Making of Indian Literature (A Consolidated Report on Workshops on Literary Translation 1986-88)

Book Details
• Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
• Author: Ayyappa Paniker
• Language: English
• Pages: 346
• Cover: Hardcover
• Edition: 2013
• ISBN: 978172011153
• Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm
• Weight: 560 gm

About the Book

This book presents an extensive exploration of literary translation and its crucial role in a multilingual nation like India. Translation is described as a deeply creative bilingual process that enables readers to move beyond linguistic boundaries and experience literature from different cultures and traditions. In the context of Indian literature, translation plays an especially important role in building emotional and cultural connections among diverse linguistic communities.

The volume is a consolidated report of four workshops on literary translation organized by the Sahitya Akademi between 1986 and 1988. It documents the discussions, proceedings, and insights shared during these workshops and reflects the Akademi’s commitment to promoting translation among Indian languages. The book includes factual accounts of the programmes as well as the texts of lectures delivered by visiting experts who addressed various theoretical and practical aspects of translating literature.

In addition to these lectures, the work contains historical surveys of translated literature in several Indian languages and thoughtful discussions on the challenges faced by translators. It presents perspectives from eminent writers who have engaged in translation as well as recommendations proposed by practicing translators from across India. These contributions collectively highlight the complexities of translating literary expression—capturing not only the meaning but also the emotional depth, rhythm, and silence embedded in the original text.

Edited by the distinguished Malayalam poet, critic, and scholar K. Ayyappa Paniker, the book reflects his profound understanding of literature and aesthetics. Paniker was widely respected for his contributions to modern Malayalam poetry and literary criticism, and his scholarship significantly influenced Indian literary studies.