World Hindi Day 2022: Hindi classics in translation you must read now
World Hindi Day is celebrated every year on January 10 since the year 2006 to promote the language on the global stage. The day marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference which was inaugurated on January 10, 1975, by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, the celebration of the first World Hindi Day was commenced on January 10, 2006 by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Today, on the eve of World Hindi Day 2022, here are some Hindi classics in translation you must read.
'Raag Darbari' by Shrilal Shukla, translated by Gillian Wright
The book's plot is set in Shivpalganj, which is a small village located in Uttar Pradesh. The narrator of this novel is Ranganath, who is a research student of History. He comes to visit his uncle, who serves as the head of the village and his supporters are placed at key locations in the village. The novel highlights the failing values present in post-Independence Indian society. It exposes the helplessness of intellectuals in the face of a strong and corrupt nexus between criminals, businessmen, police, and politicians.
Pic credit: Penguin India
'The Walls of Delhi: Three Stories' by Uday Prakash, translated by Jason Grunebaum
In this collection of stories, Prakash weaves three tales of living and surviving in today’s globalized India. Via these stories, he portrays realities about caste and class with an authenticity absent in most English-language fiction about South Asia.
Pic credit: Seven Stories Press
'Tamas' by Bhisham Sahni, translated by Daisy Rockwell
Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, this iconic novel about the Partition of India tells the tale of an unfolding riot from different vantage points. It centers on Nathu, a tanner, who is bribed to kill a pig. When the animal's carcass is discovered on the steps of the local mosque the next morning, tensions explode in the city.
Pic credit: Penguin Modern Classics
'Zindaginama' by Krishna Sobti, translated by Neel K Mani
This magnum opus brilliantly captures the story of India through a village where people of both faiths - Hinduism and Islam - coexisted peacefully, living off the land. Detailing the intricately woven personal histories of a wide set of characters, Sobti imbues each with a unique voice. First published in Hindi in 1979, this is a magnificent portrait of India on the brink of its division into two countries.
Pic credit: HarperPerennial
'The Gift of a Cow' by Munshi Premchand, translated by Gordon C. Roadarmel
In this novel, Hori, a peasant, is tired of living in poverty and starts hoping to own a few acres of land and a cow so that he can cultivate on his own. In a narrative that challenges caste, colonialism, and class, Premchand tells us in great detail why Hori’s dream remains unfulfilled.
Pic credit: Lokamaya Press
'Joothan' by Omprakash Valmiki, translated by Arun Prabha Mukherjee
In this book, Valmiki describes his life as an untouchable, or Dalit, in the newly independent India of the 1950s. "Joothan" refers to scraps of food left on a plate, destined for the garbage or animals. India's untouchables have been forced to accept and eat joothan for centuries, and the word perfectly summarized the pain, humiliation, and poverty of a community forced to live at the bottom of India's social pyramid.
Pic credit: Bhatkal & Sen
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