Nepalese Novels in English Translation
The authenticity of the English translation of Nepalese novels has begun since 1972. The first translated novel is SIRISKO FUL written by Parijat.
This book was jointly translated by a Nepalese Tanka Bilas Varya and a foreigner Sondra Jendestine entitled BLUE MIMOSA and it was published by Sondra Jendestine himself in 1972.
It seems that the tradition of translating the novels has begun henceforth.
In this article it is attempted to present the list of the translated works in detail chronologically.
After the publication of abovementioned novel Blue Mimosa, the historic novel Seto Bagh written by Diamond Shamsher Rana translated by Greta Rana with the titled The Wake of the White Tiger was published by Balika Rana in 1984.
In the same year another novel entitled Khaireni Ghat written by Shankar Koirala was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled KHAIRENI GHAT. It was published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar in 1984. Since then it is found that the translation work has been extended. Similarly it is found that a number of novels were translated in the decade of 1990.
Accordingly, the novel entitled Ojhel Parda written by Dr. Taranath Sharma was translated by Hartsell with the title BLACKOUT that was published by Nirala Publications in 1990. In the same year, KALO SURYA written by Bharat Jangam was translated by Saroj Kumar Shakya with the title BLACK SUN and was published by Nirala Publications.
The second novel Rato Gham of Bharat Jungum was translated by Saroj Kumar Shakya entitled THE RED SUN was published by Indu Publications of Banaras in 1991.
The novel Alikhit written by Dhurva Chandra Gautam translated by Philip Pierce with the titled UNWRITTEN was published by Malla Publications in 1992.
The novel Basain written by Lil Bahadur Chhetry was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled LOST HOMESTEAD was published by Aankura Publication of Gantok in 1993.
The novel Bhakpatra written by Kabita Ram Shrestha was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled CONFESSION was published by Book Faith India in 1995.
The novel Pallo Gharko Jhyal written by the novelist Govinda Bahadur Malla Gothale was also translated by Lary Hartsell entitled the WINDOW OF THE OPPOSITE HOUSE was published by Book Faith India, Delhi in 1995.
Two translated novels were published in the year 1999. Among them the novel Khoj written by Gita Keshary was translated by Pratik Pradhan and published by Vani Prakashan, Biratnagar. The next novel Roopmati written by Rudra Raj Pandey was translated by Shanti Mishra with the title ROOPMATI and was published by Book Faith, India in 1999.
When we review in general it is found that the translating work of the Nepalese novels in English was begun in 1972 to 2000 A.D. Altogether 12 novels of 11 novelists were translated and published in the period of three decades.
Now, let us look through the new millennium.
In the first year of the new millennium 2001 A.D. two novels of two novelists were translated and published. Among them, the first is Kumari Shova of Bijaya Bahadur Malla with the title KUMARI SHOVA translated by Pierce and published by Royal Nepal Academy in 2001.
In the same year 2001, Swapna Sammelan of Manuj Babu Mishra was translated with the title DREAM ASSEMBLE by Mohan Mishra and published by Bagar Foundation.
Another historical novel named Prithvi Narayan Shan written by S. P. Asha was translated with the title PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH by Prava Krishna Paudel and published by Vaani Publication, Biratnagar in 2003.
The novel Pratyak Thaun Pratyak Manchhe written by Peter J. Karthak and translated by the novelist himself with the title EVERY PLACE EVERY MAN was published by Bajra Books in 2004.
In the year 2005 A.D. three novels were published. They were Sumnima written by B. P. Koirala and was translated by Taranath Sharma with the title SUMNIMA and published by Bagar Foundation.
Likewise, the novel Karagar written by Banira Giri was translated by Ann Hakins with the title THE PRISON and was published by Tib Lamichhane.
In the same year, the novel Usko Logne Ra Biralo written by Indira Prasai and translated by Brajesh with the title THE HUSBAND and THE CAT was published by Arjun Sitaula.
In the same year the novel Phoolko Atanka written by Dhruba Chandra Gautam and translated by Philip Pierce entitled TERROR OF FLOWERS was published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
Apart from these work, some portions of the novels of five novelists published in the work entitled NEPALESE LITERATURE. The book was published by then Royal Nepal Academy under the chief editorship of Madhav Lal Karmacharya and the editorship of Govinda Raj Bhattarai. Those novels were RUPMATI of Rudra Raj Pandey (translated by Shanti Mishra) and Muluk Bahira of Lain Singh Bangdel and translated with the little “OUT OF THE COUNTRY by Keshar Lal, Sirisko Phool of Parijat translated by Govinda Raj entitled BLUE MIMOSA, Phoolko Aatanka of Dhruba Chandra Gautam translated by Pierce with the title “REIGN OF TERROR, and Jyoti Jyoti Mahajyoti of Daulat Bikram Bista translated by Keshar Lal with the title THE LIGHTS OF LIGHT.
