Media Release
Mangaluru, May 22: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) hosted the official release of the book 'The Fakir's daughter and other Beary folk tales', a significant literary work that brings to life the rich oral traditions of the Beary community. The book is a translation of Beary-language folktales originally collected by Hamza Malhar, and it has been meticulously translated into English by Dr Sylvia Rego, professor at the school of languages and cultural studies, department of English, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University).
This translation project was undertaken as part of an initiative by the Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. The aim of the work is to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Beary-speaking community and make these unique tales accessible to a wider audience.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Dr Praveen Martis SJ, vice chancellor of the University, Dr William D’Silva, an eminent scholar, Hamza Malhar, the original collector of the folktales, Dr Sylvia Rego, the translator of the work, and Flora Castelino, head of the department of Konkani.
Speaking at the event, Dr Praveen Martis and Hamza Malhar highlighted the importance of such translations in preserving regional cultures and promoting linguistic diversity. They emphasized that bringing oral traditions into written and translated forms helps keep them alive for future generations.
Dr Sylvia Rego has previously translated several notable works, including The tree-spirit and other Konkani Folktales, three plays of Cha Fra D’Costa (from Konkani), and Ten houses around a church, translated from Na D’Souza’s Kannada novel Igarji Suttalina Hattu Manegalu.
The programme concluded with an insightful lecture by Dr William D’Silva on the topic “The structure of language: The oral and the written”, using Konkani as an illustrative example. His talk shed light on how oral narratives shape the cultural identity of communities and the role of written documentation in preserving them.
The event marked a proud moment for the university and the literary community, celebrating the power of language, tradition, and storytelling.