Rich Regional Literature Faces Translation Hadicap
BHUBANESWAR: Eminent writer Bani Basu on Monday called for formation of a panel of translators devoted to translate Indian literature from one regional language to another.
The translators should not only be proficient in both the languages they deal with, but more importantly, be aware and possess an emotional connect with the authors and works they have to translate. One translator should attach himself or herself with two or three authors at the most so that he or she can do justice to the translation.
Delivering the Surendra Mohanty Memorial lecture at a function to observe 25th death anniversary of the celebrated writer, freedom fighter, journalist and politician and commemorate the golden jubilee year of his immortal creation ‘Nilasaila’, Basu said more focus on translations was imperative to take Indian regional literature to the people.
“Because of a serious dearth of translations, we are not familiar with the literature of our own country. All our languages boast of a very developed and rich repository of literature. This kind of wide and varied literary canvas cannot be found anywhere else in the world. But people of our own country are aliens to the masterpieces in different languages due to lack of translation,” she rued.
The 2010 Sahitya Akademi winner also expressed concern over the primacy that English has gained in literary sphere of the country. “English is an acquired language but it is commanding supremacy, thanks to the continuing colonial mindset. Regional languages, which truly represent Indian literature and culture, have been pushed to the sidelines and that has to be changed,” she urged.
She delved on the contribution of Surendra Mohanty not only to the enrichment of Odia but also the whole Indian literature. His historical novel ‘Nilasaila’ is a trendsetter in Indian literature, she said.
The Katha Samrat Surendra Mohanty Memorial Trust conferred ‘Surendra Smruti Samman’ awards on eminent personalities from different fields on the occasion. They include litterateur Pitabas Routray, journalist and Editor Odisha, The New Indian Express Srimoy Kar, social worker Binod Mohanty, writer and social worker Iti Samanta and propagator of Jagannath Culture Srikant Parija.
Editor, Sambad Soumyaranjan Patnaik, Jnanpith awardee Sitakanta Mahapatra, former Speaker Sarat Kar, programme officer Mihir Sahoo and trustee Lopamudra Mohanty also spoke.