Kolkata, Aug 26 (IBNS): The English translation of a Bengali children's novel by author Sunil Gangopadhyay has made it to the biennial International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour List 2012.
The coveted Honour diploma was handed over to Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee for his translation of Gangopadhyay’s The Dreadful Beauty as part of IBBY International Congress celebrations at the Imperial College in London.
Published by Ponytale Books, the novel was selected as an outstanding, recently published book, for the quality of its translation and for being representative of best in children’s literature from India and suitable for publication throughout the world.
This is the first ever international recognition for an Indian children’s book where a translation from an Indian language into English has been commended by IBBY, the publishers said.
IBBY, a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together, aims to promote international understanding through children's books.
The Dreadful Beauty was originally written in Bengali as Bhoyonkor Sundor by eminent Bengali litterateur Sunil Gangopadhyay.
The book contains the first adventure of Kakababu, an anti-thesis of a conventional detective, who has found a place for himself in the pantheon of Bengali fictional detective characters.
"I strongly believe that there are excellent books for children and young adults in Bengali which need to be projected on a national and international platform," Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee said.
"If the selection of my translation in the IBBY Honour List motivates more people to undertake the task of translation in this area, I will feel my effort rewarded," Bhattacharjee added.
"It is indeed an honour for our young publishing house to get this global recognition. We are all the more delighted since this is the first ever nomination of a translation of a book from an Indian language into English nominated from India," said Pranav Kumar Singh, publisher, Ponytale Books.
Ponytale Books has also published Sobuj Dwiper Raja (The King of the Verdant Island) and is in the process of bringing out Pahad Churay Atank (Terror on Mountain Top), Jongoler Modhye Hotel (Mystery of the Hotel in the Jungle) and Khali Jahajer Rohosyo (Mystery of the Empty Ship) for readers in Englsh.
