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The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Beyond Heart Lamp's success: Are translators getting the credit that's due?
'Against Italics' - Deepa Bhasthi's translator's note for Heart Lamp, which won the International Booker Prize 2025, made headlines. The translator's note section, which is usually skipped, drew attention this time. 'Setting aside the futile debate of what is lost and found in translation', Ms. Bhasthi talks about her deliberate choice to not use italics for the Kannada, Urdu, and Arabic words that remain untranslated in English. Ms. Bhasthi ends the translator's note saying, 'Italics serve to not only distract visually, but more importantly, they announce words as imported from another language, exoticising them and keeping them alien to English. By not italicising them, I hope the reader can come to these words without interference, and in the process of reading with the flow, perhaps even learn a new word or two in another language. Same goes for footnotes – there are none'. While talking to The Hindu, Ms. Bhasthi says this translator's note has been met with a lot of love and care, and attention by readers as well. One of the reasons why words are italicised in translated texts is that there may be no exact equivalent in the target language of translation ~ seen as untranslatability. Until some years ago, this idea of untranslatability was the prominent discourse in translated literature, viewed negatively. Conversations about translated texts have, however, become more nuanced now, and translation is coming to be seen as a creative process as much as writing. As translators claim creative agency and push back against conventions like italicisation, the way a translator's role is perceived is evolving. From what's lost to what's found Ms. Bhasthi prefers the term writer-translator over just translator, which reduces the translator's job to one less than the writer. She says translation is as much a creative practice as writing, and autonomy in translation is important, as without it, her job would be no different than ChatGPT. 'That said, of course, if the author is living, it is always nice to be in conversation with them about their stories and, you know, get insights', she says. Moutushi Mukherjee, Commissioning Editor at Penguin Random House India, states that translators are now able to talk more about the tremendous impact a translation can have on expanding a literary heritage to wider audiences. She notes that there is a growing number of enthusiastic and resourceful translators in the country, which she sees as a very positive development. Ms. Mukherjee adds that the translators themselves are now more vocal about their role, putting themselves out there, so to speak, and emphasizing their contributions. According to Ms. Mukherjee, wins like Tomb of Sand (for Daisy Rockwell) and Heart Lamp (for Deepa Bhasthi) have also, obviously, changed the way readers perceive the translator. Translator visibility on book covers The book cover for Heart Lamp, published by Penguin, features an artwork at the top, followed by the book title and subtitle in red and sky blue-colored fonts, respectively. The next prominent feature is the author's name, Banu Mushtaq, spaced across the centre of the cover. It is then followed by Ms. Bhasthi's name in a smaller font, highlighting her 'Winner of the English PEN Translates Award 2024' achievement. A similar pattern of book covers is visible in the Perennial translation series by Harper Collins, and their back covers provide a brief introduction to both the author and the translator. This wasn't always the norm. Ms. Bhasthi says this visibility on the book cover is much better than until a few years ago, as translators' names would be somewhere inside the book and not on the cover. But now nearly all publishers put the translator's name on the cover. In a 2016 opinion piece for The Hindu, translator S. Krishnamurthy writes, 'Except on the title page and the cover, nowhere else will you see your name or any other details about you (translator). If your name is an ubiquitous sort, as is mine, nobody will even know you are the translator, unless you tell them'. Ms. Bhasthi says there still needs to be a lot of awareness about this, and it needs to start with the media. She states that there is an attitude that continues to persist in the media, especially, where somehow it is enough to just name the writer of the original work and not name the writer-translator who has brought the work into English or whatever other language. Ms. Bhasthi says we have certainly come a long way, but she thinks we still have a very long way to go before writer-translators are also seen on an equal footing with the writers in the original languages as well. Stepping aside from India, the research paper, 'Examining Intersemiotic translation of book covers as a medium of culture transfer,' was published in 2018. Among other aspects, it attempts to concentrate on the elements and criteria that are directly related to the visibility of translators. It takes into account five translations of Ernest Hemingway's, 'The Old Man and the Sea', in Iran, one of the most translated books in the country. The research paper finds that the title is designed with the biggest font, and then the name of the author in a quite smaller font, and lastly, the name of the translator is printed in the smallest font. 