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World's first novel translated to Urdu in Pakistan

World's first novel translated to Urdu in Pakistan

The translation for Japanese novel 'Tale of Genji' will be coming this year
22 Feb, 2018

The Tale of Genji, the world’s first novel penned in the 11th century, is now being translated from its original Japanese form into Urdu in Pakistan and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

This was disclosed at the Pakistan Japan Literature Forum at the Japan Information and Culture Centre in the Japanese Consulate here on Wednesday, although they thought it rather premature to share the name of the translator for now.

There are several translations of this classic work of Japanese literature written by a noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu, in the early years of the 11th century including many in English. “The Pakistani writer working on his translation has been at it for a while now and is currently working six hours a day as he gets closer to the conclusion,” it was disclosed by journalist Khurram Sohail at the Japanese Consulate, who added that the Urdu translation would be a big achievement once completed as it was not an easy book to translate.

“Many have attempted and failed on getting lost in the story that moves in several directions simultaneously,” he explained.

“Even the well-known Urdu writer in India Syed Ehtesham Hussain tried it, but was only able to write an abridged version, giving just the gist of the actual story,” he said.

Later, a few pages from the abridged Urdu translation were read out to the audience giving a glimpse of the story.

Genji is a son of a Japanese emperor who falls madly in love with a beautiful young concubine Kiritsubo, whom every other woman in the kingdom becomes extremely jealous of and starts plotting against. When she bears a son as beautiful as she is, the baby becomes the emperor’s favourite prince giving way to more envy especially from the mother of the emperor’s other son, the crown prince.

“The novel which talks of emperors, concubines, samurai, aristocratic society in ancient Japan, etc, even had to be translated into easy Japanese during the 1800s so that the Japanese people could read and understand it. And it was another 50 years before its English translation could come out for the rest of the world to be introduced to it,” said Mr Sohail. “You also get guides to help you follow The Tale of Gengi,” he added.

Journalist and guest speaker Rafaqat Hayat also commented about how wonderful it was that the novel even though written so long ago on a scroll, managed to survive through the years. He said that some people, particularly those in the West, believed Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote to be the first novel of the world. “But we now know that it is The Tale of Gengi,” he said. “It would be great to be able to read the classic work of literature in our own Urdu,” he said.


Originally published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018

Comments

syed s ahmed Feb 22, 2018 02:36pm
Nice to read something nice.
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Rekhtagar Feb 22, 2018 02:48pm
Kudos to the translator!
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bkt Feb 22, 2018 03:06pm
This is a beautiful book which needs to be read by Urdu reading audiences. It is wonderful news to know that this tale will now be available to many in Pakistan to read, reflect and enjoy.
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FROM Feb 22, 2018 03:26pm
And here I thought world's first novel was the Arabic language Alf-e -Liala!
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SURYA KANT AGRAWAL Feb 22, 2018 04:26pm
I thought it was Shakuntala which was first novel.
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Nasser Feb 22, 2018 05:09pm
This would be a most brilliant effort; power to the pen!
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KAZIM REZA Feb 22, 2018 06:57pm
Praiseworthy initiative but the claim...
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M. Emad Feb 22, 2018 09:16pm
'The Tale of Genji' was translated in Bengali many years ago.
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javed qamer USA Feb 22, 2018 11:05pm
Its a good book but its pretty long.
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Must learn Feb 23, 2018 12:41am
Great honor to Urdu.
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Must learn Feb 23, 2018 12:48am
@M. Emad .Thank you for your information. The people of W.Bengal & BD may benefit to read it. But as you may also know Urdu is spoken in 199 countries out of 200, and Urdu Newspapers are published in every state of USA, as well as in UK, London, Birmingham,Ireland Scotland,in Germany Frankfurt, Dubai, KSA,Qatar,Bahrain,, and Dhaka BD.
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Iris Feb 23, 2018 11:18am
@FROM Come on!
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Shakeel Ahmad Feb 23, 2018 11:51pm
A good effort (complete view will be given after reading)
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Smithc328 Feb 26, 2018 01:03am
Thank you, I have just been searching for information approximately this subject for ages and yours is the best I have came upon till now. But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain in regards to the supply?
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Aeyaz Kayani Feb 26, 2018 08:14am
I wonder if they will annotate it or provide appendices with it that contain relevant details of Japanese culture at the time it was written so as to make the story easier to understand.
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