Question : TRANSLATION OF CLASSICS

(a) whether the Sahitya Akademi has commissioned the translation of various classics into different languages including the works of Sree Narayana Guru;

(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year;

(c) whether the matter of the translation of certain classics including the translation of the works of Sree Narayana Guru have been referred to the Language Advisory Board;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the number of such matters disposed of by such board during the said period;

(e) the details of the action taken by the Akademi on matters cleared by the said board;and

(f) the other steps being taken to popularise classics in various languages in the country?

MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND MINISTER OF CULTURE(KUMARI SELJA)

(a)to (f) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 169 FOR 08.03.2011

(a)&(b) Sahitya Akademi has commissioned translation of various classical texts into different Indian languages, including English; but these do not include works of Sree Narayana Guru. A list of classical texts commissioned/published by the Sahitya Akademi from 2008 to 2011 is given at Annexure.

(c) &(d) Usually Language Advisory Boards themselves initiate the proposal and recommend the texts that Sahitya Akademi should take up for translation. However, in the matter of Sree Narayana Guru, Sahitya Akademi has recently written to its Language Advisory Boards to consider the translation of his works in other languages. The Language Advisory Boards will be taking a view in the matter in due course.

(e) Publication in translation of literary texts into different Indian languages is an ongoing activity of the Sahitya Akademi, which also covers translation of classical texts. A list of classical texts commissioned/published by the Sahitya Akademi, on the recommendation of Language Advisory Boards, from the year 2008 to 2011 is as at Annexure.

(f) Sahitya Akademi organizes seminars on classical literature and on writers belonging to the ancient and medieval period. It also organizes translation workshops to popularize classics in various languages of the country.

Sahitya Akademi honours scholars in the field of ancient and medieval literature with its annual ‘Bhasha Samman’ award. Two such awards (of rupees one lakh each) are given every year to scholars in the field.

The ancient and medieval literatures have been anthologised and published by the Sahitya Akademi in multiple volumes. On certain occasions, it has also published classical texts in their original language, in order to keep such texts in circulation.

‘Makers of Indian Literature’ is a prestigious series of publications of the Sahitya Akademi that covers important writers, including writers of ancient and medieval times. As part of this series, Sahitya Akademi has in the year 2009, published a monograph in Malayalam on Sree Narayana Guru, written by Dr. T. Bhaskaran.