'It is also worth mentioning that in two works, the name of the translator is not even printed on the front cover, i.e., Manzoori and Parsay translations. In other words, the mentioned pattern prioritises the importance of each item: first the work, then the author, and last the translator. These covers also don't provide specific information in the book for introducing the translator or his/her other translated works to the interested readers', the paper says. In the Indian publishing industry the scene has changed. Urvashi Butalia, publisher, teacher and activist, says, 'There is greater acknowledgement and this is evident in all the things such as larger fonts, better placement, and also in including translators in media events. By contrast, I've not seen many reviews that mention names of translators, although again I could be wrong'. Ms. Mukherjee says credit is very important. She states that a simple act of giving credit to the translator on the cover of the book, and yes, equal weightage inside the book, has gone a long way, in her personal experience. Ms. Mukherjee also says we should expand that credit in a broader sense: include the translator in all marketing and publicity details, retail campaigns, and general discussion about the book. She emphasizes giving the translator the visibility they deserve across festivals and awards. According to Ms. Mukherjee, if we want to give visibility to translators, we must do so collaboratively, across all stakeholders. Promoting translated literature Translators are being acknowledged as co-creators in the literary process and not as secondary personas. There is a drive for better visibility of translators through book publicity campaigns, panel discussions, and other media. 'However, broader industry support and consistent credit across marketing, media, and events are still needed. I do think it's not enough for a few publishers and award ceremonies to promote translation literature. We need more publishing groups, more juries, and certainly, more of the mainstream media, supporting and recognising the significance of literature in translation', says Dharini Bhaskar, Associate Publisher, Literary at HarperCollins India. It helps to keep translation central to all conversations to do with books and literature. For instance, on World Book Day, Harper Collins had a full translation panel—which included Mini Krishnan, Sheela Tomy, Jayasree Kalathil, and Ministhy—and they spoke about the challenges faced by translators and the space translation literature occupies in the literary firmament. On how they bridge this gap, Ms. Bhaskar says, 'For one, we give literature in translation as much prominence as the poems and novels, and non-fiction originally published in English. Translation literature not only gets equal editorial care and attention but also has the full support of both the sales and marketing teams. We promote our works of translation—and not just when they're nominated for awards—and back translator and author equally. For they're a team. The book belongs to both of them'. Ms. Mukherjee says their publicity campaigns include the translator along with the author; this is without exception, and they will never have it any other way. She states that they make it clear at the outset to the author as well as the agent that the translator is going to be equally involved in the editing process, in planning publicity, and even on decisions pertaining to the cover of the book. Ms. Mukherjee says the translator has equal space (and equal say) on the journey of the book, both during and after its publication. Zubaan recently began a translation collaboration with Ashoka University called Women Translate Women. Every event for the books in this series has had translators present. Ms. Butalia says, 'This is also the case with many other publishers – in fact, several mainstream publishers now employ editors whose main task is to source translated manuscripts. This is a very positive development'. Are readers more willing to buy translated books? Publishers say winning the International Booker does drive sales of translated works. Though publishing houses have been increasingly taking steps to highlight the work of the translator alongside the author, the media lags in giving translators due credit. Readers, too, are increasingly open to buying translations, though Western approval still influences Indian buying habits. Ms. Bhasthi says there has been a lot of love that the translation of Heart Lamp has received, apart from the stories, and she is very grateful for that. She highlights the importance of the International Booker Prize giving equal emphasis to both the writer-translators and the writers from the original language. 