under review

K.V. Shailaja: Difference between revisions

From Tamil Wiki
(Initial Page)
(Changed incorrect text: ​)
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Read Tamil|Name of target page=கே.வி.ஷைலஜா|Title of target page=கே.வி.ஷைலஜா}}
{{Read Tamil|Name of target page=கே.வி.ஷைலஜா|Title of target page=கே.வி.ஷைலஜா}}
[[File:Shailaja.jpg|thumb|Shailaja]]
K.V. Shailaja (b. 1969) is a Translator, writer and Publisher. She has introduced some of the best Malayalam works to Tamil readers through her translations, such as ''Chidambara Ninaivugal, Sumitra.'' She is Associated with Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association. K.V. Shailaja runs Vamsi Publishing along with her husband [[பவா செல்லதுரை|Bavaa Chelladurai.]]
== Birth, Education==
K.V. Shailaja was born in Thiruvannamalai on November 7, 1969, to the couple K.A. Vasudevan-P.M. Madhavi. Originally from Palakkad, Kerala, the family moved to Thiruvannamalai for her father's business before she was born. K.V. Shailaja lost her father when she was five months old and grew up in her maternal uncle's care. She has two elder sisters - K.V. Jayashree and Sujatha. [[K.V. Jayashree]] is a Sahitya Academy award winning Writer and Translator. K.V. Shailaja did her Primary education at Kannika Parameswari School, Thiruvannamalai and her higher education at Municipal High School. She received Bachelor of Commerce degree from Anna Government College of Arts, Thiruvannamalai and received her Post-graduate Master of Science, M.Phil degrees from Annamalai University. K.V. Shailaja cites her mother's avid reading habit and her aunt's library as her inspiration towards reading and literature.
==Personal Life==
[[File:Kvfamily.jpg|thumb|K.V. Shailaja's Family]]
Meeting writer [[பவா செல்லதுரை|Bava Chelladurai]] at the Progressive Writers Association's conference, blossomed into love. They married in 1994. Both their son Vamsi and daughter Manasi are interested in directing short films. Manasi translated Ira Natarajan's ''Ayesha'' into English when she was in eighth grade.
=====Career in Education =====
* Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Thiruvannamalai (Teacher)
*Ramakrishna Matriculation High School, Thiruvannamalai (Principal)
*Arunai Engineering College, Thiruvannamalai (Lecturer)
*Danish Mission High School, Tiruvannamalai (Teacher)
*Kamban College of Arts and Sciences for Women, Tiruvannamalai (Lecturer)
==Career in Literature==
[[File:Ninaivukal.jpg|thumb|Chidambara Ninaivugal, panuval.com]]
[[File:Sum.jpg|thumb|Sumitra, Commonfolks]]
[[File:Mammutty.jpg|thumb|Moondram Pirai, Amazon.in]]
[[File:Svarab.jpg|thumb|Swarabethangal, panuval.com]]
K.V. Shailaja's collection of essays, ''Muthiyamma'' is about her own life, memoirs, rendezvous with writers and artists, starting from her childhood. Her ''Uruvamattra En Muthal Aann'' (my first amorphous man) is an essay collection which depicts sadness and life's cruelties, yet instils hope that life is worth living and that it is full of sweetness and humanity.


