THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Ravinder Singh Sodhi
‘Contemporary Indian Stories in English Translation,’ edited by Dr. Supinder Jeet Kaur and Dr. Sushminder Jeet Kaur, is a significant anthology bringing together 82 translated short stories from 13 Indian languages. The languages represented in the volume are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Haryanvi, Hindi, Idu Mishmi, Magadhi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Tulu.
The anthology presents a wide range of Indian literary voices and cultural experiences through English translation. The inclusion of stories from relatively less represented languages such as Idu Mishmi, Magadhi, Haryanvi and Tulu makes the collection particularly noteworthy. Idu Mishmi is spoken mainly in the Dibang Valley and adjoining areas of Arunachal Pradesh. Bringing stories from such diverse linguistic traditions to English-reading audiences is a commendable contribution by the translators and editors.
The volume has a substantial representation of Punjabi short fiction, with 28 translated stories by leading Punjabi short-story writers. Writers represented in this section include Gulzar Sandhu, Ajeet Caur, Sarbjeet Kaur Sohal, Jasvir Rana, Kirpal Kazak, Artinder Sandhu, Pritam Singh, Dr. Darshan Singh Asth, Kulbir Badesron, and Y.C.Sood among others. Many of the writers and translators included in the anthology are of national and international repute.
Some other writers and translators are; Lakshmi Bezbaruah, Mandira Ghosh, Rupsa Mukherjee, Ajanta Pal, Nadani Sahu, Ku. Alargirisamy, V. K.K. Ramesh etc.
The editors have brought together this voluminous collection with considerable care, giving readers an opportunity to experience the richness and variety of contemporary Indian short fiction beyond the boundaries of individual languages. The anthology also highlights the important role of translation in connecting India’s diverse literary traditions with a wider readership.
The Foreword to the volume has been written by Dr. A. J. Thomas, a well-known name in Indian English literature and a respected literary figure. Brief introductions to the story writers and translators are also provided at the end of the book, adding useful background for readers.
Contemporary Indian Stories in English Translation is thus a valuable addition to the growing body of translated Indian literature and an effort to bring the voices of writers from different linguistic regions together in one comprehensive volume.
