Haljand Udam facts for kids
Haljand Udam (born May 8, 1936 – died December 17, 2005) was an Estonian scholar and translator. He was known for his deep knowledge of Eastern cultures and languages. An orientalist is someone who studies the languages, history, and cultures of the East.
About Haljand Udam
Haljand Udam was born in Rakvere, Estonia, in 1936. He first studied geology at Tartu University. However, he soon found a great interest in the cultures of the East, especially ancient Iranian literature. This led him to study Eastern languages at universities in Tashkent and Moscow State University.
His Studies and Research
Udam became very skilled in many Eastern languages. He focused on Indology, which is the study of India's history, cultures, and languages. In 1971, he completed his advanced research paper in Moscow. It was about the special meanings of certain words used in Persian Sufi texts. Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam.
Important Translations
Haljand Udam translated many important works into Estonian. He translated from languages like Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Tajik. Some of his famous translations include:
- Works by the Arab scholar Ibn Tufail.
- Poems by Persian poets like Rudaki, Saadi, and Ali Safi.
- The well-known collection of poems called the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam.
Udam also worked as an editor and wrote articles for the Eesti Entsüklopeedia, which is the Estonian Encyclopedia. His articles about Eastern studies were also published in magazines in other countries.
Translating the Quran
Just before he passed away, Udam finished a very important project. He completed the translation of the Quran into Estonian. The Quran is the holy book of Islam. This translation was published on December 19, 2007, after his death. Haljand Udam is remembered as a leading expert on Islam in Estonia. He died in Viterbo, Italy, in 2005.
