Literary trendsetter
Francis KEENAWINNA
The coal black skin and the peni kevuma
shaped face was no longer repulsive to her. The rarely seen glowing
smile appearing on the pot-black ape-like face reminded her of a streak
of lightening coming through dark clouds. She wanted to see this smile
over and over again. Often his smile was limited to his eyes only. At
such times his eyes turned into two slits almost hidden under the thick
eyebrows. Little wrinkles would appear at the edges. In her subconscious
mind Pubilinahamy shivered in fright that this smiling eyes had the
power to hypnotize any woman. Then she would be sad and pained for
letting such sinful thoughts creep into her mind.
- Excerpt from the English translation of
Swayanjatha
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Daya
Dissanayaka
Picture by Nissanka Wijeratne |
Always clad in full white garbs, no one will ever take him in for who
he actually is. Techno savvy, well versed in archeology and history,
Daya Dissanayaka is about to retire from the administratively high
position he holds in a reputed private firm to dedicate time for more
writing. His first work Katbitha is based on historical Sigiriya, the
second work saadhu.com became the first Asian e-novel and he translated
his own work into Sinhala making it the first Sinhala e-novel. Every
subsequent novel first written in either Sinhala or English, he would
immediately translate into the other language.
He has been honoured in many a literary award ceremony may be mainly
for the originality of his works. This eve witnesses him releasing two
books: English translation of Swayanjatha and Kloniyekuge Katha Vastuva
of which the English translation will be released in the near future.
The English translation of Swayanjatha will be launched at the Mihilaka
Medura, BMICH, on September 20 at 4.30 pm.
What made you translate Swayanjatha?
I have always believed, and promoted the idea that good Sinhala
novels should be translated into English. When I first read Swayanjatha
four years ago, I suggested to the author Samaraweera Wijayasinghe that
it should be translated and introduced to the readers of English
literature around the world.
Swarna Pusthaka Awards in 2008 and the TV popularity seem to have
approved of that suggestion. Even after two years lapsed after the
award, no one thought of translating the work. I accepted it when
Serenity Publishers entrusted the job with me.
Swayanjatha is a novel heavily rooted in the rural setting of Sri
Lanka. Translating it into English may have been a hard job.
Not only Swayanjatha. Any Sinhala masterpiece is hard to translate
into English. There is a popular belief much can be lost in translation.
At the same time, much can also be found if the translator remains
faithful to the original text.
How did you remain faithful to the rural culture portrayed in
Wijesinghe’s work?
There is no tradition to have footnotes or endnotes in a story meant
for light reading. I have always used footnotes in my novels for the
convenience of the reader. There are readers who would like to check the
meaning of an alien word.
When it comes to translations we sometimes have to retain a few words
in the original language, and I considered it my duty to provide the
English equivalent in this translation for any reader who is not
familiar with the Sinhala Language.
Q: Offer a few examples
A: The use of the first name with the elders, or with people
of a higher status was always avoided in this society. A wife would
never address her husband by his name, and use a standard term of
respect. The reader will find an honorific like Hamine, Appu and
Mahattaya used after the name of a person such as Emiliya Hamine and
Vibhuthi Mahattaya. It was also the custom among the young people to
address each other as aiya (elder brother), malli (younger brother) etc
and their elders as mama (uncle) or nenda (aunt) even though they may
not be kinsmen.
Q: You are mainly an origi nal writer and a translator of your
own works.
A: That is true. I knew the job will grab time I could have
used for my own writing. In fact I had to close one part of my mind,
where all my own stories were struggling to come out. I did that till I
was done with the translation. I let my mind open to Samaraweera
Wijesinghe and his creation.
This delayed the completion of Kloniyakage Katha Wasthuwa, but I have
no regrets, because Sarasavi was able to release it before the
International Book Fair, which is probably the best place to release a
new book.
Q: Do you plan to continue translating others’ works into
English?
A: Swayanjatha is not my first translation. I have translated
Banadara Eheliyagoda’s biography of H K Dharmadasa. No, I would not want
continue translating others’ works, because I need time off for my own
writing.
Q: An author translating his own work is rarely, or never,
heard in the local literary scene.
A: I enjoy reading both English and Sinhala. So thoughts come
to me in both languages. If I write a manuscript in one language, I
translate it into the other language hot on the heels. You got to do it
immediately after you wrote the manuscript, otherwise the inspiration
will wither away. You won’t feel like translating.
Q: You have released two books, but launch only one book.
I already had a small-group discussion for Kloniyekuge Katha Vastuva,
before submitting for the publisher.
In a few months I hope to have another discussion when the book is
read by some more people. But I wait for the English version to come out
too.
Daya’s literary saga
1998 kat bitha Historical novel about Sigiriya State Literary Award
for the best English Novel 1999
1998 the saadhu testament First e-novel from Asia at www.saadhu.com
2000 the healer & the drug pusher Historical novel about our
healthcare 1000 years ago
2003 Vessan Novu Vedun First Sinhala e-novel. Sinhala version of the
healer
2005 inequality
2006 Moonstone
2006 Chandraratnage Bhavantara Charikava Short listed for the Swarna
Pusthaka and Godage Awards 2007. Sinhala version of Moonstone
2006 Eavesdropper State Literary Award for the best English Novel
2007. Story of a young man in a coma
2008 Asa Sitiya Ohu Mese Sinhala version of Eavesdropper
2010 Babli Long listed for Swarna Pusthaka 2011
2011 Kloniyakage Katha Vasthuwa A historical novel from the future
Translations
2010 Son of the Soil Biography of Deshamanya H K Dharmadasa by
Bandara Eheliyagoda
2011 The English translation of Swayanjatha will be launched at the
Mihilaka Medura, BMICH, on September 20 at 4.30 pm. |
