8 months ago
Darling Earth: English Translation of Bengali Novel Launched
A new book called 'Darling Earth' was launched in Kolkata.
This book is an English translation of a famous Bengali novel called 'Parthibo' written by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay.
The translator, Prasenjit Saha, worked on it for 15 years.
The story talks about life, meaning, and how people deal with big questions.
It also discusses environmental problems and family issues.
The author said he wrote the book to warn people about taking care of the environment.
A book critic mentioned that translating such a big and important work takes time and effort.
The book is now available for readers to enjoy.
Darling Earth is the English translation of Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's Bengali novel 'Parthibo'.
The novel explores themes of life, meaning, human consciousness, and environmental issues.
Prasenjit Saha, an engineer in the renewable energy sector, took 15 years to translate the novel.
The author, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, wrote the novel in the 1990s, initially as separate stories that later became a continuous narrative.
The book launch was attended by the translator and the author, who shared insights about the translation process and the novel's themes.
- Who
- Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay (author), Prasenjit Saha (translator)
- What
- Launch of the English translation of the Bengali novel 'Parthibo' titled 'Darling Earth'
- Where
- Kolkata
- When
- Monday evening
- Why
- To make Bengali literature more accessible and to explore themes of life, meaning, and environmental issues
Key facts
- Original Novel
- Parthibo by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
- Translation Title
- Darling Earth
- Translator
- Prasenjit Saha
- Launch Location
- Kolkata
- Translation Time
- 15 years
- Author's Writing Period
- 1990s
- Themes
- Life, meaning, human consciousness, environmental issues, family conflicts
Quotes
Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
Author of the novel 'Parthibo'
“The first five chapters were five different stories as there was not enough material for continuity… once there was continuity and I saw that the readers were reading, I continued writing and the novel concluded…there are many ups and downs, like I studied under lantern light and now there is mobile, so there is a huge transition. If one moves with time …it is good… I never think separately about society. When I started writing I had no readers, initially they had not accepted me. But I never wrote anything to please the readers, I only wrote what I wanted to write. Sometimes it took me 2.5 years to write a story as I was unable to get the right words.”
indianexpress.com
“He (Saha) was in contact with me for a long time for this translation. I commend his patience. I liked the translation of the transcripts he had shared with me. When I write, I only stay with myself, I have no fight with the world, it really does not matter if people read or throw away my writing. For me, the challenge is whether I am able to write in a manner that I am thinking.”
indianexpress.com
Prasenjit Saha
Translator of the novel 'Darling Earth'
“This novel influenced me a lot as the theme was very contemporary, talked about the environmental issues and conflicts within the family. All this attracted me… values like truth, honesty and respect matter in life and drive humanity.”
indianexpress.com
“Translation is a challenging work. I have internalised the characters. I feel that Bengali literature is not widely translated. The quality of literature that we have does not get enough promotion.”
indianexpress.com
Samik Bandhopadhay
Kolkata-based critic of art, theatre and films
“I have also worked as a translator. It is important for translators that they should get into the spirit and style of the author. One has to get the feel of the work. In this case, 15 years is quite natural due to the volume (of the work). Among his contemporaries, Mukhopadhyay has concentrated on language. He chooses his words carefully. One of the thrills and joys that I get in the Kolkata Book Fair is that young people who have got some time, look out for the books and read . A very new and interesting readership is evolving.”
indianexpress.com
