First ever direct translation book from Chinese to Tamil

- Book by an Indian Diplomat becomes the path-breaker. path-

(From Left to Right: Author Sridharan, Indias National Security Adivisor Amb. Shivshankar Menon, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, Mr Wang Xuefeng)

In the thousands of years of history, the first ever book of direct translation of a Chinese literature in to Tamil language has been released now. The book is titled Even if I adorned, theres none to behold: Shi Jing Chinas Sangam Literature. Introduction and Direct Translation [Vaari Choodinum Paarppavar Illai:

Kavi thogai Chinaavin Sanga Ilakkiyam. Arimugamum, neradi thamizhakkamum (Even if I adorn,
there's none to behold Shi Jing, the Chinese Classic Book of Songs]. The book was released on 25th February in Delhi in a function jointly organized by the Delhi Tamil Sanagam and the Kalachuvadu, the publisher. The book was released by the National Security Advisor Amb Shivshankar Menon (former Ambassador of India to the People's Republic of China and former Foreign Secretary of India). The first copy was received by Mr. Wang Xuefeng, Minister, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in New Delhi. Dr. A.R.Venkatachalapathy, ICCR Chair Professor of Indian Studies, South Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore and Tamil Writers Mr P.A. Krishnan and Mr Mu. Ramanathan spoke during the occasion. This book brings one of the most important Chinese literatures of all time, namely Shi Jing, Book of Songs (), to the Tamil language. It is said that Shi Jing (Book of Poems) was compiled by none other than the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius. Shi Jing is the earliest extant book in the Chinese literary history. Sridharan Madhusudhanan, an Indian Foreign Service officer who has served for about 9 years in Beijing and Hong Kong has written this book under his pen name payani which means travel and traveller in Tamil. 1

Unlike the other Chinese books which have so far been translated from Chinese to English and thence from English to Tamil, this book is the first ever direct translation from Chinese to Tamil language. Furthermore, this book also highlights some of the surprising similarities between the ancient Chinese literature and the Sangam Literature of ancient Tamils. Speaking on the occasion, Amb Shivshankar Menon commended that works like this book contribute substantially to the further development of cultural exchanges between India and China. He said these efforts would enable better understanding between the two cultures. Mr Wang Xuefeng, Minister, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China said that this work helps the people of India to understand China better. At the same time, offers one of the best literatures of China to the Indian people. So, this is a gift from people India to China and the people of China to India, he said. This book is about the Chinese Classic Book of Poetry (Shi Jing, pronounced Shizh Ching), which is the earliest extant book available in the Chinese literary history. This book is an anthology of 305 poems in three categories, namely, Folk Poems, Festive Poems, and Prayer Poems, all by anonymous poets. Confucius (551 BC to 479 BC), who is supposed to have made the anthology, mentions these poems in his works and dialogues. Once he said, Is it not like standing with ones face right to the wall (without seeing anything) if one does not read the poems of Shi Jing? Book of Poems does not stop just as a literary work. It forms part of the five Confucian Classics of China. It has peerlessly influenced the Chinese political, cultural and social life over the past two thousand five hundred years. This is an important book not only to the Chinese, but also to anyone wanting to know more about China, Chinese society, culture and literature. Sridharans Tamil book introduces the Book of Poems, providing details of the subject matter of these poems, importance and literary history of Book of Poems; in addition, select Chinese poems have been directly translated in to Tamil language with individual comments to highlight the literary aspects of the poems. Sridharan first went to Beijing in 1998, and started learning Chinese (Mandarin) language. During his tenure in Hong Kong (2000-2002) he published his first book, called Cheena Mozhi Oor Arimugam [Chinese Language An Introduction]. This was released by the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong during a special function organized by the Hong Kong Tamil Sangam. During his second tenure in Beijing (2004-2008) Sridharan started reading a few Chinese poems. One of the poems 2

