‘Translation: The Bridge over Lives and Landscapes’ is part of the 13th edition of The Hindu Lit for Life, with speakers Chandan Gowda, Gauri Ramnarayan and Vanamala Vishwanath.

“Translation is not just important in the context of literature; it is important for civilization itself – for people to enter into each other’s lives and experiences and to feel about populations that one does not know and to gain insight into areas where one will probably never visit. Translation is vital to human development,” says writer, publisher and editor Mini Krishnan, whose contribution to the Indian literary landscape – particularly through her work in translating regional voices into English – is distinctive and significant.

Gauri Ramnarayan married Kalki R. Has translated Krishnamurthy’s epic novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan’. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

at 13^th version of The Hindu Lit for Life, in the aptly titled ‘Translation: The Bridge over Lives and Landscapes’ session, three speakers – Chandan Gowda, Gauri Ramnarayan and Vanamala Vishwanath – will share their journey into the world of translation and shed light on writers and their works that they have had the privilege of recreating for the world of Indian writing in English. Moderated by Mini Krishnan, the conversation will unfold as a discussion on form, content, aesthetics and how these explorations have shaped one’s world view of literature.

Chandan Gowda Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Three years ago, Chandan Gowda – writer, editor and dean of the School of Liberal Arts, VidyaShilpa University, Bengaluru – wrote a book on the modernist Kannada writer, Rajalakshmi N. Rao’s “extraordinary” voice and discovered the world. After meeting him, he retrieved many of his stories from archival sources. The conversation with him resulted in the revival of a powerful voice long forgotten.

His stories and translations have been republished in an edited collection titled Sangam – PastorHe believes that the world of literature has been enriched by these works of short fiction written in the mid-50s; And only for four years when the author was between 19 and 23 years of age.

Vanmala Vishwanath Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“His voice is a sophisticated one,” says Gowda, “he wrote in both Kannada and English. Her sound is vivid, visual, sensitive, musically, psychologically rich and one that boldly seeks a sense of liberation in relationships. That a woman wrote such stories in her time, where women basically took care of their families, is no less than an event for her.

For writer, editor, translator and theater director Gauri Ramnarayan, who wrote Kalki R. Having translated Krishnamurthy’s biography and fiction and his epic novel ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, translation has been a journey to understand how authentic you can be to the spirit of the original. “The English language is just different; it moves and flows differently; when you use words, they have different meanings. I have learned over time that true translation cannot be transferred.”

Vanamala Vishwanath will share insights from her book ‘Bride in the Hills’, her English translation of Kuvempu’s epic novel – Malegalalli Madumagallu (1967) Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In the session, while Gauri Ramnarayan will consider translation from the perspective of Kalki’s writings, Vanamala Vishwanath, a bilingual scholar and translator, will share insights from her book, ‘Bride in the Hills’, her English translation of Kuvempu’s epic novel. Malegalalli Madumagallu (1967) – and a part of the Penguin Modern Classics series.

Gauri Ramnarayan Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Talking about Kalki’s writing, Gauri says, “Kalki spends pages describing landscapes, but you need to understand that in her world the landscapes are as important as the psyche – the fields, the ponds, the lotuses in Chola Nadu – are not only indicative of culture and civilisation, but they also have an impact on the actions and attitudes of the characters living on that land and in her stories.”