Exactly two decades after the death of Subrahamanya Raje Urs — Kannada writer and film-maker better known as Chaduranga — his attempt at translating one of his own plays has been found by his family.
The writer’s son S.N. Vikram Raja Urs recently stumbled upon Four Feet of Land, in his father’s hand, a translation of his short story Nalku Mola Bhoomi from the collection Meenina Hejje published in 1958.
‘His only translation’
“This is the only translation of my father, who wrote in Kannada throughout his life. Nalku Mola Bhoomi was one of his own favourite short stories.”
Karnataka : Bengaluru : 16/10/2018 . Hand Writing of Kannada writer ' Chaduranga '. Photo Bhagya Prakash K / THE HINDU
Chaduranga died on Vijayadashami day. “He died as he was speaking to his friends,” recalled Mr. Urs.
Chaduranga authored four novels, seven collections of short stories, and three plays. His first two novels Sarvamangala and Uyyale have been made into films. While the first was directed by the author himself, the second was directed by N. Lakshminarayan.
Among his collection of short stories, Mrigaya won the State Sahitya Akademi award for the best short story collection in 1994.
His three plays, Kumara Rama, Ili Bonu, and Bimba, have been translated into other regional languages and also English.
The English translation of his Vaishaka is being published by the Sahitya Akademi.
