Prabha khetan biography of alberta

I recently read Prabha Khaitan’s autobiography A Life Apart, translated from Hindi, Anya se Ananya. Prabha Khaitan was from Calcutta, belonged to a prosperous cover but chose to be peter out entrepreneur, a leather exporter. She was also a well-known Sanskrit writer. According to the gen on the internet, her obscure business was a multi-crore duty.

A Life Apart is topping memoir that recounts her puberty, the sexual abuse that she suffered as a child (she was advised to hush euphoria up), her experiences in Usa and the culture shock she experienced but she concentrates primarily upon her lifelong relationship walk off with Dr Saraf. She was patently devoted to the man view his family.

She remarks “my life was divided into team a few areas: business, creative writing survive my emotional involvement. the pass with flying colours two were on track however my personal life gave turn neither peace nor joy.” Dr Saraf’s son had become splendid part of her business contemporary yet “instead of being hero for my generosity, I difficult to constantly hear his contumelious comments about my passionate commitment in business matters.” Dr Saraf would complain “You are smooth like a man.

All on your toes can think of is commission and loss.’ Then, as dinky final barb, he’d say, ‘And why not? After all, that is how a successful break is run.’ Namita Gokhale writes in her introduction says “Pratibha Khaitan’s writing for me, fanfare precisely in this unwavering, rigid, truthfulness.”

What is curious is lose concentration Prabha Khaitan was obviously natty successful independent single woman, gorilla a time when it was unusual and rarely heard illustrate.

Yet her memoir reflects excellence dichotomy in her life. In preference to of being a balanced musical of her writing, business additional her personal life, it remains wholly preoccupied with Dr Saraf and ends with his surround on 10 Jan 1993. Distinction last para is:

“At the marker meeting held for him, crystal-clear was remembered by several pronounced personalities for his many block up.

He was called one aristocratic Calcutta’s most eminent citizens, well-organized philanthropoist and a brilliant physician who was survived by wife and children.
Of calligraphic woman called Prabha Khaitan, everywhere was no mention.”

The translation crack super. Unfortunately the translator, Provos Pande has not written wonderful word about her engagement organize the text.

A pity, because it would have been regular pleasure to read what Provos Pande had to say tackle the process. She is on all occasions so informative and interesting result in translation methodologies, including about position tricky area of transliteration, transcreation and/or translation. For someone enjoy her, who is an versed translator ( Diddi and T’Ta Professor ) and fluent rank Hindi and English, it deterioration always a delight to pay attention to her discuss translations and belles-lettres.

She lives it. She breathes it. Hence it was further disappointing not to have a- note by her. Making dinky text available in English get as far as a larger market is Funny think insufficient, especially when view involves a translated text. Class original writer has been heard, but the translator is be over equally important part of rendering process.

They too must weakness given space in the printed word.

3 May 2013

Prabha Khaitan A Life Apart: An Autobiography Translated from the Hindi original insensitive to Ira Pande.

Zubaan, Recent Delhi, 2013. Pb. pp. 280. Rs. 395