'I have always been a writer, never an activist'

The fifth day of the 27th edition of the World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan witnessed the famous writer Arundhati Roy at Rajkamal Prakashan's stall 'Jalsa Ghar'. The 'Man Booker' prize winner was here for the book launch of the Hindi and the Urdu translations of her bestseller book 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.'

The Hindi translation 'Aapar Khushi Ka Gharana' which has been translated by Manglesh Darbal, and the Urdu translation 'Bepanah Shazmani Ki Mumlikat' which has been translated by Ajurmand Ara, have been published by Rajkamal Prakashan.

During the conversation with Yunus Khan, the famous poet, and translator of the Hindi version of the book, shared his experience of translating the book and said: "There was a lot of confusion for the title of the book and finally the word Gharana was suggested by Arundhati herself instead of Ministry".

The Urdu translator Ajurnmand Ara on sharing her experience while translating the book said that "It was a very difficult and time-consuming process, to translate the Urdu words while maintaining the originality."

Breaking silence about the long haul of why the second book was released after 21 years, Arundhati stated that she writes a book when her opinions cannot be expressed in journals, academic essays or poems and she needs to use the narrative of a book.

On being asked about her activism, she stated that she should not be called an activist and she does not believe that is one either. The author believes that in the old times the job of a writer was to write the reality, but today they write fiction novels, attend festivals and collect awards. "I have always been a writer and was never an activist. My essays, journals academic works are all creative writings which are the job of a writer. To call me an activist is to reduce what activist do, and what writers do," she added.

Ashok Maheshwari, Managing Director of Rajkamal Prakashan said, "It is a matter of great joy that the translation of this book has come for Hindi and Urdu readers. It is a historical moment that Hindi and Urdu translations of any novel have come together."

The ministry of Happiness has been translated into 49 languages but Arundhati feels the utmost joy that the book has been finally translated in Hindi

and Urdu.