K.V. Shailaja (1969) a Translator, writer and Publisher. She introduced the best Malayalam works to Tamil readers. She did famous translations like ''Chidambara Ninaivugal, Sumithra.'' She is Associated with Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association. K.V. Shailaja runs Vamsi Publishing along with her husband [[பவா செல்லதுரை|Bhava Chelladurai]].
K.V. Shailaja wrote her first Novel, ''Sahithaa - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural'' ( Sahithaa - voice of unconditional love) in 2021 based on a series of dreams she had from childhood and is written in the backdrop of the Islamic family she grew up with. [[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-1 1]]
== Birth, Education ==
==Achievements in Translation==
K.V. Shailaja was born in Tiruvannamalai on November 7, 1969 to K.A. Vasudevan-P.M. Madhavi couple. Originally from Palakkad in Kerala, the family moved to Tiruvannamalai for her father's business before Shailaja was born. K.V. Shailaja lost his father when she was five months old and grew up in the care of his maternal uncle. She has two elder sisters - K.V. Jayashree and Sujatha. [[கே.வி. ஜெயஸ்ரீ|K.V. Jayashree]] is a Sahitya Academy award winning Writer and Translator. K.V. Shailaja did her Primary education at Kannika Parameswari School, Tiruvannamalai and Higher education at Municipal High School. She received Bachelor of Commerce degree from Trivannamalai Anna Government College of Arts, Master's degree and Master of Science (M.Phil) degree from Annamalai University. K.V. Shailaja cites her mother's avid reading and the home library of her aunt as having moved her towards reading.
*After reading an interview of Balachandran Chullikkaad, Kerala's famous poet, in Aranyam Literary Magazine, she got interested meeting him in person. Bavaa Chelladurai and Shailaja invited him, with the help of writer Thilakavathy, to speak at their literary program 'Muttram'. The Malayalam book he gifted K.V.Shailaja in that occasion, ''Chidambara Smarana'' made her turn to her sister's daughter Sukana to learn to read the language. She read the book and after a year of hard work, she translated the book into Tamil as ''Chidambara Ninaivugal''. This brought her recognition in the Tamil literary world and a unique identity as a translator.
[[Category:English Content]]
*K.V. Shailaja had translated Actor Mammootty's memoirs, ''Kazhchappaadu'' into Tamil as ''Moonraam Pirai,'' published by her Publishing House, Vamsi.
== Personal Life ==
*Ten Malayalam short stories of retired IAS officer from Kerala and Writer, N.S. Madhavan was translated by K.V.Shailaja as ''Sarmishta''.
An introduction to writer [[பவா செல்லதுரை|Bava Chelladurai]] at the Progressive Writers Association conference blossomed into love. Both got married in 1994. Son Vamsi and daughter Manasi. Both are interested in directing short films. Manasi translated Ira Natarajan's ''Ayesha'' into English when she was in eighth grade.
*She has translated Malayalam writer K.R. Meera's stories into Tamil as ''Surpanakai''.
===== Career in Education =====
*[[கல்பற்றா நாராயணன்|Kalpattra Narayanan]]'s first Novel ''Ithra Maathram'' was translated by her as ''Sumitra''.  
* Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Tiruvannamalai (Teacher)
*Celebrated Malayalam Writer M.T.Vasudevan Nair's novel ''Iruthi Yathirai'', written on death of men, and Kalpattra Narayanan's ''Sumitra'', written on the death of women, were successively translated by K.V.Shailaja.
* Ramakrishna Matriculation High School, Thiruvannamalai (Principal)
*Malayalam writer Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu's short story collection ''Aarkkum Vendattha Kannu'' into Tamil as ''Yarukkum Vendatha Kann''.  
* Arunai Engineering College, Thiruvannamalai (Lecturer)
*''Pacchai iruLanin Sagaa Ponthan Maadan'' collection contains seven Malayalam short stories and seven from Tamil. ''Pacchai Irulan'' and ''Ponthan Maadan'' are the characters in the stories of Bavaa Chelladurai and Malayalam writer P.C. Sriraman respectively.
* Danish Mission High School, Tiruvannamalai (Teacher)
*Sabu Kilithattil's Malayalam work ''<nowiki/>'Nilaachoru<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>'' is based on the life of the founder of Kerala's Shanthi Medical informations, Uma Preman[[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-2 2]] [[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-3 3]], K.V. Shailaja translated this work to Tamil as ''<nowiki/>'Kathai Ketkum Suvargal''' (walls that listen to stories).  
* Kamban College of Arts and Sciences for Women, Tiruvannamalai (Lecturer)
*She has translated Malayalam Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi's autobiography into Tamil titled as ''Swarabedhangal''.  
== Career in Literature ==
=====As Publisher & as Co-Ordinator =====
K.V. Shailaja has written about her life experiences, encounters with writers and artists in his collection of essays ''Muthiyamma'', starting with childhood memories. ''Uruvamattra En Muthal Aan'' essay collection which portraits about sadness and life's cruelties, but it instills hope that life is worth living and that it is full of necessary sweetness and humanity.
Encouraged by Tamil writers Thilakavathy and [[சி. மோகன்|C. Mohan]], in 2001, K.V. Shailaja along with Bavaa Chelladurai started a publishing house in Thiruvannamalai named 'Vamsi'. They have published more than four hundred books of translations, indigenous literature, writings for human eminence and timeless classics. For this contribution in Publishing, she has received TamilNadu Government's Department for Tamil Development's Award five times. Along with the organisation 'Poovulagin Nanbargal' she has published 8 books so far.
 