The above mentioned book was published by then Royal Nepal Academy in the year 2005.
While accessing it is found that 21 novels in total of 19 writers in the period almost of three decades from 1972 to 2005 were published. Those novels include 2 novels each of Bharat Jungam and Dhruba Chandra Gautam. In this field includes 4 women novelists– Parijat, Gita Keshari, Indira Prasai and Banira Giri.
15 translators have contributed to translate these novels.
Likewise, a novel Palpasa Café written by Naryan Wagle and translated by Vikas Sangruala entitled PALPASA CAFÉ was published by Nepalaya in 2008.
Meanwhile, there are some books published in English translation of the collection of various stories written in the Nepali by the various writers.
In conclusion the novels of different topics historic, depicting social psychological political, zonal etc of the Nepalese literature will help the English speaking people and other language speaking people enjoy test of the Nepalese novels.
This article was prepared by making interview focusing on the Literature Scene in the Nepalese Society with the respected politician and well-known litterateur late Ishwor Man Ranjit. But due to vivid causes it could not be published. Today with the great opportunity this article has come out. With publishing this article, hopefully the dream of late litterateur Ranjit]:’s contribution in the filed of Nepalese literature would be fulfilled.
SIRISKO FUL = BLUE MIMOSA
SETO BAGH = THE WAKE OF WAHITE TIGER
KALO SURYA = BLACK SUN
KHAIRENI GHAT = KHAIRENI GHAT
OJHEL PARDA = BLACKOUT
SWAPNA SAMMELAN = DREAM ASSEMBLE
RATO GHAM = THE RED SUN
ALIKHIT = UNWRITTEN
BASAIN =LOST HOMESTEAD
BHAKPATRA =CONFESSION
h:PALLO GHARKO JHAL = WINDOW OF THE OPPOSITE HOUSE
KHOJ= SEARCH
ROOPMATI =ROOPMATI
KUMARI SHOVA = KUMARI SHOVA
PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH= PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH
PRATYAK THAUN PRATYAK MANCHHE = EVERY PLACE EVERY MAN
SUMNIMA = SUMNIMA
KARAGAR =THE PRISON
USKO LOGNE RA RATO BIRALO = THE HUSBAND & THE CAT
PHOOLKO AATANKA = TERROR OF FLOWERS
MULUK BAHIRA =OUT OF THE COUNTRY
JYOTI JYOTI MAHAJYOTI = THE LIGHTS OF LIGHT.
PALPASA CAFE = PALPASA CAFE
This book was jointly translated by a Nepalese Tanka Bilas Varya and a foreigner Sondra Jendestine entitled BLUE MIMOSA and it was published by Sondra Jendestine himself in 1972.
It seems that the tradition of translating the novels has begun henceforth.
In this article it is attempted to present the list of the translated works in detail chronologically.
After the publication of abovementioned novel Blue Mimosa, the historic novel Seto Bagh written by Diamond Shamsher Rana translated by Greta Rana with the titled The Wake of the White Tiger was published by Balika Rana in 1984.
In the same year another novel entitled Khaireni Ghat written by Shankar Koirala was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled KHAIRENI GHAT. It was published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar in 1984. Since then it is found that the translation work has been extended. Similarly it is found that a number of novels were translated in the decade of 1990.
Accordingly, the novel entitled Ojhel Parda written by Dr. Taranath Sharma was translated by Hartsell with the title BLACKOUT that was published by Nirala Publications in 1990. In the same year, KALO SURYA written by Bharat Jangam was translated by Saroj Kumar Shakya with the title BLACK SUN and was published by Nirala Publications.
The second novel Rato Gham of Bharat Jungum was translated by Saroj Kumar Shakya entitled THE RED SUN was published by Indu Publications of Banaras in 1991.
The novel Alikhit written by Dhurva Chandra Gautam translated by Philip Pierce with the titled UNWRITTEN was published by Malla Publications in 1992.
The novel Basain written by Lil Bahadur Chhetry was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled LOST HOMESTEAD was published by Aankura Publication of Gantok in 1993.
The novel Bhakpatra written by Kabita Ram Shrestha was translated by Lary Hartsell entitled CONFESSION was published by Book Faith India in 1995.
The novel Pallo Gharko Jhyal written by the novelist Govinda Bahadur Malla Gothale was also translated by Lary Hartsell entitled the WINDOW OF THE OPPOSITE HOUSE was published by Book Faith India, Delhi in 1995.
Two translated novels were published in the year 1999. Among them the novel Khoj written by Gita Keshary was translated by Pratik Pradhan and published by Vani Prakashan, Biratnagar. The next novel Roopmati written by Rudra Raj Pandey was translated by Shanti Mishra with the title ROOPMATI and was published by Book Faith, India in 1999.
When we review in general it is found that the translating work of the Nepalese novels in English was begun in 1972 to 2000 A.D. Altogether 12 novels of 11 novelists were translated and published in the period of three decades.
