Anisuz Zaman’s two new works available at Book Fair
Writer-translator and the convenor of Bangla Translation Foundation Anisuz Zaman’s two new literary works are available at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
His earlier translation work of Gabriel García Márquez’s Cien años de soledad titled Nihsangatar Eksha Bachhar is also available at the book fair.
Balihas Prokashana has published Uruguayan novelist Juan Carlos Onetti’s novel titled El pozo under the Bangla title Kuyo while Anyaprokash has published the book titled Gabor Deshe, Gabor Pore eyeing the month-long book fair.
Anisuz Zaman was the first to translate Juan Carlos Onetti’s novel El pozo into Bangla.
‘I came to know about El pozo a couple of years ago. My Spanish friends used to talk about Juan Carlos Onetti a lot. After I read it, I thought that this novel would be a new experience for our writers and readers,’ said Anisuz Zaman.
‘I know that there are readers of Latin literature in Bangladesh. Onetti is a writer without reading whom one cannot grasp Latin literature. Besides, when I was translating the novel, I got into it in such a way that it felt like I was writing in my own language,’ added Anisuz Zaman.
Anisuz Zaman-translated Gabor Deshe, Gabor Pore contains nine stories of nine Colombian writers who are considered as successors of Gabriel García Márquez. Anisuz Zaman has translated Nihsangatar Eksha Bachhar from Spanish. He also shared his thoughts about translating the magnum opus of Marquez.
‘The biggest challenge I faced while translating Cien años de soledad into Bangla was to grasp the meaning of the words of the novel. Many people think that it is possible to translate a book if she or he is adept in two languages but I do not agree with that. There is no substitute to knowing two languages, but translating a book requires more than that,’ said Anisuz Zaman, adding, ‘Although I know Spanish, I came across some words and phrases that were unknown to me while translating the novel. So I had to go to Marquez’s village. After discussing with the villagers, I understood the words, phrases and proverbs. Therefore, it took me several years to finish the work.’
Readers can buy Kuyo at the stall of Sangbed while Nihsangatar Eksha Bachhar and Gabor Deshe, Gabor Pore can be purchased at the stall of Anyaprokash at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. The books can also be purchased on online platforms, including Rokomari.
Source: NEWAGE