Wed Mar 05 11:48:19 UTC 2025: ## Kannada Literary Gem Translated After Half a Century
**Bengaluru, March 5, 2025** – Jyothi Natarajan has translated BGL Swamy’s acclaimed Kannada work, *Hasuru Honnu* (When Green is Gold), bringing the insightful and humorous exploration of botany, environment, and culture to a wider audience. The book, published nearly 50 years ago, remains remarkably relevant today, highlighting its author’s prescient observations on environmental issues.
Swamy, son of renowned Kannada writer DVG, was known for interweaving humor and storytelling in his writing, often covering topics like botany, history, and social satire. His work, praised by Jnanpith Awardee Chandrashekhara Kambara, earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.
Natarajan, who is married to K. Natarajan (DVG’s grandson), undertook the translation during the pandemic, finding solace and inspiration in Swamy’s vibrant prose. The book, she explains, offers a lively narrative filled with situational humor, following a group of botany students on their field trips. Besides its entertainment value, *Hasuru Honnu* subtly critiques the education system and powerfully advocates for environmental protection, raising concerns about deforestation and the importance of biodiversity long before such issues achieved widespread recognition.
The translation, a labor of love spanning two years, is part of the DVG Balaga Pratisthana’s series of translations and is available both online and by emailing jyojyon@gmail.com. Natarajan’s work brings a significant piece of Kannada literary and environmental history to a broader readership, demonstrating the enduring relevance of Swamy’s insights.
First Piper 