The immortal poet's fiction

Translator Chhandak Chattarji

Perhaps one of the greatest travesties of Indian vernacular literature is how little of it has been translated.

Translator Chhandak Chattarji

It is because of this that a poet like Jibanananda Das, who lived till 1954, and famously died in a tram accident, is hardly known beyond the community of people who read Bangla.

In fact, his words were so popular and powerful that even now they inspire themes of cinema and are a part of the linguitsic culture. Chhandak Chhatarji, English teacher, author and father of author Sampurna Chattarji, has made an effort to fill this gap translating the fiction by this literary luminary.

The work of translation that will be will be launched formally in the city this week has already been praised by critics Ranjit Hoskote and K Sachidanandan.