Nepali book in other languagesfares well

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 28 OCTOBER 21 : Nepali book 'Fatsung,' written by Chuden Kabimo, is doing well ever since it was first published, while the same, now translated in many other languages, is also faring well. The English version of the book, which is based on the Gorkhaland movement, was released here recently.

The book was first published in Nepali in 2019, after which it's translated version in Bengali and English have been released, with the Hindi one also being made available within this year.

"Translation of the book in different languages is a positive thing, as Nepali literary work is limited to only a small circle. We have not been able to reach out to a wider audience and through translations of it in different languages, the same will be possible," said Mr Kabimo.

"A story of our society will be able to reach others and people from of here arts of the world will be able to learn and know about our struggle here," he added.

The English version of the book tided 'Song of the Soil' was released on 23 October and was translated by Ajit Baral. It has been simultaneously published in Nepal, India and the UK. It is being published by FinePrint in Nepal, Rachna Books in India, in joint partnership with FinePrint, and Balestier Press in the UK.

"We have received good response. The Nepali one sold 10,000 plus in India and Nepal, with us having to take out the second edition also. The Bengali version of the book also did good," said Mr Kabimo, who added that it was translated by Samik Chakravorty.

"What I feel good about it is that it was not I that approached them for translations, but they asked me if my work can be translated. I feel proud that from a small village In Kalimpong, my work and the story from here has been appreciated," he said, adding that the Hindi translation was being done by Dr Namrata Chaturvedi.

According to Mr Kabimo, the word Fatsung' is a Lepcha word, which means story of the soil. He said it was a story of an ordinary person who had no interest in politics, but supported the Gorkhaland movement in the mid 1980s and how his "dream was betrayed" in 1988.

On the other hand, the English tranlator, Mr Baral, said, "When I first read Fatsung in manuscript form, I was instantly drawn into it by the beauty of Chuden's writing and the Darjeeling lingo. This coupled with the distinctive narrative voice and the similarities between our own Maoist movement and the Gorkhaland movement, inspired me to translate it into English."