K.V. Shailaja wrote a novel called ''Sahita - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural'' in 2021. The novel gives life to a series of dreams she had from childhood and is written against the backdrop of the Islamic family she grew up with.[[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-1 1]]
== Achievements in Translation ==
* After reading an interview of Kerala's famous poet Balachandran Sullikad in Aranyam Literary Magazine, I became interested in meeting him. Bhava Chelladurai and Shailaja invited him to speak at their literary program 'Muttram' through writer Tilakavathy. K.V. Shailaja learned to read Malayalam from her sister's daughter Sukana in order to read the ''Chidambara Smarna'' book he had gifted her. After reading the book, she worked for a year and translated it into Tamil under the name of ''Chidambara Ninaivugal''. A close translation of ''Chidambara Ninaivugal'' brought her recognition in the Tamil literary world and a unique identity as a translator.
*K.V. Shailaja translated Actor Mammootty's ''Kazhchapapadu'' into Tamil under the name of ''Moondram Pirai'' and published by Vamsi Publishing House.
*K.V. Shailaja translated ten short stories of retired IAS officer from Kerala and Writer N.S. Madhavan and published them under the name ''Sarmishta''.
*She translated K.R. Meera's stories under the name ''Surpanagai''.
*K.V. Shailaja has won an award from 'Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram' for her translation of M.D. Vasudevan Nayar's '''Iruthi Yathirai''<nowiki/>'.
*Kalpattra Narayanan's first Novel ''Ithra Mathram'' was translated by her under the name ''Sumitra''. ''Iruthi Yathirai'', written before the death of a man, and ''Sumitra'', written before the death of a woman, were successively translated novels.
*K.V. Shailaja has translated a Writer named Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu's short story collection ''Arkum Vendatha Kannu'' into Tamil under the title ''Yarukkum Vendatha Kan''. This translation earned her the 2014 Canada Literary Garden Award for Best Translation.
*''Pachai Iuralanin Saga Ponthan Madan'' collection contains seven short stories from Tamil and seven short stories from Malayalam. Pachai Irulan and Ponthan Madan are the characters in the story of Bhava Chelladurai and Malayalam writer P.C. Sriraman respectively.
*Sabu Kilithattu wrote a book called '''Nilachoru''<nowiki/>' Based on the life of Uma Preman[[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-2 2]] [[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-3 3]], the founder of Shanthi Medical Informations, which provides medical services in Kerala. K.V. Shailaja translated tit to Tamil under the name of ''Kathai Ketkum Suvargal''.
*She translated playback singer Bhagyalakshmi's autobiography titled ''Swarabedhangal''. She also won Sakthi video for Swarabedhangal.
 
===== Work in Publication =====
Encouraged by writers Thilakavathy and [[சி. மோகன்|C. Mohan]], K.V. Shailaja along with [[பவா செல்லதுரை|Bava Chelladurai]] started 'Vamsi' publishing house in Tiruvannamalai in 2001. She has published more than four hundred books such as translations, indigenous literature, writings for human excellence and timeless literature. For this she has received Tamil Development Department Award five times. Along with 'Poovulagin Nanbargal' she also published 8 books.
 
K.V. Shailaja coordinated many events as a member of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association.
 
== Literary Place ==
K.V. Shailaja's role in introducing Malayalam literature to Tamils ​​is significant.  Highlighting "Each translation reaches deep within me and raises", she has earned her unique identification through the translation of ''Chidambara Ninaivugal''. The elegant translation of the text as written directly in Tamil has resulted in the book being widely read in Tamil.
 
