Translates into good reading
Harbir K Singh

The Shoulder Bag and Other Stories
Prem Parakash.
Translated by Rita Chaudhry.
Guru Nanak Dev University, Arnritsar.
Rs 200. Pages 226.

Guru Nanak Dev University has been translating major Punjabi literary works. This book of short stories is an effort in the same direction. Translation has helped break the language barrier for readers who could not read Punjabi. The stories carry the themes of love, human touch, culture and beliefs. This translation has not dimmed the original flavour. Man-woman relationships dominate most stories, which show women in different roles as rebels, fighters pious and whores. The author has tremendous understanding of women.

The title story is in two parts. This is the story of Vandana Parmar where dual perspectives have been juxtaposed with a single situation. In first part, the narrator speaks about his love, hatred, anger, depression, fear and jealousy in his relationship with Vandana and the situations arising due to her close proximity with Professor Mirchandani.

The second part is in the form of a letter from Vandana to the narrator. It is good to read about familiar places in Chandigarh. Jasbir he is not is story of human relationships at the time when terrorism was at its peak. It’s about the relationship between Hari Dev and Jasbir, his long-lost friend. Jasbir becomes a terrorist due to circumstances and hides in Hari’s house.

Arjun Let the Chariot Roll has been written as a letter to Catherine from Gurdev Chand. This short story is simply conversation. The Deadline is story about the relationship of a young bachelor suffering from cancer with his brother’s wife, who is like a mother and friend to him. To fulfil his last wish, she becomes his lover.

In Mukti, the author has experimented with having the narrator and the character speak about the same situation from their different viewpoints. Ghar is again a letter, to Sushma from Rita Bhullar. This story is based on the differences of caste and culture, which create tensions between a couple, who marry in spite of opposition from their families.

Machhi is the story of Sheel, who emerges in various hues through the eyes of different men in her life, who are her friends. V. D. Shanna, Mangal and Nirmal, look at her in different ways. It reflects the impact of the Naxalite movement on men, women and their relationships.

The story Professor Walia revolves around old age and loneliness, physical sufferings and abuse inflicted by children. To satisfy his physical needs, he turns to two women, Pammi and Dhan Kaur. Mohdi is the story in which Sehgal Amritsari is a retired man whose roots are pulling him back.

All the stories have been well translated by Rita Chaudhry, a professor at the university. Her translation is gripping and brings out the emotions of characters and arouses the interest of the reader.

HOME