"Hindavi was the language from old times; when the Ghurids and Turks arrived [in India], Persian began to be used and every high and low person learned it … As I belong to India, it is only fitting that I talk about it. There is a different, original language in every region of this land. Sindhi, Lahori, Kashmiri, Kibar, Dhaur Samundari, Tilangi, Gujar, Ma'bari, Gauri, the languages of Bangalah, Avadh, Delhi and its environs, all these are Hindavi, i.e., Indian languages, current since the olden days and commonly used for all kinds of speech. There is yet another language that is favoured by all the Brahmins. It is known as Sanskrit since ancient times; common people do not know it, only the Brahmins do, but one single Brahmin cannot comprehend its limits. Like Arabic, Sanskrit has a grammar, rules of syntax, and a literature … Sanskrit is a pearl; it may be inferior to Arabic but is superior to Dari … If I knew it well I would praise my sultan in it also."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Quoted from In the Bazaar of Love: The Selected Poetry of Amir Khusrau (2011), introduction xxxvi.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Amir_Khusrow
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Amir Khusrow
1253 – 1325
Ab'ul Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253 – 1325), better known as Amīr Khusrow Dehlavī, was a Sufi musician, poet and scholar from the Indian subcontinent.
49 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Amir Khusrow →
Related Quotes
"“Happy Hindustan, the splendour of Religion. where the Law finds perfect honour and security. In learning Dehli can n…"
"My home was the Dome of Islam. It was the qibla for kings of the seven climes. Delhi is the twin of pure paradise, a …"
"People shed so many tears in all directions that five other rivers have appeared in Multan. I wanted to speak of the …"
"If a Khurasani, Greek or Arab comes here, he will not face any problems, for the people will treat him kindly, as the…"
"“The Sultan reached Jhain in the afternoon of the third day and stayed in the palace of the Raya… He greatly enjoyed …"
"“Three days after this, the king entered Jhain at midday and occupied the private apartment of the rai… He then visit…"
"“When he advanced from the capital of Karra, the Hindus, in alarm, descended into the earth like ants. He departed to…"
"“But see the mercy with which he regarded the brokenhearted, for, after seizing the rai, he set him free again. He de…"
"Amir Khusrau writes that under Jalauddin Khalji (1290-96), after a battle, “whatever live Hindu fell into the hands o…"
"The king of the kingdoms of messengerdom,"