Mohammed Hanif Khan Shastri

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The President, Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Shri Award to Mohammed Hanif Khan Shastri, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 16 March 2019

Mohammed Hanif Khan Shastri was an Indian Sanskrit scholar.[1] He is winner of National Communal Harmony Award, in the individual category for the year 2009.[2][3][4][5] The Government of India awarded him fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri (Literature & Education) in 2019.[6] He has been professor at Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.[7]

Died on 26 January 2020.He worked with a great enthusiasm in his last days, but due to prolonged illnesses and suffering from a weak body. He will be greatly remembered for his contribution in the field of religious literature.

Early life[edit]

Khan Shastri was born in district Sonbhadra of Uttar Pradesh.[8] In an interview to Doordarshan, he informs that he was the first of his family to pass 5th standard and thus the environment was not academically inclined. On his failure in high school, his teacher Pundit Ratanlal Shastri, urged him to study one chapter of the Bhagavad Gita every day, which would ensure god's benevolence and thus put an end to all his troubles. This exposure to the Bhagwad Gita, instilled in him a sense of curiosity about the secrets in the text, and the desire to share them with others. This desire led him to attempt to excel in Sanskrit, without which he couldn't see fruition of his goal of unravelling Bhagwad Gita's secrets. [9]

Academics[edit]

Khan Shastri has a MA in Sanskrit, subsequently he studied Puranas under Sampoorna Anand in Varanasi, and gained the degree of Acharya and Shastri and also a doctorate in Comparative Religion.[2][10] His doctoral thesis was Mahamantra Gayatri Aur Surah Fatiah Ka Arth Prayog Evam Mahatmya Ki Drishtri Se Tulnatmak Adhyayan (Comparative analysis of Gayatri Mantra and Surah Fatiah, with reference to meaning and importance).[2][8]

Books[edit]

Amongst the eight books he has written are:[11]

  • Mohangita,
  • Geeta Aur Quran men Samanjasya
  • Ved aur Quran se Mahamantra Gayatri aur Surah Fatiha
  • Vedon men Manav Adhikar
  • Meljol.
  • Mahamantra gayatree ka baudhik upyog
  • Shreemadbhagwadgeeta aur quran
  • Vishwabandhutva ka pratyachh pramad

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Gita, Koran and harmony". The Hindu. 22 March 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "List of Communal Harmony Award winners up to 2012" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Meet Dr Mohammed Hanif Khan Shastri". Hindustan Times. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Communalism, terrorism big challenges: PM". Zee News. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  5. ^ Thorpe, Edgar Thorpe, Showick (2010). The Pearson Current Events Digest 2010. Pearson Education India. ISBN 9788131732922.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Padma Shri Awardees List 2019". padmaawards.gov.in. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. ^ Chakravorty, Rishabh (11 June 2015). "International Yoga Day gets support from minority leaders". India.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b Mann, Megha. "'Gita holds the key to Indian philosophy'". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Vaartavali: Special interview with Sanskrit scholar Mohammad Hanif Khan Shastri | 30/07/2017 | DD News". www.ddinews.gov.in (in Hindi). Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  10. ^ Sastri, Satyavrat (2007). Sanskrit Studies: New Perspectives. Yash Publications. ISBN 9788189537258.
  11. ^ "National Communal Harmony Awards 2009 announced". pibmumbai.gov.in. Retrieved 18 September 2017.