Beijing: China has conferred its highest
literary award on Prof BR Deepak for his book, which is a
translation of 88 classical Chinese poems into Hindi.
Deepak, who is from Centre of Chinese and Southeast Asian
Studies, JNU, was the first Indian to receive the "Special
Book Award" for his contribution to Chinese studies,
translation, publication of Chinese books and cultural
exchange.
The award was presented by the State Counsellor, Liu
Yandong, at an investiture held in National Theatre of
Performing Arts and the awards were given away by the State
Counselor Liu Yandong.
The book is first-of-its-kind translation of 88 classical
poems from 11th to 14th Century BC into Hindi that have been
selected from various periods of Chinese history starting from
Shijing of pre Qin to Xixiangji of the Yuan dynasty, Prof
Deepak, currently visiting professor of Chinese and Dean of
the School of Languages, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
said today.
The book provides a kaleidoscopic view of the poetic
tradition and genres such as Chu Ci, Han Yuefu, Tang Shi and
Song Ci to the readers, along with the original Chinese text
that has also been provided.
The collection also incorporates the poetry of great
patriot poet Qu Yuan, folk songs from northern and southern
dynasties, and some lyrics from Yuan dramas.
It is perhaps for the first time that Indian readers,
especially the vast majority of the Hindi speaking population,
have been exposed to the glorious poetic tradition and culture
of ancient China.
Prof Deepak has also authored India and China
1904-2004: A Century of Peace and Conflict (2005), India-China
Relations in first half of the Twentieth Century (2001),
History of Chinese Literature with selected Texts (2001),
Chinese-Hindi Dictionary (2003), China: Agriculture,
Countryside and Peasants (2011), and My Life With Kotnis
(2006), a translation of Wo yu Ke Dihua narrated by Kotnis?
wife Guo Qinglan and compiled by Xu Baohong.
PTI
