Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, renowned Kannada lexicographer, passes away in Bengaluru at 107
Having compiled 12 dictionaries, edited over 60 books and produced various seminal works on dictionary science in Kannada, Venkatasubbaiah was a leading figure in the literary scene
R Vatsala's The Scent of Happiness speaks to women navigating politics as it plays out within home, work spheres
In an interview with Firstpost, writer R Vatsala and translators K Srilata and Kaamya Sharma reflect on the origins of Kannukkul Sattru Pazhanithu, translation as an art-driven exercise and scientific process, and how sharing experiences can light a fire.
'Translation is the deepest kind of reading': Kazim Ali on working with Ananda Devi's poetry, relationship with languages
"Devi's poems seem simple — just like something that would be said between friends — but they turn and twist within, move strangely, maybe even "darkly.""
Amidst criticism against choice of translator, Dutch poet refuses to work on Amanda Gorman's poem
The publisher said earlier this week that Rijneveld was the translator it had dreamed of and said that “Amanda Gorman herself was also immediately enthusiastic about the choice for the young poet.”
Gulzar on A Poem a Day, his collection of translated poetry chronicling India's history since 1947
The compilation of translated poems by Gulzar has been over eight years in the making, traversing through the length and breadth of the country, with works of 279 poets in 34 languages featured in the book.
Bringing Dhumketu to a new century: Jenny Bhatt discusses translating the pioneering Gujarati writer's short stories
In the early 20th century, Dhumketu was a household name, known for writing stories that departed from the heavy influence of Mahatma Gandhi's ideology to depict instead a village idyll, the simple joys and sorrows of a common person, and the everyday goings-on of a Gujarati home.
As Eru Veyyil gets an English translation, Perumal Murugan revisits his 1991 classic tracing deterioration of rural idyll
In Rising Heat one can spot traces of the author’s unflinchingly honest and poignant narrative produced years before the terrible controversy around One Part Woman led him to make the sorrowful announcement that ‘Perumal Murugan, the writer, is dead.’
The Filter Koffee Podcast: Taslima Nasreen and translator Arunava Sinha on her latest book, Shameless
In this episode of The Filter Koffee Podcast, noted Bengali author and activist Taslima Nasreen is joined by translator Arunava Sinha; they discuss their individual creative processes.
In translating Chandrasekhara Kambar's Two Plays, Krishna Manavalli performs commendable service to Kannada writing
In her recent translation of Chandrasekhara Kambar’s Two Plays, Krishna Manavalli has carefully selected two representative works: Rishyshringa and Mahmoud Gawan.
Six translated works to read during the lockdown, representing some of the best writing from the Indian subcontinent
From Urdu to Bengali, Hindi to Malayalam, these titles are a great sampling of fiction — and a world — outside the English language | #LockdownList with @HarperCollinsIN
'Uttam' changes to Best, 'Sutar' to Carpenter as PM-Kisan Yojana beneficiaries' names in Maharashtra's Sangli get lost in translation
Several farmers in Sangli district of western Maharashtra had to face hardships after their names got translated into English while enrolling for the PM-Kisan Yojana.
The joy and challenges of translating Perumal Murugan's Thondra Thunai — an evocative account of his mother
From his mother’s reluctance to accept Ezhilarasi as her daughter-in-law, to his decision to send her off along the path of the wind, Perumal Murugan's 'Amma' is as social an account as personal. His Amma is a tough woman and will remain a lasting influence on him, and yet, in his book, Murugan does justice to the writer in him, by not allowing the magnanimity of her persona cover up for her shortcomings and limitations of being part of a patriarchal setup. He does not shy away from speaking about it, and on his ways of handling the issues that cropped up due to the contradictions that existed between them.
Shanta Gokhale discusses writing her memoir, the complexities of translation, and the role of a critic
Earlier this month, the Tata Literature Live Festival conferred a lifetime achievement award upon Shanta Gokhale, recognising her long and distinguished career which includes Marathi novels, plays, translations, books on theatre and screenplays — to say nothing of a lifetime of journalism.
Dalit writing, global contexts: The River Speaks by Bojja Tharakam stands as a poetic beacon against injustice
Even more than their content or literary merit, Bojja Tharakam’s poems stand tall for the history of resistance against oppression they narrate.
Dalit writing, global contexts: In ND Rajkumar's poetry, echoes of folk rhythms, myths and local history
ND Rajkumar's poetic voice is distinct, for it carries the stories of his ancestors, who did not bow down to their oppressors – oppressors who wanted to erase their existence from history. His style, on the other hand, has the rhythm of a folk artist
Dalit writing, global contexts: S Joseph combines critique and compassion in My Sister’s Bible
In Communist Kerala, S Joseph emerged as the forerunner of the Malayalam Dalit literary tradition. He was able to challenge Brahminical poetic traditions while offering verses that soothed the wounds of the lower caste people
Of Ponnani, a temple town, and the Canoli Canal that divided it in two: Artist Namboodiri remembers
Sketches: The Memoir of an Artist is the intimate memoir of renowned artist KM Vasudevan Namboodiri. The book is interspersed with his sketches and translated into English by Gita Krishnankutty.
Dalit writing, global contexts: The tour de force that is Manoranjan Byapari's Interrogating My Chandal Life
Being a pioneer of Dalit literature in West Bengal, Manoranjan Byapari has ensured that the stories which were historically neglected and rejected by Brahminical literary pundits no longer need their mercy or even their attention.
Dalit writing, global contexts: Neerav Patel's Severed Tongue Speaks Out skewers casteism, with humour
Even as a bilingual writer (English and Gujarati) and despite being possessed of a poetic imagination far more creative than his contemporary Arun Kolatkar (upper caste, and bilingual), Neerav Patel wasn’t exempt from the prejudiced and casteist nature of Indian literary criticism. Savarna critics immortalised Kolatkar and invisiblised Patel.
Dalit writing, global contexts: Om Prakash Valmiki's Joothan is the shining pinnacle of Hindi Dalit literature
The English translation of Joothan — a magnum opus of Hindi Dalit literature — is an event in which we have witnessed both, the importance of translation as well as how translation of Dalit literature has many political dimensions that are yet to be unravelled.