Subash Deepak’s Hindi translation brings acclaimed Nepali novel ‘Phoolange’ to new readers
Sikkim-based writer and translator Subash Deepak has translated Lekhnath Chhetri’s Nepali novel ‘Phoolange’ into Hindi, published by Hind YugmPrakashan, with a
Sikkim-based writer, translator and Sahitya Akademi Translation Award recipient Subash Deepak has translated the acclaimed Nepali novel Phoolange into Hindi. The Hindi edition has been published by Hind YugmPrakashan, marking a new step in taking contemporary Indian Nepali literature to a wider Hindi-speaking readership.
The original novel, written by Lekhnath Chhetri, was first published in Nepali. It is described as a story shaped by a failed political movement and the way violence can spread through a community. The book is set in and around the Darjeeling hills, and it focuses on identity, political betrayal and social change.
A journey of the novel across languages
According to details shared around the publication, Phoolange has already reached readers in multiple languages. It was translated into English as Fruits of the Barren Tree and published by Penguin India. Later, it was translated into Telugu by Sriharsha and published by ChhayaPrakashan. With the release of the Hindi version, the novel has now entered one of India’s largest book markets.
Support for the Hindi edition came through noted writer and poet Manoj Bogati. He also published the first Nepali edition through Sangri-La Books India. The publisher Hind YugmPrakashan said it agreed to publish the Hindi translation after reading two chapters of the manuscript.
Work supported by translators and publishers
In statements connected with the release, Lekhnath Chhetri welcomed the Hindi publication and noted that Subash Deepak has an extensive body of translated books. Bogati said the project helped stories reach Hindi-speaking audiences, and he highlighted that translation work depends on commitment from authors, publishers and translators. Hind YugmPrakashan also presented the novel as more than a portrayal of Darjeeling’s landscape, describing it as a narrative about struggle for identity, dignity and rights.
Subash Deepak, a resident of Gangtok, has been active for decades in writing, translation, research and journalism. He received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award in 2003 for translating a Dogri novel, Pal-Vipal by Dr. Om Goswami, into Nepali.
