Sat Feb 14 13:38:52 UTC 2026: Headline: Bengali Academicians Win A.K. Ramanujan Prize for Translation of Dalit Poet Kalyani Thakur Charal’s Work
The Story: Two academicians from West Bengal, Sipra Mukherjee and Mrinmoy Pramanick, have been awarded the prestigious A.K. Ramanujan Prize for their English translation of Dalit poet Kalyani Thakur Charal’s anthology, “I Belong to Nowhere.” This marks the first time Bengalis have received this honor. The translated work comprises poems selected from five of Ms. Charal’s collections published between the 1990s and the 2020s, highlighting the experiences of Dalit individuals, including those affected by the Partition and living in enclaves.
Key Points:
- Award: Sipra Mukherjee and Mrinmoy Pramanick won the A.K. Ramanujan Prize.
- Work: The award is for their English translation of Kalyani Thakur Charal’s poems, titled “I Belong to Nowhere.”
- Translators: Sipra Mukherjee is a professor of English at West Bengal State University. Mrinmoy Pramanick recently joined Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, as a professor of Comparative Literature.
- Poet: Kalyani Thakur Charal is a 60-year-old Dalit poet from Bagula, West Bengal.
- Themes: The poems explore themes of defiance, discrimination, and the collective consciousness of the Dalit community.
- Significance: The translation aims to make Dalit women’s writing more accessible to a wider audience, specifically poetry from Bengali.
Key Takeaways:
- The award highlights the importance of translating regional literature, especially from marginalized communities, to reach a broader audience.
- Kalyani Thakur Charal’s work sheds light on the lived experiences of Dalit individuals, including historical events like the Partition and the challenges of living in enclaves.
- The recognition given to these translators and the poet amplifies the voices within the Dalit community, furthering discourse on social justice and equality.
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