'So, I think that attention is very important for translations and writer translators as well', she says. Talking about the media coverage Heart Lamp received, Ms. Bhaskar says there is immediate media coverage once a book is longlisted or shortlisted for a prestigious award, and such coverage doubles if the book wins. She adds that this kind of visibility has a direct impact on sales. 'This, in turn, has a direct impact on sales', she says. Ms. Bhaskar says they have seen sales numbers of books spiralling the moment they win prestigious awards. She notes that the ripples spread far, and that major wins typically benefit all literature coming out in a certain language. She emphasizes that such recognition also helps literature in translation overall, and sometimes even specific genres like poetry or short fiction. It also bodes well for literature in translation (as a whole), and sometimes, it bodes well for certain genres. Ms. Bhaskar points out that very often, in India, readers look for approval abroad before buying a book published locally. She stresses the need for Indian readers to start recognising the wealth of literature already available in the country—in English, in translation, and in regional languages—and to start supporting these books without necessarily waiting for validation from the West. Ms. Butalia says readers are more willing to buy translated works in general, perhaps this is because translated books are also more visible now, both in offline and in online bookshops. And they are better marketed, as books in their own right and not as poor cousins of an original. Ms. Bhasthi says that compared to other literary fiction, translated fiction is still not as widely read as it should be in a diverse country like India. She expresses hope that readers show more interest in translated fiction, and specifically mentions Kannada as one of the more under-translated languages in South India. Ms. Bhasthi says'I hope more translators bring forth some of the extraordinary works that we have in my language.'
Deccan Herald
08-06-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
70,000 copies of 'Heart Lamp' reprinted in 2 months, says Deepa Bhasthi
Bhasthi said that permission has been given to translate the work into Malayalam, Assamese and Oriya languages and requests from other languages have been coming in too.
Deccan Herald
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
CM Siddaramaiah calls Banu Mushtaq ‘bold, progressive voice for Muslim women'
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah felicitated International Booker prize-winning Kannada author Banu Mushtaq and her English translator Deepa Bhasthi at a programme organised by the Kannada and Culture department on Mushtaq's translated work, 'Heart Lamp,' won the International Booker prize recently. .On the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, 'Literature has the power to bind society'..'Literature should unite, not divide us. Banu Mushtaq has brought pride to Kannada by winning the Booker Prize. This is a moment of collective pride for the entire Kannada-speaking world,' he said. .'As a bold and progressive voice for Muslim women, Banu Mushtaq has stood against orthodoxy and fulfilled the responsibility of delivering a humanistic message through her literature,' the chief minister said. .People's understanding of Kannada is incorrect, there's no language as tolerant as ours: Banu announced a Rs 10-lakh award each for Mushtaq and Bhasthi, along with government support for translating Banu Mushtaq's other works into English..A visibly moved Mushtaq said, 'Karnataka helped me grow roots, form ideas and inspired my creativity. Winning the Booker was a dream. But the encouragement I received online kept me going. This honour from the state means more to me than any award I've received.'.She emphasised Kannada's spirit of inclusivity and harmony and noted, 'No other language lives as harmoniously as Kannada'..To young writers, she said, 'Believe in your voice. This award belongs to every writer, poet, storyteller and singer in Karnataka. There are countless stories to tell — let's tell them all'..Bhasthi spoke of language as a living, evolving force..'Kannada has not been elevated by the Booker. Instead, the award has elevated the status of English and English thrives because it absorbs cultures. Let us not bend Kannada to fit English. Instead, stretch English to suit Kannada's music, tempo and accent,' she called for 'decolonisation of English,' asserting, 'No one can take away our language rights'..Bhasthi emphasised the need for continued dialogue on language, identity and translation to ensure the Booker prize recognition has lasting significance.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Deepa Bhasthi felicitated in Madikeri
