Famous writings in translation

THE FIRST FLOODS (`Ponniyin Selvan' Part- I): Kalki, translated from Tamil to English by C. V. Karthik Narayanan; Macmillan India Ltd., 21, Patullos Road, Chennai-600002. Rs. 250.

MAHASWETA DEVIYIN SIRUKATHAIGAL - Short Stories: Mahasweta Devi, translated from Bengali to Tamil by N. S. Jagannathan; National Book Trust, India, A-5, Green Park, New Delhi-110016. Rs. 55.

IN THE birth centenary year of the noted Tamil writer, Kalki, Macmillan India, Chennai, (under the editorship of Mini Krishnan), brought out the first fruits of the momentous task it had undertaken in rendering Kalki's sprawling Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan into English. With the bare Tamil text running to some 2500 pages, not many believed that the translation could be completed because the task would take several arduous, patient, tireless years, and secondly, whether after all that labour and perseverence, the final product would have purpose and relevance to the newer generations.

Kalki wrote the novel in the early 1950s as a serial of weekly instalments in his magazine Kalki and though at that time it had a willing readership of several thousands, not many could be certain whether it would entertain future generations. Kalki passed away in 1954 but his work went on to entertain readers, many born long past his death. Both in book form and as a serial repeated again and again - even now it is being serialised in Kalki - the novel had never failed to obtain keen and loyal readership.

Literary critics, sociologists, historians and political scientists have tried to explain this phenomenon of the continuing undiminishing interest among the Tamils for the novel all sound convincing but at the same time deficient. Now in the English translation, the work will be put to test in a society and language other than Tamil. Will it generate the same interest with the same intensity for non-Tamils also? This remains to be seen.

Karthik Narayanan's translation is fluent and consistent. A non- Indian reader may find the translation a trifle difficult but the thoughtfully compiled glossary and more importantly the table of characters, the genealogy chart, and above all, the extended introduction by Prof. T. Sriraman will prove to be extremely helpful to unfold the dimensions of the novel which otherwise a reader may fail to realise.

A historical romance of the 10th century such as the work cannot be complete without some illustrations. In fact, the repeated serialisation of the novel in the weekly had different illustrators each time and that seemed to enhance the thrill of reading the novel. Here in this English version of the book, there are some two dozen new illustrations, done by A. V. Ilango - simple, minimal lines and just the stylisation needed to kindle the curious child in the adult reader.

Less visually spectacular but no less important is the second book under review, which is the collection of stories of the noted Bengali writer and Jnanpith award winner, Mahasweta Devi, in Tamil translation. Kalki was a nationalist and a cultural activist which fact may not get revealed in his work but Mahasweta Devi extends her real life social and anthropological activism to her writings as well. One is left to wonder whether the power of her writings is in her skill as a writer or in her full-blooded involvement with social issues.

The collection has nine stories chosen by her; all except one revolve around the marginalised and oppressed sections of society in the eastern regions of India. Some belong to the lower rungs of Indian caste heirarchy and the rest are tribals but the ruthless exploitation from above equally ruthless exploitation among themselves make this collection a poignant document of human misery.

Added to the circumstantial deprivation are the superstitions and beliefs foisted upon these miserable creatures. But amidst this depressing picture does spring flashes of human spirit for freedom and justice and beauty. For one uninitiated in the lives and beliefs of the tribals, the stories may seem to be not truth but aberrations of observations and it is here that the detailed foreword by Samik Bandhopadhyay comes in as a very necessary intervention.

N. S. Jagannathan, one of the seniormost journalists of the country, a scholar and polyglot, has rendered the translation. He brings his long experience and sensitivity to sociological events in this most effective rendering of a work of an Indian language to another. Mahasweta Devi, Samik Bandhopadhyay and Jagannathan make this book one of the most important publications in recent times.

ASHOKAMITRAN

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