Now, let us look through the new millennium.
In the first year of the new millennium 2001 A.D. two novels of two novelists were translated and published. Among them, the first is Kumari Shova of Bijaya Bahadur Malla with the title KUMARI SHOVA translated by Pierce and published by Royal Nepal Academy in 2001.
In the same year 2001, Swapna Sammelan of Manuj Babu Mishra was translated with the title DREAM ASSEMBLE by Mohan Mishra and published by Bagar Foundation.
Another historical novel named Prithvi Narayan Shan written by S. P. Asha was translated with the title PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH by Prava Krishna Paudel and published by Vaani Publication, Biratnagar in 2003.
The novel Pratyak Thaun Pratyak Manchhe written by Peter J. Karthak and translated by the novelist himself with the title EVERY PLACE EVERY MAN was published by Bajra Books in 2004.
In the year 2005 A.D. three novels were published. They were Sumnima written by B. P. Koirala and was translated by Taranath Sharma with the title SUMNIMA and published by Bagar Foundation.
Likewise, the novel Karagar written by Banira Giri was translated by Ann Hakins with the title THE PRISON and was published by Tib Lamichhane.
In the same year, the novel Usko Logne Ra Biralo written by Indira Prasai and translated by Brajesh with the title THE HUSBAND and THE CAT was published by Arjun Sitaula.
In the same year the novel Phoolko Atanka written by Dhruba Chandra Gautam and translated by Philip Pierce entitled TERROR OF FLOWERS was published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
Apart from these work, some portions of the novels of five novelists published in the work entitled NEPALESE LITERATURE. The book was published by then Royal Nepal Academy under the chief editorship of Madhav Lal Karmacharya and the editorship of Govinda Raj Bhattarai. Those novels were RUPMATI of Rudra Raj Pandey (translated by Shanti Mishra) and Muluk Bahira of Lain Singh Bangdel and translated with the little “OUT OF THE COUNTRY by Keshar Lal, Sirisko Phool of Parijat translated by Govinda Raj entitled BLUE MIMOSA, Phoolko Aatanka of Dhruba Chandra Gautam translated by Pierce with the title “REIGN OF TERROR, and Jyoti Jyoti Mahajyoti of Daulat Bikram Bista translated by Keshar Lal with the title THE LIGHTS OF LIGHT.
The above mentioned book was published by then Royal Nepal Academy in the year 2005.
While accessing it is found that 21 novels in total of 19 writers in the period almost of three decades from 1972 to 2005 were published. Those novels include 2 novels each of Bharat Jungam and Dhruba Chandra Gautam. In this field includes 4 women novelists– Parijat, Gita Keshari, Indira Prasai and Banira Giri.
15 translators have contributed to translate these novels.
Likewise, a novel Palpasa Café written by Naryan Wagle and translated by Vikas Sangruala entitled PALPASA CAFÉ was published by Nepalaya in 2008.
Meanwhile, there are some books published in English translation of the collection of various stories written in the Nepali by the various writers.
In conclusion the novels of different topics historic, depicting social psychological political, zonal etc of the Nepalese literature will help the English speaking people and other language speaking people enjoy test of the Nepalese novels.
This article was prepared by making interview focusing on the Literature Scene in the Nepalese Society with the respected politician and well-known litterateur late Ishwor Man Ranjit. But due to vivid causes it could not be published. Today with the great opportunity this article has come out. With publishing this article, hopefully the dream of late litterateur Ranjit]:’s contribution in the filed of Nepalese literature would be fulfilled.
SIRISKO FUL = BLUE MIMOSA
SETO BAGH = THE WAKE OF WAHITE TIGER
KALO SURYA = BLACK SUN
KHAIRENI GHAT = KHAIRENI GHAT
OJHEL PARDA = BLACKOUT
SWAPNA SAMMELAN = DREAM ASSEMBLE
RATO GHAM = THE RED SUN
ALIKHIT = UNWRITTEN
BASAIN =LOST HOMESTEAD
BHAKPATRA =CONFESSION
h:PALLO GHARKO JHAL = WINDOW OF THE OPPOSITE HOUSE
KHOJ= SEARCH
ROOPMATI =ROOPMATI
KUMARI SHOVA = KUMARI SHOVA
PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH= PRITHIVI NARAYAN SHAH
PRATYAK THAUN PRATYAK MANCHHE = EVERY PLACE EVERY MAN
SUMNIMA = SUMNIMA
KARAGAR =THE PRISON
USKO LOGNE RA RATO BIRALO = THE HUSBAND & THE CAT
PHOOLKO AATANKA = TERROR OF FLOWERS
MULUK BAHIRA =OUT OF THE COUNTRY
JYOTI JYOTI MAHAJYOTI = THE LIGHTS OF LIGHT.
PALPASA CAFE = PALPASA CAFE