"Shailaja's translation unscathedly conveys the underlying feelings of the experiences to the reader with the same visceral pain and weight" says J. Baskaran.
 
"Shailaja's translation is very fluent, true to the poetry of the original, yet with idioms and expressions appropriate to the Malayalam script. Shailaja is well read and has literary taste" says [[S. Ramakrishnan]] about K.V. Shailaja.
 
"If Kalpattraa Narayanan as a Tamilan had written a novel in Tamil, if we assume the kind of fine language he would have used, K.V. Shailaja as a translator has created the magic very successfully", says Cudalore Cheenu about ''Sumitra [[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-4 4]]''.
 
With the aim of bringing Tamil literature to the people of Kerala, she is working to bring Tamil and Malayalam writers together through the Kerala Sahitya Academy and to translate Tamil works into Malayalam. Along with Bava Chelladurai she is conducting literary functions like "Muttram", "Vamsi Koodal", "Nilam", "Kalai Iravu".
 
== Books ==


* Uruvamattra En Muthal Aan
K.V. Shailaja as a member of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, coordinates many of their events, including Book fairs. With the help of Kerala Sahitya Academy, she combines Tamil and Malayalam translators to transcribe important Tamil literature to Malayalam language.  She conducts literary fests and meetings 'Mutram', 'Vamsi Koodal', 'Nilam', 'Kalai iravu' along with her husband Bavaa Chelladurai.
* Mutthiamma
==Literary Position ==
* Sahita - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural
K.V. Shailaja's role in introducing Malayalam literature to Tamil through translation and as publisher, is significant. She reveals "Each translation raises from deep within me", though she earned her unique identity as a Translator through her debut work '<nowiki/>''Chidambara Ninaivugal'''. The elegant translation of the text which read as well-written directly in Tamil, has resulted in the book being widely read in Tamil.


==== Translation Books (From Malayalam to Tamil) ====
"Shailaja's translation conveys the feelings that underlie experiences to its readers with the same visceral pain and weight of the originals" says J. Baskaran.


===== Essays =====
"Her translations are very fluent, true to the poetic tongue of the original, yet with idioms and expressions typical to Malayalam. Shailaja is very well read and has great literary flavour" says [[S. Ramakrishnan]] about K.V. Shailaja.


* ''Chidambara Ninaivugal - Balachandran Chullikadu''
"K.V.Shailaja has so successfully created the magic through her translation, as though  Kalpattraa Narayanan had been a Tamil and authored this novel directly in Tamil. Any reader of Tamil should not miss this experience ", says Cuddalore Seenu about ''Sumitra [[https://tamil.wiki/wiki/%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%87.%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF.%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BE#cite_note-4 4]]''.
* ''Moondram Piral - Mammooty (Life Experiences)''
==Books ==
 
*''Uruvamattra En Muthal Aann''
===== Short Stories =====
*''Mutthiamma''
 
*''Sahithaa - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural''
* ''Sharmista - N.S. Madhavan''
====Translation (From Malayalam to Tamil) ====
* ''Surpanagai - K.R. Meera''
===== Essays=====
* ''Yaarukkum Vendatha Kan - Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu''
*''Chidambara Ninaivugal -'' Balachandran Chullikadu's ''Chidambara Smarana.''
 
*''Moonraam Piral -'' Mammooty's memoirs.
===== Novels =====
=====Short Stories=====
 
*''Sharmista -'' N.S. Madhavan
* ''Sumitra - Kalpattra Narayanan''
*''Surpanakai -'' K.R. Meera
* ''Iruthiyathirai - M.D. Vasudevan Nayar''
*''Yaarukkum Vendatha Kan -'' Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu
* ''Swarabethangal - Bagyalakshmi''
=====Novels=====
* ''Kathai Ketkum Suvargal - Shabu Kilithattil''
*''Sumitra -'' Kalpattra Narayanan
 
*''Iruthiyathirai -'' M.T. Vasudevan Nair
===== Collection Books =====
* ''Swarabethangal -'' Bagyalakshmi's Autobiography.
 
