Just finished Samvadu-Anuvadu by Uma Kulkarni. उमा कुलकर्णीलिखित संवादु अनुवादु. Kulkarni has been translating Kannada literature into Marathi for many decades now. She has brought many famous and reputed authors like Bhairappa, Tejasvi, Kuvempu, Karnad, etc to Marathi, which is a big big favour to the Marathi reader. This book is autobiographical. She begins in Belgavi, where she was born. And it ends in Pune, which has been her home after marriage to Virupaksh Kulkarni. She writes about the simple lifestyle then in Belgavi, her family, etc. She gets married at 20 or 21 and comes to Pune. Both are avid readers. But, Virupaksh can't read Marathi, and Uma, Kannada; though both can understand the other language well. Virupaksh reads her a Kannada story and she casually writes it down in Marathi. Once it is over, she realises she has translated it. This sequence continues even now, all the books or stories that she has translated are read to her by Virupaksh. The only difference now is he records it and she can play at her time. An interesting point is Virupaksh makes breakfast every day, so that Uma is free to write in the fresh morning time.
The book tells us about the bond that developed between The Kulkarnis and the Kannada authors over the years. We get to know the human being behind the powerful author.
Uma's style is simple, it flows uninterrupted. I took 3 days to read only because I get time to read only at night.
Another thing that left a mark on my mind is the अर्पणपत्रिका. She has dedicated the book to the child that she couldn't have. The couple accepted early in life that they won't be able to have a child. There is a mention of the tests that they did. There is also an incident where Virupaksha's mami arranges a ritual called Guggul which involves a procession through the village. I could only imagine what both of them must have gone through then, but Uma writes about it as if it has happened with someone else. Without any grudge, any anger. She believes that she could translate so many books, because she didn't have a child and she could give her undivided attention to books. She doesn't mean that married persons can't work, there are lakhs of them doing it, she feels that for herself.
This was a book I read after a long long time, i have been reading much online, mainly articles - long and short. I was happy my mother sent this to me.
Uma is an independent author as well as a painter. She has her doctorate in the temples of South India.
A must read for translators. She writes about the process quite well.
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