Think of a Malayali who was born in Singapore, raised in Kerala, living in Mumbai and translating Bengali literature to her mother tongue. Leela Sarkar is all these and more. It was her marriage to Mumbai-settled Bengali Dipesh Sarkar that changed her life. Ms. Sarkar has so far translated over 80 books from Bengali to Malayalam, including classics such as Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhya’s Ashani Sanket and authored a Bengali-Malayalam dictionary too. In Kozhikode to receive an award in memory of renowned translator M.N. Satyarthi, she spoke to A.S. Jayanth .
How did translation come to your life?
After I settled in Mumbai, I started learning Bengali as I wanted to talk to my mother-in-law in that language. Later, I got a feeling that I was moving away from my mother tongue and Bengali. As I used to read Bengali books, I thought why not try translating some stories from that language that may find a resonance in Kerala. That way I could keep in touch with both the languages. But I never thought of taking it up as a full-time job. Seeing some of my works, my acquaintances asked why don’t you get it published.
Where did your first work appear?
I had no idea how to submit it or who should I contact for the purpose. I was not very confident of approaching Mathrubhumi which used to carry translations of heavyweights like Sathyarthi and Ravi Varma. So I sent one story to Janayugam weekly, whose editor Kambissery Karunakaran was ever pleased to publish it. Seeing the first story in print, I got so excited. It was in 1978. I started finding time to translate more. Ashomoy , the award-winning novel by Bimal Kar, was the first major work I translated. It was published in Mathrubhumi weekly by N.V. Krishna Warrier. The first collection of short stories titled Raktham was published by the Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham.
How difficult or easy is to translate a literary work from two languages which are not linguistically linked?
I think the translator needs to understand in what context the original writer has conceived an idea and how it is being expressed. Over a period of time, it has become like a habit for me. I can read one book on one side and translate it on the other. But some times, I get stuck with native words and expressions and find it difficult to get equal expressions in Malayalam. To solve it, I interact more with our Bengali relatives and friends, from whose conversations I can pick up more words and I also keep dictionaries by my side.
Malayalis have a cultural bonding with Bengal?
Of course. Often I feel there are similar cultural mannerisms among Malayalis and Bengalis. The stories I select also reflect this similarity, domestic issues and the like. Most of them are applicable to Kerala, or for that matter any place in the world. Readers say my stories read as good as the original and there is a flow in writing.
Ever got a chance to meet any of the Bengali writers?
I could meet Satyajit Ray on our way to Darjeeling. He was unwell and his son, Sandip Ray, told us we could talk to him only for half an hour. But our conversation went on for more than an hour and we clicked pictures together.
You have attempted Malayalam to Bengali translation as well?
Yes, I did M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s Vanaprastham and Vaikom Mohammed Basheer’s Mathilukal . But the readers are not very receptive.
What is the future for translation?
I can’t see a rosy picture as far as vernacular languages are concerned. Most of the translations are now from English and the writer may or may not know the original language. But one significant thing is that more women writers are taking it up.
