‘A Real Feast of Ideas this Evening’ ❤️

A Life Uprooted | Panel Discussion 

Sunday, 30th July 2023 | 8 – 9.30 pm

A Report ❤️

When eminent bilingual writer and critic Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi, [Principal, Alipore College, Kolkatta], requested if I could be part of a Panel Discussion to speak on the legendary Jatin Bala’s book titled, A Life Uprooted: A Bengali Dalit Refugee Remembers, translated into English by Dr. Mandakini Bhattacherya and Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi, I delightfully agreed.

Indeed, it was a very rewarding evening with such eminent scholars, discussing various facets of the book.

‘A real feast of ideas this evening’, as Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi said about the Panel Discussion, towards the end of the event. 

Dr. Sarangi also added to say –

‘You can’t contain the tears from your eyes, when you read the original. And as some of you had said, if the translation feels like reading the original, we feel so blessed and thankful’.

‘Translation is the heart of India. Translation from one vernacular to another, is the mosaic of India, through which India is nourished and becomes more glorious’, 

he signed off!

‘If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday’, says Pearl S. Buck.

This book offers the reader one such opportunity to ‘search’ our yesterday, from the lens of subjugation.

In short, the book is ‘an adolescent’s journey seeking education, dignity and self-hood’ all which are denied because of the stigma of being ‘low born.’

Apart from the scholarly Introduction to the book which is a real treat - something that could be discussed in an exclusive event in itself, the translation deserves special accolades and appreciation for its charm!

What myriad figures of speech, and what a refined choice of words – poignant words - that can tug at your heartstrings quite spontaneously at that!

Sample this synesthetic image –

Suddenly Mother stretches out her emaciated hand and calls out to me weakly and pitifully, “Come, my darling, come close to me, you have grown up so tall — Come, my darling, come, come, come…..”

I am drinking in my mother’s words with my eyes.

I try to suppress my pain and discomfort, but cannot.

It keeps crushing my soul.

Humiliation, hatred and contempt rose from inside like bile and filled my mouth with a bitter taste, while I could see the wounds of my motherland like a flash of lightning.

The scene stabbed and stayed in my heart forever like the blade of a sharp knife.

Such tragic incidents kept getting stored in my memory throughout the journey.

Everybody was rushing to save their lives and honour, with no time to linger back for those who fell and died or got lost by the wayside. So did I walk on with a wounded consciousness…

Well, this is just a sample for all ye readers.

Do grab a copy of the book that’s available for sale on e-stores, HERE.

Dr. Smita A. Nayak, from R. S. N College, Goa,

Dr. Manojit Mandal, from Kolkatta,

Dr. D. E. Benet from National College, Trichy, etc.,

were my fellow panelists who gave such profound and insightful observations on the book.

This was followed by select readings from the book by students and research scholars, drawn from various parts of India.

Again, a special word of appreciation to the translators Dr. Mandakini Bhattacherya and Dr. Jaydeep Sarangi for doing a highly commendable translation of the original, and making the legendary writer available to the non-Bengali literary community - for readers from across the world.

I was also delighted to know that, Sahitya Akademi has published the book in English.

Dr. Dhrubajyoti Banerjee gave the inaugural address. Dr. Mandakini gave a beautiful summing up of the event, and Dr. Basudhara Roy did a meticulous compering of the programme.