Boy, Unloved’ the latest translation of Damodar Mauzo’s Konkani novel, ‘Jeev Divum Kai Chya Marum’ by noted translator and author, Jerry Pinto, was released at the 12th edition of Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) 2024, during the opening ceremony at ICG, Dona Paula.
The story is about a teenage protagonist, Vipin Parob, a very intelligent teenager but who is emotionally arid. It is a tender coming-of-age story of a boy who learns to love.
Damodar Mauzo, the recipient of 57th Jnanpith Award, during an interaction with Vinutha Mallya stated that due to his closeness to his grandchildren and being aware about their issues and anxieties, probably made him write about this young boy.
Jerry Pinto informed that this is first Konkani translation and it had its own issues. “The problem with Konkani language that it is a shape shifter. I come from North Goa and Bhai (Mauzo) from South Goa. So there are two Konkanis inside our heads. They are nurtured by the same land, coddled by the same rivers, but they are fundamentally different,” stated Jerry.
When asked if this being the first Konkani project, did he had to lot of learning and unlearning? Jerry asserted that this is true for every project as every book and its language has its own challenges. He has otherwise translated works in Marathi, Hindi, into English. He added, “You are confronted with the way languages continuously shape shift and challenges you to catch the shape shifting in another language.”
Jerry confirmed that he took this project mainly because of Bhai Mauzo and also he was fascinated with the teenage protagonist and his journey
which he wanted to explore in English language.
During the interaction, Damodar’s acclaimed novel, ‘Karmelin’ (1981) for which he won the 1983 Sahitya Akademi award, that portrayed the trials and tribulations of a Goan woman working in Gulf country, was also discussed.
Jerry at this point expressed that he would love to re-translate this book in English. When he read the book in Konkani, after reading it in English, he felt that he should translate it again. “I want to see how this Karmelin will shape under my hands. It is my dream to translate ‘Karmelin’,” he added.
Jerry as mentioned before being his first Konkani translation was little unsure. So he thought of reading out the whole book to Damodar personally. So, he spent few days with him, where he stayed at his house at Majorda. Jerry recollected the good time he spent with Damodar at his ancestral house. They spent quality time together working, going for morning walks, visiting local bakery, and relishing home cooked meals made by Shaila Mauzo.
Jerry said, “Benefit of translating a book is the increased intimacy with the mind of the writer. Because you burrow in the mind of the writer.”
While speaking about his translation process, Jerry stated that he made sure that he kept the tone of the original book which is ‘vairagya’ or missing of something—be it the missing of light in the house or trees in the garden. For him, the challenge was to bring this emotion of ‘vairagya’ in English language.
The one interesting aspect of the English book is the title. It is quite different from the original title. At this point Jerry stated that when youngsters were consulted regarding this title in Konkani, it sounded dismissive of suicide. Thus, they changed it. He added, “The title ‘Boy Unloved’ is summing of my response to the book.”
This is the third translation of ‘Jeev Divum Kai Chya Marum’ as it is already translated in Kannada and in Marathi by Shaila Mauzo (wife of Damodar Mauzo). However, Jerry suggested to the audience that one should read the original one in Konkani. He asserted that even if one has to read slowly to understand the language, one must do that. “Reading slowly is a good thing. That is a language doing you a favour by creating a space for contemplation, reflection in your slowness,” said Jerry.
On a concluding note, Damodar hinted that he may start working on a sequel to ‘Jeev Divum Kai Chya Marum’ as the story has lot of scope for it.