*''Kathai Ketkum Suvargal -'' Shabu Kilithattil's ''<nowiki/>'Nilaa Choru'''
* ''Pachai Iuralanin Saga Ponthan Madan (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam)''
==== Anthology ====
* ''Thennindhiya Sirukathaigal (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam - Kannada - Telugu)''
* ''Pacchai iruLanin Sagaa Ponthan Maadan'' (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam)
 
*''Thennindhiya Sirukathaigal (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam - Kannada - Telugu)''
== Awards ==
==Awards==
 
*Kalai Ilakkiya Peravai Viruthu ( for translating M.T.Vasudevan Nair's ''<nowiki/>'Iruthi Yaathirai''')
* Kalai Ilakkiya Peravai Viruthu
*Tirupur Tamil Sangam Award
* Tirupur Tamil Sangam Award
*2014, Canada Literary Garden Award, (for ''Yaarukkum Vendaatha Kann.)''
* Canada Literary Garden Award
*Sakthi Award for Female Authors. (for Bagyalakshmi's ''<nowiki/>'SwarabedhangaL''').
* Sakthi Award for Female Authors
*Best Publishers to Vamsi, for Five times, From Tamil Nadu Government's Department for Tamil Development.
* Five Time Award for Best Publicist From Tamil Nadu Government's Department of Tamil Development
==References==
 
*[https://vanemmagazine.com/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81/ K.V. Shailaja's Interview - Vanem Magazine]
== References ==
*[http://www.vasagasalai.com/muthiyamma-book-review/ Vasagasalai - K.V. Shailaja's Mutthiamma]
 
*[https://www.sramakrishnan.com/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D/ Sihabudeen's Stories - S. Ramakrishnan]
* [https://vanemmagazine.com/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81/ K.V. Shailaja's Interview - Vanem Magazine]
*[https://thiruttusavi.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post_8.html M.T.Vs Iruthi Yathirai - Abilash Chandran]
* [http://www.vasagasalai.com/muthiyamma-book-review/ Vasagasalai - K.V. Shailaja's Mutthiamma]
*[http://www.tamilonline.com/thendral/article.aspx?aid=12639 Thendral - K.V. Shailaja]
* [https://www.sramakrishnan.com/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D/ Sihabudeen's Stories - S. Ramakrishnan]
*[https://kanali.in/aka-mugankal/ 'Kanali' M. Mukundan's Inner Face Translation - K.V. Shailaja]
* [https://thiruttusavi.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post_8.html M.T.Vs Iruthi Yathirai - Abilash Chandran]
* [http://www.tamilonline.com/thendral/article.aspx?aid=12639 Thendral - K.V. Shailaja]
* [https://kanali.in/aka-mugankal/ 'Kanali' M. Mukundan's Inner Face Translation - K.V. Shailaja]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DORhqkiHQmA Bhava Chelladurai's Perum Kathaiyadal, 'Sumitra' - Video]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DORhqkiHQmA Bhava Chelladurai's Perum Kathaiyadal, 'Sumitra' - Video]
 
==Footnotes==
== Footnotes ==
#[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnmGm9bAfe4 Sahita - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural - Video]
 
#[https://www.aanthaireporter.com/biopic-of-uma-preman-to-be-directed-by-vigneswaran-vijayan/ Uma Preman - Life Note]
# [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnmGm9bAfe4 Sahita - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural - Video]
#[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51398525 bbc.com An 'unhappy marriage' -that has saved thousands of lives]
# [https://www.aanthaireporter.com/biopic-of-uma-preman-to-be-directed-by-vigneswaran-vijayan/ Uma Preman - Life Note]
#[https://www.jeyamohan.in/34339/ Sumitra]
# [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51398525 bbc.com An 'unhappy marriage' -that has saved thousands of lives]
{{Finalised-en}}
# [https://www.jeyamohan.in/34339/ Sumitra]
[[Category:English Content]]

Latest revision as of 07:49, 17 February 2024

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கே.வி.ஷைலஜா ‎

Shailaja

K.V. Shailaja (b. 1969) is a Translator, writer and Publisher. She has introduced some of the best Malayalam works to Tamil readers through her translations, such as Chidambara Ninaivugal, Sumitra. She is Associated with Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association. K.V. Shailaja runs Vamsi Publishing along with her husband Bavaa Chelladurai.

