Translated from Odia by Rabinarayan Patnaik.
Vikash reached Bahighar early that day as a result of he had an appointment with the proprietor of the bookstore. He was a bit of stunned to seek out that it was not crowded like different days.
There was not a single soul round. The proprietor appeared visibly joyful to see him. Saying “Oh! Vikash! I used to be simply pondering of you. I need to discuss to you alone. I’ve a proposal for you,” he pointed to a chair. After Vikash was seated he offered his proposal. “I believe you’re the most fitted for this job. Should you resolve that the proposal isn’t acceptable to you, neglect it. Proceed to work as you’re working now.”
Bahigar, essentially the most well-known bookstore on the town, was additionally a publishing home. Apart from publishing books in all branches of literature, it additionally printed textbooks along with executing authorities orders.
Vikash was a proofreader for Bahigar. He was not a author however had a fascination for literature and subsequently felt gratified for having the ability to learn extensively in his supporting function. However he was not a proofreader to fulfill his thirst for literature. He met part of his bills as a pupil with this part-time job.
Vikash had grown up in a village in an strange household. They only about managed their easy way of life within the village and fell again on their few acres of land for any further bills that arose infrequently.
Vikash had handed the State Excessive Faculty Board Examination with distinction and received a scholarship. After he acquired a seat in a well-known metropolis faculty he knowledgeable his father about his intention to review additional and warranted him that he wouldn’t be a burden on the household.
“The bills within the hostel… will you have the ability to preserve your self in your meagre scholarship cash?”
He instructed his father that he would transfer right into a flat with boys of his age and from their village. His father was considerably appeased by that.
“Father, you don’t have to offer me a single paisa. I’ve saved all the cash I acquired as scholarship within the final two years. I’ll proceed to get a scholarship. Apart from, I’ll take up some personal tuitions. If I handle to get two or three I’ll be fairly comfy.”
With these plans and lots of desires Vikash got here to town. He labored arduous to make his desires come true.
A couple of months after admission within the faculty, he discovered a good friend in Sadananda who additionally liked literature. Vikash instructed him all the things about himself—that if he might get some extra money he would have the ability to purchase some extra good books.
As Sadananda himself was incomes some cash by way of proofreading, he steered Vikash might do the identical. He taught Vikash some rudiments of proofreading and launched him to the proprietor of Bahighar.
Of the twenty-four hours within the day, Vikash might carve out an hour and a half to proofread the books being printed by Bahighar. The satisfaction he acquired was way more than what he earned. Earlier than a guide hit the stands he had learn it.
Step by step he grew into an professional proofreader. The proprietor of Bahighar was so joyful along with his work that he allowed Vikash to take books from the store-shelf. Vikash learn many books one after one other, in Odia, Hindi and English.
Someday the proprietor, “You learn so many books. You will have glorious language abilities. Have you ever ever considered translating one thing?”
“Translating?” Vikash repeated. “No sir, I’ve by no means thought of it.”
“Strive, strive as soon as. I believe you are able to do it.”
The concept was completely new to Vikash. Maybe he would strive simply as soon as, however why? Although he liked books, he was unknown to the world of literature. Even when he translated one thing who would publish him? The opposite drawback was to get the permission of the unique author to translate his or her guide.
The proprietor most likely fathomed this. He mentioned, “Effectively Vikash, I’ve deliberate to publish the Odia translation of among the classical books in Hindi and English. Some professors are serving to me on this mission. However then I considered you. I’ve a hunch that it is possible for you to to do that job effectively. Why not give it a strive?” He gave Vikash a guide from the pile on the desk. He then mentioned, “There is no such thing as a time restrict. You need to use your proofreading time for the interpretation.”
Vikash appeared askance on the proprietor, who mentioned, “Oh! I haven’t instructed you crucial level but. You can be paid for the interpretation and that quantity will likely be way more than what you get for proofreading.”
Vikash was elated. However he merely mentioned, “I’ll strive.”
“I’m assured you’ll do a great job.”
