The literary world has been very excited after the English translation of a Hindi novel was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. To be more specific Geetanjali Shree’s Hindi novel, Ret Samadhi was translated into English as Tomb of Sand by Daisy Rockwell. Great news undoubtedly but it does raise the question about the importance of these awards and its effect on a writer. Whether one needed an English translation to ensure regional writers find their space under the sun?
Anwesha Singbal Sahitya Akademi winner and Konkani writer felt
it was true that regional languages like Konkani would take time to gather
international recognition in spite of their literature being as good as any
other languages. She said “One of the important aspects here is translation of
regional language literature into languages such as English which has a wider
reach. These translations do not happen rampantly and hence the beauty of the
language remains centric to the particular region. Having said that, honours
and awards do not really reflect the greatness of any language but efforts
should certainly be made so that the richness of the languages and regions reach
a wider audience and readers because those thoughts reflect the core of a
particular region”.
Savia Veigas, a
writer in English, felt good literature in any language was always enriching.
She said “I would rather read a well translated book which is good if I cannot
read that language. Some of the best books that I have read have been in
translation since I do not read Russian, Japanese, German, Spanish and Urdu.
Good literature uses the power to create an atmosphere, describe cultural
specificities and characters. No doubt it is best read in the language of
origin. But if such a possibility is not available then one has to read
translations. I remember Gabriel Garcia Marquez saying that the English
translation of his book one hundred years of Solitude (which earned him the
Nobel) was even better than the original”. She pointed out that
Speaking about the
translator who translated the Hindi literary work in English, Savia said Daisy
Rockwell was a very accomplished translator. She said “It is a good thing for a
translation to be shortlisted for the Booker and it would mean that Hindi
fiction features the best of writing. Translation is a serious genre of
literature. English professors teach translation and it is perhaps the only way
we can have access to global cultures. Konkani is a great language but only
when it has a vocabulary that is inclusive of scientific terms will it break
the ceiling. It is only then that every Goan would be proud to write and be
educated in Konkani. So learning lessons from this new trend we should
strengthen translation culture by translating from other languages into Konkani
to be able to make the language grow and go places”.
A doyen in the world
of Konkani Literature, Damodar Mauzo had much to say about the subject. He said
“I don’t think you need English but I believe nominations should go from the
right quarters. I strongly believe publishers should take pains to promote
their writers. I believe it is natural for people to know you when you win an
award. After I won the Jnanpith Award, people around the country heard of me
and my work. Internationally one has to look at writers like Kazuo Ishiguro who
became internationally famous after he won the Man Booker prize. Earlier no one
knew him or others but then the opportunity presented itself and they became
famous. With regards to writers in Konkani it is important to get recognition
in your state and then when the opportunity presents itself make the most of
it. When I won the award, I did not believe at any point in time that I was the
best writer. I knew there were hundred other writers in different languages
that were equally good or even better. To strike the big time you need the
opportune time.”
Glenis Mendoca has
done a doctorate in translation and is an assistant professor in a college. She
said the only way a writer could get known was via a good translation. Glenis
said “Some of the best works have not been translated. All the Goans who have
won nationally have done so on the back of good translations. Mauzo won the
Jnanpith on work that was translated. Half the credit should go to the
translators. Look at the books that were not in English that won the Nobel
prize for literature due to great translations. Mauzo was very aggressive in
pushing for translations and it paid off. Goan writers have to do the same”.
Heta Pandit another
writer bemoaned the lack of awareness of writers and literature in the state.
She cited the example of a play called Dhukhor Dynesh Moghe which she felt was
world class which did not generate much response in the state. Heta said”
Things are happening but it is known only amongst a very small group of writers
and translators. It is very depressing.”
Jose Lourenco who
writes in Konkani said the readership for Konkani was so much smaller. He said
“Our market is spread all over thanks to our colonial history. And yes, we are
divided by scripts, we don’t get the numbers. We are getting there slowly. Look
at Mauzo, his work gets translated and I think the others should also push for
the same. Then they will stand a chance of winning awards and they will be
recognized”
Agusto Pinto, critic
and translator smiled and said it was an extremely complex problem. He said
“Goa is a small place. If they want to be recognized they have to be signed by
a national publisher like Penguin, Harpers but they are very difficult to get
in with them. They are all businesses who all want to make a profit. Unless you
are a Damodar Mauzo, they are not willing to look at new writers. I work on
translations. I have three excellent writers, plays by Pundalik Naik, Gajanand
Jog and poems of Late Vishnu Wagh. They are lying on my laptop. I am struggling
to get national publishers interested. I can get them published in Goa and sell
five hundred copies. But that will not get you national publishers.” He said it
was important for Goan writers to get savvy to get recognition. Pundalik,
Agusto said, was in that position to get national recognition but he could not
do his work but now at 71 no one was looking at him. He said “If you have a
name like Manohar Shetty, you will be able to get an anthology of Goan writers
because he has a certain standing. But for me it is a problem because no one in
the publishing industry knows me. The translators need those contacts”.
Perhaps
in time as the market matures, there will be a more organized system which
ensures interesting work will get translated and bring them to the attention of
the bigger publishers who might take a shot at them and hit pay dirt.