by Shreya Das
A Fulbright Scholar, a linguist, a ‘translator’, who spoke about Literature, Cultures, Aesthetics and Jibananda Das. His journey of linguistics started from Latin and also travelled the Nile valley to explore the Egyptian Hieroglyphics. He believes in theories but hardly implement it practically. Shreya Das took the opportunity of his presence at the 35th Kolkata Book Fair to rediscover his journey and experiences.
A Fulbright Scholar, a linguist, a ‘translator’, who spoke about Literature, Cultures, Aesthetics and Jibananda Das. His journey of linguistics started from Latin and also travelled the Nile valley to explore the Egyptian Hieroglyphics. He believes in theories but hardly implement it practically. Shreya Das took the opportunity of his presence at the 35th Kolkata Book Fair to rediscover his journey and experiences.
Scape: What inspired you to start translation of Bengali Poem?
Pleasant: Hmmm… actually my inspiration first came from reading Geetanjali that was translated into English. When I first read it, felt so beautiful that I decided if I could do something in my life to learn and study Bengali, to read Geetanjali in original. So it was Tagore who inspired me into Bengali Literature.
Scape: So how does it feel to be part of this ‘Fair’ on Tagore’s 150th Birth Anniversary?
Pleasant: Yes…it’s a huge honour for me to be here. After 150 years, his influence is just as strong if not stronger than it had been when he was alive. It’s a great honour for me to participate in this legacy.
Scape: I read that you know 10 languages, and it all started with Latin…
Pleasant: (Laughs) Yeah… as a child I was very involved in literature, particularly in English literature and then the process of studying English literature led me to the process of studying Ancient literature. And the tradition of studying English literature is often linked back to the ancient Roman Literature. I was only ten when I took my first Latin class, and I fell in love with learning languages. After learning Latin I wanted to learn every language of the world. (Smiles) unfortunately that’s not possible but I learnt some of them.
Scape : You have also learnt Egyptian hieroglyphics. So if you could put some light on that…
Pleasant: Well… Egyptian hieroglyphics were interesting. Actually Egyptian hieroglyphics don’t contain any literature for say, both were used for simple documentary purposes. I studied Hieroglyphics more to learn how to change photographic system to lithographic system. Previously the first writing system was pictograms then shortly thereafter they also developed phonetics alphabets, so I even studied that. It was interesting but there’s very literature to study in that.
Scape : Currently which Language are you studying?
Pleasant: I am learning Arabic now.
Scape: You have learnt and still you are learning so many languages, how would you endorse it?
Pleasant: All languages are inter-connected at some point, and are used to communicate verbal things. They all support vast bodies of literature which are wonderful and beautiful. I think most important similarity among all languages is that we can use them to communicate and create some beautiful literatures.
Pleasant: Hmmm… actually my inspiration first came from reading Geetanjali that was translated into English. When I first read it, felt so beautiful that I decided if I could do something in my life to learn and study Bengali, to read Geetanjali in original. So it was Tagore who inspired me into Bengali Literature.
Scape: So how does it feel to be part of this ‘Fair’ on Tagore’s 150th Birth Anniversary?
Pleasant: Yes…it’s a huge honour for me to be here. After 150 years, his influence is just as strong if not stronger than it had been when he was alive. It’s a great honour for me to participate in this legacy.
Scape: I read that you know 10 languages, and it all started with Latin…
Pleasant: (Laughs) Yeah… as a child I was very involved in literature, particularly in English literature and then the process of studying English literature led me to the process of studying Ancient literature. And the tradition of studying English literature is often linked back to the ancient Roman Literature. I was only ten when I took my first Latin class, and I fell in love with learning languages. After learning Latin I wanted to learn every language of the world. (Smiles) unfortunately that’s not possible but I learnt some of them.
Scape : You have also learnt Egyptian hieroglyphics. So if you could put some light on that…
Pleasant: Well… Egyptian hieroglyphics were interesting. Actually Egyptian hieroglyphics don’t contain any literature for say, both were used for simple documentary purposes. I studied Hieroglyphics more to learn how to change photographic system to lithographic system. Previously the first writing system was pictograms then shortly thereafter they also developed phonetics alphabets, so I even studied that. It was interesting but there’s very literature to study in that.
Scape : Currently which Language are you studying?
Pleasant: I am learning Arabic now.
Scape: You have learnt and still you are learning so many languages, how would you endorse it?
Pleasant: All languages are inter-connected at some point, and are used to communicate verbal things. They all support vast bodies of literature which are wonderful and beautiful. I think most important similarity among all languages is that we can use them to communicate and create some beautiful literatures.
For the entire interview follow the link : http://www.thescape.in/newsdetail.asp?newsid=1812
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