“He needs you to do the interpretation. However it will likely be his title and never yours as translator on the duvet and on the title web page. He, after all, will compensate you effectively.”
Vikash had a cautious take a look at the guide. It was a replica of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground. It was not a voluminous one. He had learn a number of different books by the author, however not this one.
Vikash was so engrossed within the guide that he felt he was narrating his personal life story.
The proprietor declared that the standard of translation was certainly good. He was one thing of a scholar himself; in addition to, all three members of the committee of consultants engaged by Bahighar to resolve whether or not the manuscript was match for publication spoke extremely of Vikash’s translation.
And so Vikash started to translate classical books, one after one other. Nearly half of the sequence of books chosen by the proprietor of Bahighar have been translated by him. He was after all joyful to obtain his due remuneration. Although he discontinued two of the personal tuitions, he was effectively off financially.
In the end he accomplished his commencement with honours and enrolled himself for a Grasp’s diploma in English literature.
Along with research, proofreading and personal tuition have been part of his life. He visited Bahighar at common intervals at hand over accomplished proofs and decide up recent work.
That day, the proprietor positioned a profitable proposal earlier than him. Any person needed Vikash to translate some English books of famend Indian authors. In return he can be paid handsomely.
The proprietor mentioned that the proposal was conditional. He hesitated for a number of moments. Vikash saved taking a look at him, his look a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Clearing his throat, the proprietor took a number of seconds to say, “He needs you to do the interpretation. However it will likely be his title and never yours as translator on the duvet and on the title web page. He, after all, will compensate you effectively for this.”
Vikash didn’t take lengthy to conform to the proposal. The subsequent 12 months was his ultimate 12 months of MA. He needed to dedicate further time to his research to do effectively within the ultimate examination. If he had cash he might put aside the personal tuitions. The tuitions have been solely an hour every, however appreciable time was wasted in shuttling to a few completely different locations within the metropolis. If this fatiguing drawback was about to be solved, what did it matter if his title was not printed within the guide he produced?
He accepted the proposal instantly.
Vikash handed the final examination of his pupil profession, securing first place with the best ever marks. Quickly after, he acquired a instructing job in a school. He had no real interest in on the lookout for one other job, so he accepted the supply and moved away from that metropolis.
Three years after that incident, Vikash was watching TV alongside along with his household one night. Bits of reports have been streaming one after one other on the display screen. However when he noticed a specific piece of reports he uttered “Oh God!” involuntarily. He then shortly surveyed all those that have been current there. Their eyes have been fastened on the TV display screen. Nobody cared for the information scroll. Even in any other case nobody would have bothered. For them, it was simply one other piece of reports. When there was no response from anyone, Vikash was tremendously relieved; but inside, he trembled uncontrollably.
The information was that the well-known litterateur Sri Shyam Narayan Choudhury had been chosen for the Sahitya Akademi award for the interpretation for his work, Ayee Maati Ayee Pruthivi. It was his due. He had a reputation each as a author and translator. He was an impressive determine within the literary firmament. Individuals liked and admired him.
However Vikash was uneasy. When survival was his main concern the considered fame had not crossed his thoughts in any respect. Even now, when his love for literature had grown, he had no real interest in both title or cash by way of it.
However he ought to have been the awardee for this guide, as a result of it was he, Vikash, who had translated it! He had been pressured to promote his identification for some cash. Others might not know the key, however the grand winner, the litterateur, certainly knew about it. One other one that knew was the proprietor of Bahighar—the intermediary in that deal made all these years in the past.
Vikash mentioned to himself: “Hmm. This gentleman is well-known as a litterateur. Lots of his creations and translations have been acclaimed as bestsellers and he has earned appreciable quantity of goodwill from the readers.”
Had many individuals like himself been positioned within the shadow to make this favorite son of the goddess Laxmi a favorite of the goddess Saraswati as effectively?
Chosen by Mini Krishnan
Reproduced courtesy of Anubad Sahitya Parisad
Illustrations by Siddharth Sengupta