Birth, Education

K.V. Shailaja was born in Thiruvannamalai on November 7, 1969, to the couple K.A. Vasudevan-P.M. Madhavi. Originally from Palakkad, Kerala, the family moved to Thiruvannamalai for her father's business before she was born. K.V. Shailaja lost her father when she was five months old and grew up in her maternal uncle's care. She has two elder sisters - K.V. Jayashree and Sujatha. K.V. Jayashree is a Sahitya Academy award winning Writer and Translator. K.V. Shailaja did her Primary education at Kannika Parameswari School, Thiruvannamalai and her higher education at Municipal High School. She received Bachelor of Commerce degree from Anna Government College of Arts, Thiruvannamalai and received her Post-graduate Master of Science, M.Phil degrees from Annamalai University. K.V. Shailaja cites her mother's avid reading habit and her aunt's library as her inspiration towards reading and literature.

Personal Life

K.V. Shailaja's Family

Meeting writer Bava Chelladurai at the Progressive Writers Association's conference, blossomed into love. They married in 1994. Both their son Vamsi and daughter Manasi are interested in directing short films. Manasi translated Ira Natarajan's Ayesha into English when she was in eighth grade.

Career in Education
  • Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Thiruvannamalai (Teacher)
  • Ramakrishna Matriculation High School, Thiruvannamalai (Principal)
  • Arunai Engineering College, Thiruvannamalai (Lecturer)
  • Danish Mission High School, Tiruvannamalai (Teacher)
  • Kamban College of Arts and Sciences for Women, Tiruvannamalai (Lecturer)

Career in Literature

Chidambara Ninaivugal, panuval.com
Sumitra, Commonfolks
Moondram Pirai, Amazon.in
Swarabethangal, panuval.com

K.V. Shailaja's collection of essays, Muthiyamma is about her own life, memoirs, rendezvous with writers and artists, starting from her childhood. Her Uruvamattra En Muthal Aann (my first amorphous man) is an essay collection which depicts sadness and life's cruelties, yet instils hope that life is worth living and that it is full of sweetness and humanity.

K.V. Shailaja wrote her first Novel, Sahithaa - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural ( Sahithaa - voice of unconditional love) in 2021 based on a series of dreams she had from childhood and is written in the backdrop of the Islamic family she grew up with. [1]

Achievements in Translation

  • After reading an interview of Balachandran Chullikkaad, Kerala's famous poet, in Aranyam Literary Magazine, she got interested meeting him in person. Bavaa Chelladurai and Shailaja invited him, with the help of writer Thilakavathy, to speak at their literary program 'Muttram'. The Malayalam book he gifted K.V.Shailaja in that occasion, Chidambara Smarana made her turn to her sister's daughter Sukana to learn to read the language. She read the book and after a year of hard work, she translated the book into Tamil as Chidambara Ninaivugal. This brought her recognition in the Tamil literary world and a unique identity as a translator.
  • K.V. Shailaja had translated Actor Mammootty's memoirs, Kazhchappaadu into Tamil as Moonraam Pirai, published by her Publishing House, Vamsi.
  • Ten Malayalam short stories of retired IAS officer from Kerala and Writer, N.S. Madhavan was translated by K.V.Shailaja as Sarmishta.
  • She has translated Malayalam writer K.R. Meera's stories into Tamil as Surpanakai.
  • Kalpattra Narayanan's first Novel Ithra Maathram was translated by her as Sumitra.
  • Celebrated Malayalam Writer M.T.Vasudevan Nair's novel Iruthi Yathirai, written on death of men, and Kalpattra Narayanan's Sumitra, written on the death of women, were successively translated by K.V.Shailaja.
  • Malayalam writer Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu's short story collection Aarkkum Vendattha Kannu into Tamil as Yarukkum Vendatha Kann.
  • Pacchai iruLanin Sagaa Ponthan Maadan collection contains seven Malayalam short stories and seven from Tamil. Pacchai Irulan and Ponthan Maadan are the characters in the stories of Bavaa Chelladurai and Malayalam writer P.C. Sriraman respectively.
  • Sabu Kilithattil's Malayalam work 'Nilaachoru' is based on the life of the founder of Kerala's Shanthi Medical informations, Uma Preman[2] [3], K.V. Shailaja translated this work to Tamil as 'Kathai Ketkum Suvargal' (walls that listen to stories).
  • She has translated Malayalam Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi's autobiography into Tamil titled as Swarabedhangal.
As Publisher & as Co-Ordinator

