Hindi writer’s stories translated into English

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 30

Hindi writer SR Harnot’s short stories have been translated into English and his collection “Cat Talks”, published by Cambridge scholars (UK), will be launched on Amazon on Monday.

Harnot is the first writer from Himachal whose short stories have been translated by acclaimed writers and published by Cambridge scholars.

The book “Cat Talks” is a collection of 12 stories, of which six each have been translated into English by eminent scholars Prof Meenakshi F Paul and Dr Khem Raj Sharma and the original Hindi text has already earned accolades from noted writers and critics.

Harnot has already published nine short stories, of which five are on environment, history and culture of Himachal and travels in remote areas.

Some of his stories have already been translated into many regional languages in India and also included in the syllabus of graduate and postgraduate courses in many universities. Three researchers have been awarded PhD degrees on his works, while 17 have completed their MPhil.

Short films and plays have been made on his short stories and his famous stories like “Paharon Ke Sukh Dukh” (pleasure and pains of hills), “Upekshit” (deprived), “Pitridosh” (curse of dead forefathers) and “Kuritian” (social evils).

Harnot’s translated short story collection explores the social, political, religious and cultural milieu of the hilly state of Himachal. Penned in the zeitgeist of pahari life, his stories delineate a range of difficulties and absurdities, joys and rewards of life in hills hold universal appeal.

“I was touched by the hardships faced by people, especially Dalits. Social evils, particularly in rural areas, made me pen down their pain and agony,” Harnot said.

His other collections “Kalikh” (slur), “Devtaon ke Bahane” (in the name of Gods), “Nadi Gayab Hai” (the river has disappeared) and “Abhi” have been translated by prominent writers like Khem Raj Sharma and Meenakshi F Paul, Manjari Tiwari, RK Shukla and Ravi Nandan Sinha.

Other collection include “Panja”, “Akashbel”, “Oeeth Par Pahar”, “Jeenkathi Tatha Anya Kahaniyan”, “Mitti Ke Log” and “Dus Pratinidhi Kahaniyan”. He has also published a novel “Hidimb”. Harnot is also received International Indu Sharma Katha Samman, Bhartendu Harishchandra Award, Himachal Academy Award and Award for Tourism and Literature.