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Book Review
HINDI
French classic
PAPPU VENUGOPALA RAO
UMMID HAI AYEGA VOH DIN: Hindi translation of Emile Zola’s Germinal by Droane Vir Kohli; Rajkamal Prakasan Pvt. Ltd., 1 B, Netaji Subhash Marg , New Delhi-110002. Rs.150.
THIS BOOK is a Hindi translation by Dronae Vir Kohli of the French novel, Germinal, by one of the greatest novelists in French, Emile Zola. This is one of the novels published in a series of world classics translated into Hindi. Under this series many writers of the 19th century, Russian, French, British and American have been brought closer to the Indian readers through Hindi translations. Emile Zola (1840-1902), who remained largely controversial during his time, left a great deal of influence on later writers who wrote particularly about the working class and their problems. He was a short story writer in the early years of his life but later evolved into a great novelist. More than half of Zola’s novels were part of a series of 20 novels, collectively known as Les Rougon-Macquart.
“Germinal” is the 13th novel in the 20-volume series published first in 1885. This is considered one of the greatest novels ever produced in French language. It revolves round a young migrant worker of a coal mine. Another important character Etienne is portrayed in this novel as a hard working idealist. The title is the name of the seventh month of the French Revolutionary calendar and is meant to evoke imagery of germination, new growth and fertility. At the end of this novel there is a note of hope with an inspiration to socialist and reformist causes.
The title for the Hindi translation sums up the hope the original writer intended in his conclusion. The translator has done a commendable job by being faithful to the original.
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