Associate Professor Bhushan Bhave has authored a number of books, and his recent ‘Sahitya Vimarsha’ is a book on Konkani literary criticism. NT BUZZ speaks to Bhushan to find out about his book and his passion for translation
With as many as six books under his sole authorship, Bhushan Bhave’s newly released book on literary criticism ‘Sahitya Vimarsha’, expounds the various facets of Konkani literature. Bhave is associate professor, Department of Konkani at Ponda Education Society’s (PES) Ravi Sitaram Naik (RSN) College of Arts and Science. The book was released on September 13, 2017 at the college’s Swami Vivekananda Hall of PES RSN College, Farmagudi.
Bhave was pleased that he could release the book at the college where he teaches, which is the second of his works to have that honour. “I am glad that this release was held in the college that I teach. In 1999 my first book on functional Konkani consisting of notice writing, draft writing, etc, published by Rajhauns Publications was released in this college, while ‘Sahitya Vimarsha’ is the second book that is released here,” he said adding that only a handful of his students are aware that he is an author of a few books. He chose the venue because he wanted to pass on the baton to his students who he says are “the future writers.”
‘Sahitya Vimarsha’ is a Konkani literary criticism published by Shalmali Creations. The book is divided into four sections. The first part is based on the history of Konkani language and literature, different dialects of Konkani, style of teaching and the obstacles in the way of standardisation of this language. The second section includes literary criticism of some works of renowned Konkani authors like Bakibab Borkar, Pundalik Naik; third part includes analysis of two pillars of Konkani – Shenoi Goembab and Ravindra Kelekar, a Jnanpith awardee. The last section focuses on the future of Konkani with regards to technical development in computer, or language technology, etc.
Bhave has analysed some new trends in this book like the ecological criticism also known as Ecocriticism which is very new to the Indian literature. This is a dimension that looks at an author or his literary works in the eco-critical angle. “It is the analysis of how a particular literature takes place at a particular environment. I have named them five J’s in Konkani – jan, jal, jameen, jungle and janaavar, which are interlinked concepts to know the environment setup in which the literature happens,” says Bhave.
‘Sahitya Vimarsha’ contains articles that were written by the author for different seminars, workshops, magazines and consists of research of over six to seven years. “I have co-authored, edited as well as translated books. If you consider all my writings in Konkani, ‘Sahitya Vimarsha’ is my 16th book, while as a sole author, this is my sixth work. I have also written many prefaces to anthologies of poems, novels by different writers I have been a literary critic since 1994-95.”
Besides, literary criticism, Bhave is also passionate about translation. He calls it a ‘bridge between the cultures’. “I have translated ‘Guiding Souls’ by Abdul Kalam and named it ‘Margadarshi Vyaktimatvam’, besides, I have also translated various acts, environmental impact reports (EIA) and environmental management plans (EMP),” he adds.
Bhave has completed his PhD on the mining industry and this has reflected in novels, and while doing so he coined various new terms in Konkani. “In Goa, in the mining industry there are environmental public hearings where every mining industry has to go to the respective village where the mining is to take place and explain their project to the people and how it will benefit the village or location. I have experience in this field for quite some time now, and while I was searching for simple terms to explain these things to simple people, I had to coin some terms for them, adding them to my list of glossaries.”
Bhave wants to analyse the history of Konkani language and literature in a complete book in the near future. “I will further analyse the history of Konkani language and literature in a special book exclusively on this topic. It will contain the information that this book has, but in detail.” He also has plans to work on special glossaries in mining, banking, life values, based on the terminologies that he had to coin or research on.
Bhave is of the opinion that standard of Konkani in Goa is satisfactory going by the number of students who are doing their post-graduation in the language compared to other languages. He says: “Students would opt for Konkani with the hope of employment but today this can be utilised only in media or teaching stream. However, if students get involved in language technology, machine tools and translation, we can create wonders in this language. It will promote Konkani and enhance it and also create employment opportunities for Goan students. The new generation has a knack in technical aspects which they must utilise to enhance Konkani.”
Source : navhindtimes.in
