Muhammad Afzal Brohi has successfully translated Thirukkural into Brahui
- The Thirukkuṟaḷ, literally ’sacred verses’, is a classic Tamil language text on commoner’s morality consisting of 1,330 short couplets
Dr. J Ravikumar Stephen G.
It has been my long-cherished dream to see Thirukkural translated into Brahui, a language that has remarkably survived the Aryanization of Baluchistan. Nestled in the mountainous regions, the Brahui people have retained their Dravidian linguistic heritage despite centuries of invasions through the Khyber and Bolan passes. After five years of persistent effort, I am delighted to announce that Er. Muhammad Afzal Brohi has successfully translated Thirukkural into Brahui.
A Journey of Dedication and Perseverance
Two individuals had previously attempted to translate Thirukkural into Brahui but had to withdraw—one due to academic commitments and the other for career-related reasons. However, Er Muhammad Afzal Brohi, with his profound appreciation for the depth of Thirukkural’s wisdom, undertook this task with extraordinary commitment and completed it within just ten months—an achievement of remarkable speed and dedication.
The Sojourn with Thirukkural Translation
His journey began in early 2024 with ten days of research on Thirukkural in English. On Pongal, January 15, 2024, he embarked on the translation, initially working on five couplets a day, dedicating *three to five hours daily. As he progressed, he structured his work schedule meticulously:
With this disciplined approach, he translated 15 to 20 couplets daily, aiming to complete the first volume (Virtue) before the onset of Ramadan (March 2024). Facing challenges in transliteration, he turned to Tamil audio clips of Thirukkural, transcribing them into Brahui (Arabic script) to ensure correct pronunciation. Despite falling ill in March, he successfully completed the first volume as planned.
Initially, his plan was to publish each volume separately. However, on the advice of Prof. Dr. Sosan Brahui, he decided to translate all three volumes continuously to maintain coherence and focus. Following this suggestion, he resumed work on May 11, 2024, intending to complete the second volume during the summer vacation of 2024.
With this intensified effort, he completed the first draft of all 1,330 couplets by June 26, 2024. His dedication was so extraordinary that I initially found it hard to believe he had completed the translation in such a short span of time.
Challenges and Refinements
Amidst his translation work, Er Muhammad Afzal Brohi also engaged in socio-political activism, working with a team of 24 like-minded individuals to establish a new political party aimed at protecting Indus Valley Civilization heritage and marginalized communities in Baluchistan. This delayed the editing phase, which was further impacted by severe monsoon power outages. However, by August 31, 2024, he had meticulously reviewed the Brahui drafts and made essential refinements.
From September 2, 2024, he began incorporating Tamil original couplets, Brahui transliterations and titles, introductory comments, and additional insights.
By the end of September 2024, the core translation was complete. The draft is now under review by two Brahui scholars, as suggested by Prof. Dr. Sosan Brahui.
Meanwhile, I have recommended adding Roman script transliteration, a brief commentary in Brahui for each couplet.
A Legacy for Generations
Seeing this dream come to life through the tireless efforts of Er Muhammad Afzal Brohi fills me with immense joy. His contribution will not only enrich Brahui literature but also extend Thirukkural’s universal wisdom to new horizons, upholding the Dravidian principle of EQUALITY at birth.
I sincerely hope that his translation will be published both locally in Baluchistan and internationally, ensuring that the Brahui diaspora and scholars worldwide can benefit from this invaluable work.
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Dr. J Ravikumar Stephen G., is the Founder, Dravidianism Revival Centre, Peace Coalition of the People of South Asia, and Sages of the New Covenant. He is also the Presiding Bishop of General Convention of the Episcopal Churches in Southern and South Eastern Asia. The Dravidianism Revival Centre is located in Badlapur, Greater Thane Maharashtra, India.