looked like a translation from the Sangam Literature of Tamil language. When he learned that it is actually an ancient Chinese poem from the first book in the Chinese literary history, he was surprised. He started developing an interest in reading Shi Jing. In order to learn this ancient Chinese literature, Sridharan took private weekly lessons for two years (2005-2007) independently from two teachers: Professor Qi Yongxiang, Head of Chinese Literature Department of the Peking University, and Mrs Zhang Yinghua, Lecturer in the Language Department of the Beijing Institute of Economic Management, where earlier Sridharan learned Chinese language (Mandarin). China Radio International (CRI) has a Tamil Division where a few Chinese and Indians with Tamil language skills are working. Sridharan enlisted the help of Mr Antony Cleetus and Mr Maria Michael, the two experts from Tamil Nadu, India and two Chinese friends with Tamil knowledge, namely, Mr Zou Zihua a.k.a Arvind, and Ms Han Chong a.k.a. Thilakavathi. All four friends, along with Sridharan and his wife Vaidehi participated in a series of weekend translation workshops at their home, where each poem was discussed thoroughly. About 20 friends spread around the world including Canada, Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington, Chennai, Delhi also read the translated poems and Sridhrans original essays and gave their feedback on the same. Sridharans comments on his book give a new perspective to the literary event: In the evolution of direct Tamil - Chinese literary relations, my previous book (Chinese Language - an introduction, published in 2002 in Hong Kong) and this book (Even if I adorn, there's none to behold, based on Book on Songs) are like single cell organisms. Even providing for exaggeration, these would at best only be under-developed apes. Obviously, books that are better than these would come; must come. However, if the ape does not happen in 2012, a better book might not happen by 2015 or 2020. So, however much I am conscious of the shortcomings of this book, I also feel that this is an important one. Even my future endeavours would be based on this understanding. Apart from this perspective of literary history, the literature introduced in this book - a collection of folk songs, festive songs, and prayer songs written about 2500 years ago in China - are delectable. 3

Dr. A.R.Venkatachalapathy, ICCR Chair Professor of Indian Studies, South Asian Studies Programme, National University of Singapore has written an enriching Foreword to the book, highlighting its importance and historical context. Dr. B. Mathivanan, Dean, Faculty of Indian and other Languages, Professor, Department of Tamil Studies, Bharathidasan University have written another Foreword to the book highlighting the similarities between the translated poems and the poems of Sangam Literature. Sridharan has dedicated his book in this way: To our ancestors, with reverence; to our successors, with love. Sridharan Madhusudhanan (born 1966) is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. After joining the Indian Foreign Service, he realized that every officer has to choose one foreign language to study and he chose Chinese language. Hence, we went to Beijing and studied the language for two years. He has served about 9 years in Beijing and Hong Kong. When in Hong Kong, he published his first book on Chinese in Tamil language, namely, Chinese Language an Introduction (Cheena Mozhi Oor Arimugam) in 2002. Later, this was published in India by Kalachuvadu. Sridharan has also served in Fiji Islands. Currently he words as Director at the SAARC Division (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. Sridharan was one of the first batch of Student-Reporters of Vikatan group of magazines in Tamil Nadu. Later he did free-lance feature writing in Tamil along with friends under the banner Brahmma Features. He is also associated with Aykya Theatres that has produced a few modern plays and performed in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and also in Hong Kong. He has published over 10 short stories and a few poems in Tamil magazines. His research articles on Tamil lexicography and on connection between literature and nature have been published in academic journals. A science graduate, Sridharans further academic qualifications include MBA from Colorado State University, USA, Masters in Public Administration, Masters in Human Resource Management and Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism.

Sridharan Madhusudhanan Indian Foreign Service Director (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation - SAARC) Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, India Email: msridharan@gmail.com, Mobile: +91-9013078381 Publisher: Mr Kannan Sundaram, Kalachuvadu Publication (publisher@kalachuvadu.com, Mobile: +919677778861) 4