 1659 by Emperor Aurangzeb for his perceived heretical poetry. His grave is located near the Jama Masjid in Delhi. Introduction on The Life, Times and Poetry of Sarmad, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry, The Ruba’i: Form, Use & History. Selected Bibliography. Appendix. The correct rhyme-structure has been obtained as well as the beauty and meaning of these immortal poems.
COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH’S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ’S ‘DIVAN’.
“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished..” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.
“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart.
“I was very impressed with the beauty of these books.” Dr. R.K. Barz.
Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University.
Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages… including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, ‘Attar, Sana’i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Lalla Ded, Baba Farid, Rahman Baba, Yunus Emre, Iqbal and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children’s books biographies and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com
Translation & Introduction Paul Smith
Sarmad (d. 1659) or Hazrat Sarmad Shaheed, whose name ‘Sarmad’ derives from the Persian word for eternal or everlasting, was a famous and infamous Persian dervish poet of Jewish and Armenian origin. As a merchant he gathered his wares and travelled to India to sell them. In India he renounced Judaism and adopted Islam: he later renounced it in favour of Hinduism that he finally renounced for Sufism. He was known for exposing and ridiculing the major religions and hypocrisy of his day, but he also wrote beautiful mystical poetry in the form of 321 rubai’s (all here translated). He wandered the streets and the courts of the emperor as a naked dervish. He was a close friend of Prince Dara Shikoh, another great Indian Sufi poet. He was beheaded in 1659 by Emperor Aurangzeb for his perceived heretical poetry. His grave is located near the Jama Masjid in Delhi. Introduction on The Life, Times and Poetry of Sarmad, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry, The Ruba’i: Form, Use & History. Selected Bibliography. Appendix. The correct rhyme-structure has been obtained as well as the beauty and meaning of these immortal poems.
COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH’S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ’S ‘DIVAN’.
“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished..” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.
“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart.
“I was very impressed with the beauty of these books.” Dr. R.K. Barz.
Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University.
Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages… including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, ‘Attar, Sana’i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Lalla Ded, Baba Farid, Rahman Baba, Yunus Emre, Iqbal and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children’s books biographies and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com
