Breaking down walls of languages
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Ajeet Cour lays emphasis on the need for translations to popularise literary works by regional writers.
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Ajeet Cour speaks a universal tounge.
PUNJABI WRITER Ajeet Cour's association with Kerala is now more than 40 years old. Cour is one of the most-read regional novelists, and Malayalam translations of her autobiography and fiction are well into their second editions.
Cour had visited Kozhikode along with her daughter Arpana Caur a well-known artist, to inaugurate `Million Canvas' in 2001.
And now on her umpteenth visit to the State, she says she is enamoured of Thunchan Parambu and the festival here.
Meeting this candid writer who is committed to social causes and world peace is a treat. That feeling is accentuated when the meeting is in the hallowed precincts of Thunchan Parambu, surrounded by soothing chants of Ezhuthachan's poetry.
`Shantiniketan'
``Thunchan Parambu has a soul. It is the Santiniketan of the South. It will become a Mecca of creative people - magical and vibrant. Here is the instance of a writer's dream becoming a reality,'' Cour is all enthused.
She says she is yet to see a writer as popular, loved and respected as M.T.Vasudevan Nair.
"Unlike Santiniketan, Thunchan Parambu will preserve its soul as Vasudevan Nair is training people with similar dreams and aspirations. He is a phenomenon.''
During her inaugural address she had remarked that she was concerned that we know more about Shakespeare and less about Kalidas, Thunchan Parambu, Basavanna or Sheik Farid.
Elaborating on that, Cour expresses concern about the lack of creative translations "that makes me an alien among my fellow writers living in other parts of the country. Without this, a creative dialogue between writers and other creative people cannot take place. In the absence of a dialogue, it is only the superpowers of this country who will decide every aspect of our lives. You have just two choices - to keep silent, or stand up, and be counted. For all creative people, the second is the only option.''
Her autobiographical work `Khanab Dosh' (`Thavalam Illathavar'), published by DC Books in 1993 was serialised by Mathrubhumi weekly. It is a kaleidoscopic work that is touching and blunt, and Cour builds an intimacy with her reader with this book. The work brought her the Sahitya Akademi award.
The Malayalam translation by V.D. Krishnan Nambiar bagged the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1985, besides the Ayyappa Panicker award for translation.
`Koore Kabada' (`Kuppathotti') is another of Cour's work that was translated into Malayalam and published by DC Books. It was serialised by Deshabhimani weekly. More than 2,000 copies were sold, and a second edition is on the way.
Translation of works
Her short stories have been translated into Malayalam too. The first short story to appear in Malayalam was `Buth Shikan'(`Lady Lecturer'). Another of her anthology of stories is `Naa Maro'(`Kollaruthu').
Cour has published 19 collections of short stories and novels. In addition there is a travelogue, couple of research works, several translation of fiction and poetry.
Five of her stories have been translated to the celluloid. Fifty-three doctorates are based on her writings in various Indian universities.
Cour is the founder-president of the unique literary initiative, Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature, which organises interactions among writers in the SARC region.
"The first ever Indo-Pakistan Writers' Conference held in New Delhi in 1987, was an amazing interactive literary event,'' she reminisces. ``I do not believe in categorisation of writing into women, Dalit,... My writing is writing.''
Cour is now involved with the activities of the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, a haunt for creative people in the Siri Fort area in New Delhi, which she and her daughter Arpana built brick-by-brick. The centre also provides non-formal education to women from the `juggis' in New Delhi.
"I want to open the world of culture to them. They have not entered an art gallery. Bharatanatyam dancers, amateur theatre groups, sculptors, beauticians,... use my space free of cost," says Ajeet Cour.
MALEEHA RAGHAVIAH
Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup
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