Pandit Taba Ram Turki

Pandit Taba Ram Turki (1776–1847) lived at Rainawari, Srinagar and wrote Persian poetry under the pen name of Betab. Betab made an important contribution to the Persian poetry and he commanded great respect among the poets of Kashmir of his time. His poetry reached as far as Central Asia. Some critics have rated Betab's works at par with the Shahnama of Firdausi.

Mulla Mohammad Taufiq Kashmiri, another popular Persian poet of the era who lived near Jama Masjid area of Srinagar and wrote under the pen name of Taufiq was a friend of Betab.

Betab composed his writings in the form of masnawis which contain historical details of his times (a masnawi is a long epic poem describing the battles fought and past events and may also include philosophical or ethical themes).

It is believed that Betab travelled to Kabul to meet the general and wazir of Afghanistan Prince Mohammad Akbar Khan. Betab praised his patron Mohammad Akbar Khan in the poem Akbar-nama.

Betab then witnessed the invasion of the Sikh army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh over his native land Kashmir and the defeat of the Afghan governor Muhammad Azim Khan in 1819, which he versified under the title Jang-nama.

After the change of rulers, Betab visited Lahore for a meeting with Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Following his return from Lahore, Betab composed one more masnawi containing historical details like the other two named Ranjit-nama.

J.K. Banerji in the book Encyclopaedia of Kashmir mentions "Outstanding among the Hindu Pandits who made important contributions to Persian poetry may be mentioned the name of Pandit Taba Ram Turki "Betab" whose Jang Nama reached classic heights."

Further eminent historian and author Gwasha Lal Kaul in the same book Encyclopaedia of Kashmir mentions "Jangnama by Taba Ram Turki stands on the same footing as Shahnama of Firdausi".

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