Translated from the Oriya original ‘Akashara Isara’ by the author, the overall theme of this novel is: Chance is the pseudonym of God which He uses when He does not wish to put down His signature. When a person’s inner being is ready for mystic experiences can even farcical external situations present themselves as opportuni6ies? The Sky – always an inspiration for Padmalochan – comes to his aid both in the beginning and end of the book with astonishing results. The Escapist ought not to be viewed as only or primarily, an English rendering of an Oriya work of fiction. All translations, especially the creative kind, are a matter of negotiation between cultures, between the world view of the source language and the target language. A comparison between the two texts, The Escapist in English and Akasharas Isara (literally Beckoning of the Sky) makes it quite clear that the translated text has been restyled and recast at places to conform to the general principle of Indian English fiction.
There are no reviews yet.