263. Tales of Enchantment

India's mythmaker and Jnanpith awardee, Chandrashekhar Kambar, has not only enriched Kannada literature but has also placed the country on the global literary map. The recent translation of his collection of folk tales and the charming play Pushparani, titled When the Wind God Fell Sick and Other Folk Tales, opens up new and exciting vistas in children's literature. The book also highlights urgent environmental concerns, such as saving trees, conserving forests, and preserving our planet's green and clean environment. It leads young readers, as well as those young at heart, into fantastical worlds where gods, demons, princesses, sorcerers, and common people coexist. Moreover, it makes them feel intimately connected with all the animate and inanimate realms of Nature. Krishna Manavalli's English translation (Rupa, 2023) brings the folk sensibility and vibrant Kannada idiom to young adults from diverse cultures worldwide. This episode of BIC Talks features the writer, Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar, the translator, Dr. Krishna Malavalli, and the critic, Dr. C. Naganna, on a collective journey of exploration in this folk wonderland. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast and Stitcher.