Bengali translation of Bezbaruah's tales released

Guwahati, July 8 (UNI) The Bengali readers can now have a taste of the classic Asomese folklores of Lakshminath Bezbaruah.

Already available in English, the Bengali version could also open the gates for the Russian and German translations of these classic tales. The 'Buri Aier Sadhu' by Bezbaruah was yesterday released in its Bengali version, entitled 'Buri Maar Buli'.

The book was released by Asom Sahitya Sabha president Kanaksen Deka and translated by Saktimoy Das with support from the Asom Sahitya Sabha and the Jatiya Sahitya Prakashan Trust, the translator being the general secretary of the latter.

This piece of translation work could herald similar ventures for other books from the North East in other Indian languagaes and English, Mr Das said.

Unless there were more translations, the audience of books written by people in the North East would not reach a large audience, he added.

He also hinted at a possibility of getting the Bengali version of Bezbaruah's tales translated into German and Russian.

Releasing the book, Mr Deka lauded efforts to translate the book in Bengali and referred to the long and cherished relationship between the literateurs of Asom and Bengal.

''Folk literature has no language, its appeal is universal.

Bezbaruah's tales were a perfect depiction of the customs and rituals of the then-Assamese society,'' he said.

The Sahitya Sabha president maintained that the translated version would lead to a greater understanding of the ways of life of the state among the Bengali-reading masses.

UNI