HUTCH CROSSWORD BOOK AWARD 2005

Winner in the category of Indian Language Fiction Translation:
Krishna Sobti for 'The Heart has its Reasons'

Published by Katha

Krishna Sobti's acceptance speech at the Award function on 21st March 2006:

"Thank you very much Sir. Friends, it doesn't seem like its my book, because when I went through the English Translation, it seemed like somebody else's book because it was translated so well. This is all I can do. I think Reema did very well and so did Meenakshi and I am happy to know that Katha has brought it out in this fashion.

Usually, Indian languages we feel a little bit left out but not ignored because we know that it is a very rich material but I am happy that we are put on par with English. It is not competing with that, you know, we know that that's also our own language. But bhasha fiction is very very rich and we have reasons to believe that our bhasha writers have been narrating the action very acutely, very sincerely and also giving them the deserved density. I think together all Indian languages if they are put at par with English, it will be a wonderful feeling for the bhasha writers. We always thought maybe we have less of the sophistication of the English language but there are too many other things which compensate for it. Every writer wants to write a vision but seldom it happens that we can put it on paper but when its put, you know, it is not because of the writer, not because of one single person who sits on the table and writes it.

There are so many elements that combine, the moment you put your first line, you have to provide the strains of togetherness with that text and also the spiritual environment. I am not sure I am using the right word sir, but you could give me that word but something, you know, more than mere arrangement, you know its that with your inner sights. You derive it from the text, the very first line. You divide your power into 50-50. You are not the master, you are not the person you know, the text has a right upon itself. It assumes a perosnality. That is all I can say. I think the translation of Manzoor Ehtesham's novel, written in Hindi is a special kind of text. He has touched the grey areas.

I am very happy that next generation, my younger generation, they are doing so well sir.

Thank you very very much. "

-Krishna Sobti