Book on Indian writer released in Arabic
dubai — The Arabic version of a book on the life and literary contributions of the legendary Indian writer Vaikom Mohammad Basheer has been launched by the Sharjah Cultural Department.
The book, Mazarath (Tracks), originally written in Malayalam by EM Ashraf, a veteran journalist and Middle East news director of Kairali television, was translated into Arabic language by Abdu Shivapuram, and was distributed along with Rafid magazine by the cultural department.
Mazarath is the second work of Ashraf translated into Arabic. Earlier, his biography of Indian painter MF Hussain was published by the department in Arabic and English, which was later selected by the government as the best work in Arabic in 2014.
“Mazarath depicts a journey of trials and tribulations by Basheer as a freedom fighter and his rich literary contributions comprising an array of novels and short stories penned in his crisp and inimitable style,” said Ashraf, who has been a Dubai resident for two decades.
Basheer (1908-1994), who looked at life with detachment, broke the conventional norms in fiction writing and was bold enough to overlook basic grammar. Indeed, with his colloquial language, satire and humour, he blazed a different trail in Malayalam literature.
“Most of his writings can be traced back to specific instances in his life. Through his works, Basheer sought to empathise with the hapless and succeeded in communicating the universal values of compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and love,” said Ashraf.
issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com