Noida: Among 19 persons who won the prestigious Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards for ‘literature and education’ on Republic Day this year was nonagenarian Rajaram Jain of Sector 34.
Just five short of turning 100, Jain was felicitated for his works in deciphering ancient and medieval manuscripts and translating them to Hindi from Pali and Prakrit – both during his days as a teacher in Jain College in Bihar’s Ara and post his retirement.
The litterateur acknowledged his wife Vidyawati’s contribution in helping him translate the ancient manuscripts. Now 87, Vidyawati holds a double MA in Hindi and Prakrit, and a PhD and DLitt.
“I am deeply honoured and thankful to the government for this prestigious award. My heartfelt gratitude to my gurus, whose guidance and blessings shaped me. I am also grateful to my wife Vidyawati and my family, who have stood by me through thick and thin,” Jain told TOI.
Originally from Malthone in Madhya Pradesh, struggles for the nonagenarian began at an early age, when Jain lost his parents. He overcame financial hurdles and completed his PhD from Bihar University, researching on 15 rare manuscripts. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University in Delhi conferred him with a DLitt for his contribution to Indology.
With 36 books, 250 research papers and numerous articles to his name, Jain’s work required him to travel extensively – to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other states in search of manuscripts and writings.
“At times, he would study scripts found in temples or what he heard from elderly people. But people would not trust him initially. He needed to win their trust so that they spoke to him,” recollected Rashmi, Jain’s daughter in Nilgiri Apartments of Sector 34 with whom he has been living for the past two decades.
Some of his noteworthy works include ‘Siri Ram-Chariu’. Derived from an ancient manuscript, ‘Tisatthi-Mahapuran-Puris-Ayar-Gunalankaru’ (The Lives of 63 Illustrious People), the book has been translated from Apabhramsa into Hindi for the first time.
Once an avid listener of Noor Jehan and Begum Akhtar’s songs, and an occasional Amitabh Bachchan film, Jain has another weakness —besan laddoos.
He, however, has a strict regime and a simple diet. The day for Jain begins early – at 5am. After some basic exercises, he begins his work at the desk. Lunch is followed by a power nap of half an hour from 2.30pm. Jain eventually calls it a day at 9pm.
“It’s this discipline that keeps me going. I start my day with amla, haldi and some natural herbs, which is followed by a light breakfast. And I’m at my desk by 6am,” he said.
At Nilgiri Apartments and the Jain Temple at Sector 50, the residents organised a felicitation ceremony for Jain through Saturday and Sunday.
“A memento and a shawl were presented to Rajaram ji on Saturday after we came to know about his Padma Shri. Many residents reached his house to congratulate him as well,” said KK Jain, the chairperson of the Federation of RWA in Sector 34.
Apart from Jain, Navjivan Rastogi was the second person from UP to win the Padma Shri for ‘literature and education’. The state had 12 Padma awardees this year.
Just five short of turning 100, Jain was felicitated for his works in deciphering ancient and medieval manuscripts and translating them to Hindi from Pali and Prakrit – both during his days as a teacher in Jain College in Bihar’s Ara and post his retirement.
The litterateur acknowledged his wife Vidyawati’s contribution in helping him translate the ancient manuscripts. Now 87, Vidyawati holds a double MA in Hindi and Prakrit, and a PhD and DLitt.
“I am deeply honoured and thankful to the government for this prestigious award. My heartfelt gratitude to my gurus, whose guidance and blessings shaped me. I am also grateful to my wife Vidyawati and my family, who have stood by me through thick and thin,” Jain told TOI.
Originally from Malthone in Madhya Pradesh, struggles for the nonagenarian began at an early age, when Jain lost his parents. He overcame financial hurdles and completed his PhD from Bihar University, researching on 15 rare manuscripts. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University in Delhi conferred him with a DLitt for his contribution to Indology.
With 36 books, 250 research papers and numerous articles to his name, Jain’s work required him to travel extensively – to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other states in search of manuscripts and writings.
“At times, he would study scripts found in temples or what he heard from elderly people. But people would not trust him initially. He needed to win their trust so that they spoke to him,” recollected Rashmi, Jain’s daughter in Nilgiri Apartments of Sector 34 with whom he has been living for the past two decades.
Some of his noteworthy works include ‘Siri Ram-Chariu’. Derived from an ancient manuscript, ‘Tisatthi-Mahapuran-Puris-Ayar-Gunalankaru’ (The Lives of 63 Illustrious People), the book has been translated from Apabhramsa into Hindi for the first time.
Once an avid listener of Noor Jehan and Begum Akhtar’s songs, and an occasional Amitabh Bachchan film, Jain has another weakness —besan laddoos.
He, however, has a strict regime and a simple diet. The day for Jain begins early – at 5am. After some basic exercises, he begins his work at the desk. Lunch is followed by a power nap of half an hour from 2.30pm. Jain eventually calls it a day at 9pm.
“It’s this discipline that keeps me going. I start my day with amla, haldi and some natural herbs, which is followed by a light breakfast. And I’m at my desk by 6am,” he said.
At Nilgiri Apartments and the Jain Temple at Sector 50, the residents organised a felicitation ceremony for Jain through Saturday and Sunday.
“A memento and a shawl were presented to Rajaram ji on Saturday after we came to know about his Padma Shri. Many residents reached his house to congratulate him as well,” said KK Jain, the chairperson of the Federation of RWA in Sector 34.
Apart from Jain, Navjivan Rastogi was the second person from UP to win the Padma Shri for ‘literature and education’. The state had 12 Padma awardees this year.