Lalit Kumar's English Translation Of Classic Maithili Novel Kanyadan Wins KLF Book In Translation Award 2023

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At the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), Bhubaneswar, Lalit Kumar won the KLF Book in Translation prize for his English translation of the classic Maithili novel Kanyadan published by Harper Perennial. The Honourable Governor of Odisha Prof Ganeshi Lal gave him the award.

Kanyadan was originally written by Harimohan Jha in 1933 and it focuses on the theme of girls' education. Set in colonial times the novel is a trenchant critique of ill-matched marriages. It dramatises the tension between tradition and modernity with playful exuberance.

In a session at the KLF, the journalist Keshav Karan, the co-ordinating editor of OneIndia discussed Kanyadan and its place in Indian literature with Lalit Kumar who teaches English at Delhi University. Kumar said 'what Fakirmohan Senapati is to Odia literature, and Premchand is to Hindi literature, Harimohan Jha is to Maithili literature'.

He added further, "The first Maithili film Kanyadan (1965), directed by Phani Majumdar was based on this very novel. The dialogues for the film were written by Phanishwarnath Nath 'Renu'".

Translated for the first time in English as The Bride, the book has a rich introduction written by Kumar and a fascinating Foreword by Harish Trivedi. It is the first-ever translation of a classic Maithili novel from colonial times into English.

Rashmi Ranjan Parida, the founder and director of the Festival said that KLF has been promoting Indian languages, literature, and culture for almost a decade and this year 500 delegates from twenty-five countries participated in the mega literary fest held at hotel Swasti Premium Bhubaneswar.