Behind the Words Penned- Sarat Chandra

When I appeared for the examination for my thesis, I was fortunate enough that I could be able to conjunct Sarat Chandra with my thesis. I explained that `Devdas' the novel that is relevant even to-day was penned by the creator, Sarat Chandra at Bhagalpur. Devdas, the novel , has been made into film the highest number of times in India. Name any language, a director has tried his hand on it. The examiners did not know that the novel was written over 100 years ago at Bhagalpur. This is power of literature. Technology lasts for some time even though it is protected by patents but literature like wine becomes more tasty with age. So many versions of `Apple' , `Samsung' and `Nokia' mobiles entered the market but their existence is forgotten. Readership of `Romeo Juliet' ( Shakespeare) has remained for centuries.

Sarat Chandra lived to write a number of novels. His novels were best sellers. They continue to enjoy readership even to-day. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore could not beat him in terms of sales. Sarat Chandra wrote in Bengali. With the popularity his novels were translated into several Indian languages. Some of his novels have been translated into English.

Sarat Chandra enjoyed readership patronage which is symbolised by the sale of the books published. But critics were found spreading unkind words. Probably they could not take the beating . They wanted to catch the sleaves of his punjabi and bring it down.

Bollywood picturised novels , `Charitraheen', `Swami', `Choti Bahu', `Majli Didi', ` Pareenita' `Devdas' among others. There are adaptations even in this century which are filmed. Through the films the feelings generated through the words in the novels are cherished by the viewers. Bollywood producers not only earned money through the pictures but also enthralled the viewers with life's reality. In earlier days novels gave such feeling to the readers. To-day readership of novels have reduced. Sarat Chandra readership ( in Bengali ) constituted the highest readership in terms of the population than any other language spoken in India. This continued to be maintained for several years competing with Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore.

Kabiraj Haridas Sashtri, resident of Benaras developed a very close relationship with Sarat Chandra. Haridas loved literature. One day he asked permission from Sarat Chandra for translating the novel in Hindi , `Dena Pauna' (`Debt Payable'). Sarat Chandra told him that translating the voluminous novel had to be done carefully. He granted permission but cautioned that the translation should be done bearing in mind that while translating in Hindi word by word, the essence of the novel should not be lost. This reminds that the background of any sentence is important. Each word in a sentence carries the thought of the writer. That makes the reading enjoyable. It is the thought behind the sentences that brings out the juice which is sweeter than honey. Language and thought are different. Even they co-exist in the same sentence, they run together like two rail tracks. Same yet different. Sarat Chandra told facts of life simply through the use of words that made reading so enjoyable to the readers. A word used differently could have spoilt the flavour of the sentences of the novels. That is why `Swami' is such.

Through the simple sentences we get exciting flavours. Such an axis when plotted with other axises, beats all to dominate at the conclusion. I was exited to bring in Sarat Chandra while explaining my thesis before 15 to 18 people. The thesis is on `Intellectual Property'.