Solanki's credo: propagating Indian culture and values

New Delhi, Oct 9: It needs sheer audacity to break away from the rat race of "achievers" and "self-seekers", wedded to the credo of success to the exclusion of all other considerations.

S K Solanki, writer, painter, scholar and cartoonist, all rolled into one, is one such person who is engaged in a unique effort to propagate Indian culture and its value system to the outside world.

His work includes translation of the national anthem in 20 foreign languages and of 'Gayatri Mantra' in 66 languages.

He is also credited with the translation of national anthems of 108 countries into various languages.

"No one in the world has so far translated the national anthem of 108 countries in different languages. This is an unparalleled feat," says the 43-year-old Solanki, who manages to earn Rs 10,000-12,000, mostly from accountancy work.

For the last 28 years, he has been engaged in translation work in over 70 national and foreign languages and written over 500 books. He has written Hindi books on the Koran, the Bible and Darshan, the ancient Indian philosophy.

Besides compiling the national anthems of various countries in maximum number of foreign languages, he wants to propagate the innate values of the Vedas, the Gita and the Gayatri mantra to the outside world.

Solanki has donated paintings to the UN office, American Center, the Delhi University office and the embassies of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Taiwan and Mongolia.

For all his good work, he has received much appreciation. "I have received appreciation letters from Queen Elizabeth, South African President Thabo Mbeki, UNDCP Director Renate Ehmer, the Spanish President, Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin, Nepalese Ambassador Jyoti Prasad Adhikari, Sister Monica of Mother Teresa Charity, the Ethiopian Ambassador and Dr Kiran Bedi," he said.

Letters of appreciation have also come from the Spanish President, the Time magazine and the embassies of Ethiopia, Kenya, Romania Australia, Cuba, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Mongolia.

Solanki has also been granted audience by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. However, he is anguished that he has not received any concrete support from the government. "My dream is to spread the Indian culture in all parts of the country. The problem is that neither bureaucrats nor officials of Indian embassies help me in any way. People in foreign countries read Hindi with great interest while in India speaking in Hindi is considered a sign of rusticity," he said, adding that the government should come out with a concrete policy in this regard.

He said the government had promised to recommend his name some prestigious award and also some financial help, but nothing has materialised so far.

On New Year's Day in 2004, he donated 12 paintings to Russia, France, Romania, Ethiopia, Angola, Japan, Thailand, Nepal and Myanmar to propagate Indian culture in those countries.

Solanki has also compiled accounts of the special features of various countries. Impressed by it, the Ethiopian government has awarded him a three-year scholarship to do research work on its tribal life. His collage on dowry was displayed at a French exhibition in the national capital last year.

Earmarking 20 per cent of a meagre salary of Rs 10,000-12,000 for charitable purposes can be dubbed as plainly absurd. But he has the courage to defy the idiom of success and move ahead despite trials and tribulations.

What is creditable is that his books do not have any price tag.

To meet the publication expenses, he has set up Om Sitaram Radheshyam Publication. "I also do research work for the Ethiopian and Zimbabwe embassies. To meet the expenses, I give programmes on AIR and freelance for a newspaper." Religion and spiritual practices have played an important part in Solanki's life. He starts his day at three in the morning and chants the divine name. It is only after that he starts writing the books.

"Whatever I have achieved so far is all because of God's benediction," he said.

UNI