Encouraged by Tamil writers Thilakavathy and C. Mohan, in 2001, K.V. Shailaja along with Bavaa Chelladurai started a publishing house in Thiruvannamalai named 'Vamsi'. They have published more than four hundred books of translations, indigenous literature, writings for human eminence and timeless classics. For this contribution in Publishing, she has received TamilNadu Government's Department for Tamil Development's Award five times. Along with the organisation 'Poovulagin Nanbargal' she has published 8 books so far.

K.V. Shailaja as a member of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, coordinates many of their events, including Book fairs. With the help of Kerala Sahitya Academy, she combines Tamil and Malayalam translators to transcribe important Tamil literature to Malayalam language. She conducts literary fests and meetings 'Mutram', 'Vamsi Koodal', 'Nilam', 'Kalai iravu' along with her husband Bavaa Chelladurai.

Literary Position

K.V. Shailaja's role in introducing Malayalam literature to Tamil through translation and as publisher, is significant. She reveals "Each translation raises from deep within me", though she earned her unique identity as a Translator through her debut work 'Chidambara Ninaivugal'. The elegant translation of the text which read as well-written directly in Tamil, has resulted in the book being widely read in Tamil.

"Shailaja's translation conveys the feelings that underlie experiences to its readers with the same visceral pain and weight of the originals" says J. Baskaran.

"Her translations are very fluent, true to the poetic tongue of the original, yet with idioms and expressions typical to Malayalam. Shailaja is very well read and has great literary flavour" says S. Ramakrishnan about K.V. Shailaja.

"K.V.Shailaja has so successfully created the magic through her translation, as though Kalpattraa Narayanan had been a Tamil and authored this novel directly in Tamil. Any reader of Tamil should not miss this experience ", says Cuddalore Seenu about Sumitra [4].

Books

  • Uruvamattra En Muthal Aann
  • Mutthiamma
  • Sahithaa - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural

Translation (From Malayalam to Tamil)

Essays
  • Chidambara Ninaivugal - Balachandran Chullikadu's Chidambara Smarana.
  • Moonraam Piral - Mammooty's memoirs.
Short Stories
  • Sharmista - N.S. Madhavan
  • Surpanakai - K.R. Meera
  • Yaarukkum Vendatha Kan - Sihabudeen Poithumkadavu
Novels
  • Sumitra - Kalpattra Narayanan
  • Iruthiyathirai - M.T. Vasudevan Nair
  • Swarabethangal - Bagyalakshmi's Autobiography.
  • Kathai Ketkum Suvargal - Shabu Kilithattil's 'Nilaa Choru'

Anthology

  • Pacchai iruLanin Sagaa Ponthan Maadan (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam)
  • Thennindhiya Sirukathaigal (Short Story collection of Tamil - Malayalam - Kannada - Telugu)

Awards

  • Kalai Ilakkiya Peravai Viruthu ( for translating M.T.Vasudevan Nair's 'Iruthi Yaathirai')
  • Tirupur Tamil Sangam Award
  • 2014, Canada Literary Garden Award, (for Yaarukkum Vendaatha Kann.)
  • Sakthi Award for Female Authors. (for Bagyalakshmi's 'SwarabedhangaL').
  • Best Publishers to Vamsi, for Five times, From Tamil Nadu Government's Department for Tamil Development.

References

Footnotes

  1. Sahita - Nibanthanaiyattra Anbin Kural - Video
  2. Uma Preman - Life Note
  3. bbc.com An 'unhappy marriage' -that has saved thousands of lives
  4. Sumitra

‎

✅Finalised Page

Retrieved from "https://tamil.wiki/index.php?title=K.V._Shailaja&oldid=199686"