ME AND MAULANA: A PERSONAL RECOLLECTION OF WAHIDUDDIN KHAN - John M. Butt

Born on January 1, 1925, in Badharia village of Azamgarh district, UP, Maulana lost his father at a very young age, ‘My most significant deprivation was the death of my father, and subsequently, my most significant discovery was the discovery of God, my only discovery…’ were among his last words. When he came to Delhi at the age of 42, he started a magazine called Al-Risala. He was writing and discovering the meaning of spiritual texts at all times. Among the 200 books he has written, helping every ordinary person find meaning in the Quran, one that is most well-read is Tazkirul Quran, commentary of the Quran. Honoured by the Padma Vibhushan early this year and the Padma Bhushan in 2000, Maulana saw compassion as central to life, ‘My most fulfilling experience has been to instill in innumerable youths, a feeling of “well-wishingness” towards fellow beings, irrespective of which religion or caste one belongs. This is possible only when we lead a life of gratefulness towards others. It is a fact that one who is grateful to his fellow beings is also the one who is grateful to his Creator.’ The Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award was conferred upon him in 2009. He felt the presence of the divine not just in fellow beings but in all of nature. ‘The sun where atomic reaction converts into light… The very trees are nature’s laboratories, taking in water, minerals and gases and converting them into flowers and fruits. I call this practice as art of conversion. It helps a person see God’s stamp in every experience.’