Writer Deepa Bhasthi, whose English translation of Banu Mushtaq's Kannada work Edeya Hanate (Heart Lamp) won the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025, was felicitated in Madikeri by her alma mater and local leaders on Saturday. The Old Students' Association of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College, where Ms. Bhasthi pursued her education, college principal, lecturers, and office-bearers of the association visited her residence to honour her remarkable literary achievement. B. Raghav, principal of the college, extolled Ms. Bhasthi for her literary accomplishment and noted that the international recognition has brought immense pride to the institution. 'The achievement of one of our old students was a matter of pride for the college,' he added. The association president B.B. Aiyappa highlighted the difficulty of translating regional literature without losing its emotional depth, commending Ms. Bhasthi's masterful rendering that resonated with a global audience. MLA for Madikeri Mantar Gowda also felicitated Ms. Bhasthi at her home on Saturday. Commending her contribution to literature, he said her accomplishment had placed Kodagu on the global literary map. He said the government would support her future literary initiatives and described her as an inspiration for students and young writers. Mr. Gowda also remarked that it was heartening to see literature of such calibre emerge from the serene surroundings of Kodagu. Plans are under way to organise interactions between Ms. Bhasthi and students from local institutions to foster interest in literature and translation, he added. Ms. Bhasthi said the translation took nearly three years of dedicated work and she is now preparing for literary engagements in London and other cities. Ms. Bhasthi's husband Chettira Nanaiah, her parents Prakash and Sudha Bhasthi, were among those present.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Hindu On Books newsletter: Booker honour for Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi, talking to Bhavika Govil and more
Welcome to this edition of The Hindu on Books Newsletter. Last week was special for Indian literature with Banu Mushtaq winning the International Booker Prize, 2025, for Heart Lamp (And Other Stories/Penguin), translated from the Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi. From the moment it was shortlisted, readers, especially in India, were rooting for Mushtaq and Bhasthi and their chronicle of Muslim women's lives. This was the first time a collection of short stories was shortlisted, surely that meant it could go all the way? It did, and how. Jury Chair Max Porter said the stories were 'profoundly exciting' and that the 'radical translation' hit 'viscerally.' In their impassioned speeches, both Mushtaq and Bhasthi heaped praises on the Kannada language, its 'resilience and nuance', talked about their belief that no story is small, and how literature is one of the last sacred spaces 'where we can view each other's minds if only for a few pages.' They hoped the win would lead to many more stories from unheard corners being written, and more translations from the magical languages of South Asia defying borders and barriers. Mushtaq and Bhasthi's win comes three years after Geetanjali Shree's Booker honour for Tomb of Sand, translated from the Hindi by Daisy Rockwell. In telling stories of women, and what they are up against — from patriarchal mindsets, religious oppression to gender inequality, suffocating homes and terrifying lack of choices — Mushtaq universalises the experiences faced by a majority of women, at least in the subcontinent. Read The Hindu's review of Heart Lamp; a profile of Banu Mushtaq; an interview with the writer and translator soon after their nomination was announced and The Hindu editorial on what the prize will mean for Indian writing in translation. In reviews, we read two cricket memoirs by Mohinder Amarnath and Syed Kirmani, Pat Cummins' philosophy of life, a book on birders. We also talk to Bhavika Govil about her new book. Books of the week What do athletes want to convey when they write memoirs? Is it often a careful extension of their image? Two recent books by Indian cricketing legends — Fearless (HarperCollins) by Mohinder Amarnath (with Rajender Amarnath) and Stumped (Penguin) by Syed Kirmani (with Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak) — lend credence to the argument that they may be honest and forthright in their assessments of their own selves and the eras they played in and lived through, but all of it is bound by the persona the sportspersons want to project. In his review, N. Sudarshan writes that the stories flow from the cover images. Amarnath's is of him executing the pull without the protection of a helmet, a shot synonymous with the batter and considered among the most daring strokes. The overarching theme in the book is of his many pitched battles against deadly fast bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Imran Khan, his many selection controversies, the machinations of the higher-ups and his multiple comebacks. The cover image of Kirmani's book, on the other hand, is a rather sedate and inexpressive photograph of him staidly waiting for the red cherry to nestle in his gloves. It seems like an ode to the book title, the tagline (Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-Two Yards), and the sad fact that the great wicket-keeper's time in Test whites ended two shy of 200 dismissals. But says Sudarshan, what both books lack is a compelling picture of the eras Amarnath and Kirmani played their cricket in. 