Fancy reading about the pipe-smoking detective reconstructing the scene of crime to his sidekick Watson -- in Marathi. With a range of international detective classics and gadget-sporting spy thrillers now available in Marathi, the regional reader seems to be smiling all the way to the bookstore
Fancy reading about the pipe-smoking detective reconstructing the scene of crime to his sidekick Watson -- in Marathi. With a range of international detective classics and gadget-sporting spy thrillers now available in Marathi, the regional reader seems to be smiling all the way to the bookstore
The uppity, English-classic-loving class might frown upon it, while purists would shrug it off as dilution of literature. However, the regional reader is celebrating this new transition that has seeped into homes across languages and states. For decades now, translations of popular English fiction and non-fiction into regional languages have silently sat on bookshelves, with the detective-crime genre attracting huge interest, particularly among the upwardly mobile, regional audience.
West-ed interests
"A decade ago, sales of translations were in the 10-15% region; now it's a healthy 22-25%," acknowledges Rayasam Sharma, Editor, Jaico Books, the publishing house that recently released the first of a three-title series on Sherlock Holmes. Sharma adds that popular literature translations always find business. "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes remains an all-time bestseller. He is one the most popular fictional characters," reasons Sharma about why he chose Doyle's works to be translated in Marathi. While Jaico has been associated with translation for last seven years, Pune-based Mehta Publishing is a well-known name across India. "We've been in the business of translations since 1985. The response from Marathi readers has been fantastic. They are constantly on the lookout for international detective-crime writers to bring home the variety," explains proprietor Sunil Mehta. He believes that unless local authors create exciting subjects, this trend will continue to thrill. His publishing house has translated most of Ian Fleming's James Bond thrillers, Robin Cook, Sidney Sheldon, Frederick Forsythe, Alistair MacLean and more recently, Dan Brown. Soon, Erle Stanley Garner's Perry Mason will speak in Marathi. Manjul Publishing has already made Harry Potter wax eloquent in Marathi. Sharma adds, "The success of dubbed Hollywood films proves that Indian audiences are warming up to Western works of all kinds, despite socio-economic and language barriers."
Found in translation
The most important challenge for any translation is to grip the reader with similar pace and flow as the original. "It might be over 100 year-old classic yet the descriptions, content and logic are still relevant. Doyle simplified it for me," admits Dr Kamlesh Soman, translator of the Holmes series. Author and translator of 25 titles, this Pune-based Marathi professor has been a fan of the Baker Street resident for 20 years. "I've deliberately not translated every word just for the sake of translation. Content equation is the keyword. English words and phrases have been retained; after all, we hear them in daily conversations. It was necessary to make it audible and visualise it to retain the flow." Dr Soman who spent nearly two months to translate the first title, inserted pauses (that weren't part of the original text) in the form of four-five sentences to explain scene changes to his Marathi readers.
"Readers should believe that Holmes and Watson and not the translator, are speaking in Marathi. That's the biggest victory for any translator," says Soman. So if you chance upon Holmes doing an, "Agdi barobar, Watson!" the next time you pick up a Doyle classic, carry on reading.
Sherlock Holmeschya Sahasi Katha (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, translated by Dr Kamlesh Soman, Jaico Publishing, Rs 150. Available at leading bookstores.
Reverse type
Another aspect to this translation boom is the reverse ideology, pioneered by Popular Prakashan. "We believe that India is a treasure house for not just Marathi but every regional language. Today's English-speaking educated class isn't familiar with writings in their mother tongue. They lose out on compelling storytelling by geniuses," explains Satyajit Bhatkal, Editorial Director. The publishing house has translated Marathi works by greats including Vishram Bedekar, Gangadhar Gadgil and Vynkatesh Madgulkar.
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