By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 2: Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Saturday announced the Khasi translation of Great Minds on India, an internationally celebrated book by Shillong-based author, Salil Gewali.
Lauding the book’s cultural and literary significance, Lyngdoh said he was personally committed to ensuring its translation into Khasi. The book, formally launched in 2009 by former Governor RS Mooshahary, has continued to bring honour to Meghalaya, he added.
The minister made the announcement after reviewing a range of critical articles and scholarly reviews from across the globe, including from the UK, USA, Germany and Pakistan, as well as writings by prominent local intellectuals such as Fabian Lyngdoh and Michael Syiem.
Lyngdoh said the book played a key role in reigniting interest in India’s ancient wisdom and intellectual heritage, particularly among the younger generation.
It may be mentioned that Great Minds on India compiles views and reflections by renowned Western thinkers such as Albert Einstein, Schopenhauer, Wordsworth, Tolstoy, William Blake, JD Salinger, Goethe, Emerson, TS Eliot and Robert Oppenheimer, who deeply admired Eastern philosophy and timeless Indian knowledge systems.
Over the years, the book has been launched by Governors and education ministers in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and Meghalaya, and by chief ministers of Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh.
Its German edition, released in 2022 by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and legislator Sanbor Shullai, marked a milestone in the book’s international reception.
“Now translated into 15 languages, including German, Sanskrit, Urdu, Marathi, and Arabic, Salil Gewali’s work continues to build bridges between East and West. It has also earned praise from scholars, leaders, and cultural institutions in Germany, Spain, Qatar, Dubai, and across India,” a statement here said.