A truly rewarding learning experience

Spotlight on Yu. Ma. Vasuki’s translation of O.V. Vijayan’s work

When he started learning Malayalam to understand Nitya Chaitanya Yati, the philosopher and spiritualist, Yu. Ma. Vasuki did not have the least inkling that it would bring him recognition.

Yu. Ma. Vasuki is this year’s winner of the Sahitya Akademi award for translation.

“I never expected the award. It was writer Jayamohan who introduced me to Nitya and I wanted to read him in Malayalam. The language became a passion and I have translated 150 books from Malayalam,” said Yu.Ma. Vasuki, who has won the award for his translation of O.V. Vijayan’s

Khasakkinte Itihasam as

Kashakkin Ithikasam in Tamil.

Born as Marimuthu in Pattukottai, he changed his name to honour his friend Mohamed Yousuf and his sister Vasuki who brought him up in the absence of his father. “Ma refers to the first letter in my name,” he said.

He studied in Kumbakonam arts college and got prize for his photographic skills. He is also a good modern painter. His Tamil works include two novels – Ratha Uravu and Manjal Nathi – several short stories and a poetry collection.