French novel's Tamil translation wins Romain Rolland Prize in Kolkata's Literary Fest

The Tamil translation of French novel 'Le Mariage de Plaisir' won the Romain Rolland Book prize on Sunday at the three-day Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival. Dr S A Vengada Soupraya Nayagar and publisher Amutharasan Paulraj of Thadagam Publishers are the winners of the prize for the Tamil translation of the book, authored by Tahar Ben Jelloun, the organisers told PTI.

The winning publisher and translator will be invited by the French Institute in India to the Paris Book Fair 2021 (Livre Paris 2021) where India will be the guest of honour.

READ | Rahul Gandhi Tongue-ties His Translator In Tamil Nadu Roadshow With Convoluted Attack

Romain Rolland Book Prize

Started in 2017, Romain Rolland Book Prize aims at awarding the best translation of a French title into any Indian language, including English. The qualities of the translation and the publication are taken into account by an Indo-French jury.

READ | 'Very Grateful': French Envoy Thanks India For Shipping COVID Vaccines To Fight Pandemic

The counsellor for education, science and culture, Embassy of France, and the director of the French Institute in India, Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens told PTI that it's been four years that the Romain Rolland Book Prize was created and witnessed some talented translators and pragmatic publishers awarded for their works.

'The French Institute in India is working more and more to increase translation of French books in Indian languages. In the perspective of the Paris Book Fair 2021, India is the focus country and which will see at least 30 Indian authors and publishers invited to Paris in May 2021 to meet the French readers", he said.

READ | Jayalalithaa Death Probe: Tamil Nadu Govt Gives Arumughaswamy Commission Another 6 Months

Renowned scholars and experts from France and India, including Annie Montaut, Michle Albaret- Maatsch, Renuka George, Sindhuja Veeraragavan, Geetha Krishnankutty and Chinmoy Guha were the jury members. Malayalam translation of 'Souvenirs Dormants', and Hindi translation of 'Pour que tu ne teperdes pas dans le quartier', were also shortlisted.

READ | French President Macron Promotes Recovery Plan To Business Leaders

(With PTI Inputs)