2 awards in translation announced

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 6: The Translate Nepal has announced two awards in translation.

Consultant of Translate Nepal, Sudarshan Shrestha, announced on Saturday that Devkota Translation Book Award and Devkota Translation Achievement Award would be presented every year from 2082 BS onward.

"The translator of the best book either in Nepali or from Nepali will be presented Devkota Translation Book Award while the second will be given to the one who has contributed significantly to the field of translation," Shrestha announced.

Mahakabi Laxmi Prasad Dvekota was possibly the first significant translator of Nepali literature. "The Great Poet had translated his poems into English which attracted international readers for the first time", said Shrestha. "That's why we decided to title the award under his name."

Nepali literature, with its deep roots and vibrant history, began to flourish in the 19th century. Yet, despite its profound beauty and depth, it remains largely unknown in the world literature. Shrestha informed that Translate Nepal was working in the field of translation itself. 

The Organisation recently launched an annual publication titled 'Beyond Borders' presenting a curated translation of Nepali literature. The volume, published simultaneously in Nepal and Australia, has brought out a range of works—poetry, short stories, dramas, and essays—from both the classics and contemporary Nepali authors. 

It is informed that the Organisation aims to bring Nepal’s literary voices to the global stage. It is founded in Australia by writer, editor, and translator Jayant Sharma. 

"Our goal is to share Nepal’s authentic stories with the world, stories that might otherwise go unheard," Sharma, translator and editor, has written in 'Beyond Borders'.

The first volume of Beyond Borders has showcased significant works from the Nepali literary domain that deserve global attention. The volume included timeless poems such as 'Pilgrim' by the Great Poet  (Mahakabi)Laxmi Prasad Devkota, 'A Day Once in Era' by Gopal Prasad Rimal,  'My Square' by Bhupi Sherchan, 'Teaching Daughter Read The Map' by Bijay Malla and  'What A Life Is This Life?' by Haribhakta Katuwal. 

Likewise, modern voices in the poems such as 'The Hen Must Not Crow' by Kunta Sharma, 'What's There In The Mountains' by Min Bahadur Bista, 'The School Of Revolution' by Avaya Shrestha, 'Rumour In The Fishermen's Village' by Shrawan Mukarung,  'In The Yard Of Revolt' by Pradeep Gyawali, 'The Wind's Language' by Sarita Tiwari, 'The Birth Of Pride' by Sudarshan Shrestha and  'The Flowers On the Grave' by Saraswai Pratiksha are also featured in the volume.

The volume has featured short stories by Guru Prasad Mainali, BP Koirala, Poshan Pandey, Ramesh Bikal, Parijat, Manu Brazaki, Bhaupanthi, Padmabati Singh, Ramlal Joshi and Bina Thing Tamang.

Similarly, dramas by Bhim Nidhi Tiwari and Ashesh Malla, essays by Baburam Acharya, Hridayachandra Singh Pradhan, Shankar Lamichhane, Bhairav Risal, Pradeep Nepal, Sudha Tripathi and Roshan Sherchan are also included.

All translations are done by editor Sharma himself. "We have tried our best to bring out the representative voices of Nepali literature under one cover," Sharma has written.

"The volume is an effort to promote Nepali literature globally through translation and marketing," consultant Shrestha, who is also a literary editor, writer and film artiste, said. According to him, more translated works will be featured in the volumes ahead.

The book is available at the main bookstores in Nepal and on Amazon worldwide. The South Asian edition of the book is priced at Rs. 350.

Meanwhile, an interaction on the first volume of the Beyond Borders was organised in the capital on Saturday. Translators Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai, Dr. Bal Ram Adhikary, Saguna Shah, Gopi Upreti and Mahesh Paudyal discussed various aspects of translation.

They jointly hailed the publication of Beyond Borders and initiation of the Translate Nepal.