Madiba’s story in Tamil
WHILE the life story of global peace icon Nelson Mandela has been translated into more than 40 languages, it did not cater for the 80 million Tamils worldwide – at least not until Durban radio personality Mala Lutchmanan took on the onerous task.
Last night at a ceremony in Durban to coincide with Mandela’s birth anniversary, Lutchmanan launched a Tamil version of his biography and said “nobody should be denied reading the incredible story of Madiba in one’s own mother tongue”.
“The story of Mandela is a priceless gift to mankind and one that every individual should be familiar with.
“When I realised that Tamils throughout the world were being done a major disservice by not having a Tamil version of the great statesman’s biography, I decided to undertake the translation of Mandela’s life story for the benefit of the Tamil diaspora.
“Tamils are avid readers yet not many are familiar with Mandela’s epic struggle, setbacks, renewed hope and ultimate triumph because reading material in Tamil on Mandela has been sorely lacking,” said the presenter of two popular Tamil programmes on Lotus FM.
Mandela’s biography has been translated into more than 40 languages, including South Africa’s 11 official languages.
Lutchmanan’s book whose title translated from Tamil is 10 000 Days – A Prisoner then President, was launched in India at the Second International Tamil Writers’ Conference in Chennai last month.
“I felt it would be fitting to launch the book in South Africa on July 18 to coincide with International Mandela Day, which calls on individuals to do something for others to commemorate the 67 years that Mandela had been a part of the freedom movement,” she said.
At last night’s launch event, Lutchmanan said her inspiration to write Mandela’s life story in Tamil was ignited after she met him when he visited the SABC’s Durban studios in 1998.
“With clasped hands I said Vanakkam, the traditional Tamil greeting, and Madiba bowed gracefully in acknowledgement. “I was deeply touched,” she said. Three years ago, in celebration of Mandela Day 2015, Lutchmanan launched Senthamizh Maalai, a CD compilation of 67 quotations by Mandela, which she translated into Tamil.
For this, the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, wrote to her acknowledging the local Tamil community’s contribution to keep the legacy of Mandela alive.
Lutchmanan, who attained a BA degree in Tamil from Thanjavur Tamil University in South India, is currently studying towards a PhD degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is documenting the similarity in pregnancy rituals among Tamils and Zulus.
The author of several books on Tamil religion and culture, she also plans to launch the Tamil biography of Mandela in several European countries.