'While the volumes are no doubt windows into their respective sporting lives, they could have also shed more light on the culture of the sport back in the day.' The Australian spearhead and skipper Pat Cummins' Tested (HarperCollins) is a book on decisions, choices, thoughts and instinct, and the way they all combine to shape and impact lives. Cummins, with the aura he has, could have easily written about himself, writes the reviewer K.C. Vijaya Kumar, but instead he declares: 'I didn't want to focus on myself, as I might with a memoir.' Divided into 11 chapters, every part is an extended conversation with an expert in their relevant field. The array of luminaries are eclectic, be it former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, cancer researcher Richard Scolyer, producer Ronnie Screwvala, speedster and coach Dennis Lillee, or even the author's spouse Becky. 'The structure is woven around informal questions and the answers are then juxtaposed with how Cummins himself has approached a few critical points, both in his life and in cricket.' The 12 chapters in The Search for India's Rarest Birds (Indian Pitta/Juggernaut), edited by Shashank Dalvi and Anita Mani, have a selection of birds that have been chosen through different forms of observation: the Pink-headed duck chapter by Aasheesh Pittie talks about how the bird was formally described based on a painting of Indian specimens; art led to science. Ornithologist Pamela Rasmussen studied taxidermied forest owlets in the U.K. and the U.S.; she pursued the bird in the forests of Maharashtra; and a strange taxidermied model led to the rediscovery of the real bird. In her review, Neha Sinha says that when she opened this book, she expected to find historical records of white men and their shikar in South Asia. 'It is enriching to find instead a book that is modern. Most importantly, though the birds are coveted, they are not trophies — each piece wraps fondness and field work for the avian object of affection in a manner that suggests care, not conquest.' Spotlight In her debut novel, Hot Water (HarperCollins), Bhavika Govil narrates the story of a single mother and her two young children. Her aim, as she tells Vidhya Anand, is to highlight the lived experiences of different characters. She wanted to explore issues of gender, sexuality, and the inner world of children. 'For instance, can you be a good mother even if you're not a conventional mother?' Govil wanted to analyse how lonely mothers feel, especially single mothers. Asked about her thoughts on the novel with a complex theme, Govil said, 'I think we underestimate the smaller voices in the room, whether they're younger or different. It's important to me with this book to bring them to the fore.' She is also excited about this reaching the right reader, the person 'who's swimming in the dark and is looking for a little bit of light.' Browser Kamal Nayan Choubey traces the genesis, historical journey, and the functions of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram or VKA, the tribal wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The VKA has been expanding its footprint in tribal areas, trying to bring about changes, he writes in Adivasi or Vanvasi: Tribal India & the Politics of Hindutva (Vintage). (Vintage). Three historians, Romila Thapar, Kumkum Roy, Preeti Gulati, from three generations reflect on their lives and why they decided to engage with a demanding discipline. From personal experience of Independence and Partition to fractured modern times, they explain the different ways in which women do history in Women Writing History (Zubaan Books). (Zubaan Books). Rafael Nadal had a mind-boggling 14 French Open titles when he announced his retirement from professional tennis last year. Roland Garros paid a wonderful tribute to the Spanish star with rivals on court and friends off it Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray attending the ceremony in Paris on Sunday (May 25, 2025). This is the perfect time to read about Nadal's journey and legacy in Christopher Clarey's new book, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his Kingdom of Clay (Hachette India). (Hachette India). The Cave of Echoes: Stories about Gods, Animals and Other Strangers (Speaking Tiger) by Wendy Doniger celebrates storytelling, and the rich diversity of myths that people live by. Drawing on Hindu and Greek mythology, Biblical parables, and modern mythologies, Doniger encourages readers to be interested in diverse cultures.
