36. Radha Chakravarty (Interview

Dr. Radha Chakravarty is a writer, a critic and a translator who is currently Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation Studies at Ambedkar University, Delhi. Her other teaching assignments have included JNU and Delhi University, where she taught at Gargi College for almost three decades. The Essential Tagore, which she co-edited, is veritably the final word in Tagore studies, and its importance in the world of letters is recognized by its nomination as Book of the Year 2011 by world-renowned feminist philosopher Martha Nussbaum. Radha’s other works include Feminism and Contemporary Women Writers (2008) and Novelist Tagore (2013), in addition to scores of scholarly journal papers and review articles for wide audiences.

Dr. Chakravarty’s journey into the field of translation had a beginning that will confirm for young students that there is no substitute for passionate love for one’s field of study: having signed up for a doctoral project on Mahashweta Devi, Radha soon realized that most of these works were not available in English. Immediately, Radha set about translating Mahashweta Devi, and the result is --- translations! Her journey then lead to translations of Rabindranath Tagore’s texts, like Gora, Boyhood Days, Chokher Bali; and of Bankim Chandra Chatterji,into English. These giants of Bengali literature wrote almost a century ago. That Radha’s translations are so highly commended by the academic community are a measure of her truly masterly scholarship. So how could Bitacora not interview with her?

Q. How do you imagine a world without patriarchy?

A. A world without patriarchy would be an altered world indeed. Old habits of thought, speech and action would be gone. Relationships would need to be reinvented. So would mainstream literature.

Q. What alternate reality do you envision for the present scenario? What is your opinion on the future of the alternate reality in literature?

A. I long to see a planet where humans are in harmony with their environment. A world where freedom goes hand in hand with sensitivity and responsibility. Where imagination has a place. Literature has always offered a parallel space where we can move beyond the world we know to imagine new realities into being. It’s a risky enterprise, as dangerous as it is exciting. The worlds we imagine today have an uncanny way of turning into reality tomorrow. The writer should know her power and use it with care. But use it she must.

Q. Do you think fiction helps explore the female identity?

A. Writing explores, but also shapes, identities. Fiction has proved a fertile ground for narrativising female identities. But there are so many other kinds of writing too. Emergent genres like slam poetry can be empowering.

Q. What inspired you to further explore the writings of Rabindranath Tagore?

A. I was struck by Tagore’s extraordinary ability to get out of his own skin and think about lives and realities not his own. And by his refusal to accept limits to his quest for freedom, understanding and creativity. From him we learn that in the realm of the imagination there are no boundaries.

Q. How do you think books take one to an alternative world? How important is it to escape to the world of fantasy?

A. Words are magic. They have the power to build new worlds. Fantasy is seldom an escape. More often, it’s a way of deepening our engagement with reality. That is the paradox of fantasy literature.