Two Bengal Academicians Win A.K. Ramanujan Prize for Translating Dalit Poet Kalyani Thakur Charal’s Works

Kolkata: In a significant recognition for literary translation and Dalit literature, two academicians from West Bengal have been awarded the prestigious A.K. Ramanujan Prize for their English translation of works by noted Dalit woman poet Kalyani Thakur Charal.

The award-winning translated volume, titled I Belong to Nowhere, brings Charal’s powerful and evocative Bengali poems to a global readership. The collection is being hailed as a landmark contribution to Dalit feminist writing in translation, opening up a body of work that has long been influential within regional literary circles but less accessible internationally.

The translators, both associated with higher education institutions in Bengal, were recognised for their nuanced rendering of Charal’s voice — one that confronts caste discrimination, gender oppression, identity, and marginalisation. The jury reportedly praised the translation for preserving the raw emotional intensity and socio-political sharpness of the original texts while making them resonant for English-speaking audiences.

Kalyani Thakur Charal is regarded as one of the most significant voices in contemporary Dalit literature in Bengal. Her poetry reflects lived experiences of caste-based exclusion and challenges dominant narratives within mainstream Bengali literature. Through stark imagery and direct language, her works foreground the struggles and resilience of Dalit women.

The book I Belong to Nowhere encapsulates themes of displacement, identity crisis, and social alienation, while also celebrating assertion and selfhood. Scholars have noted that the translation serves not only as a literary achievement but also as an act of social documentation and resistance.

The A. K. Ramanujan Prize, named after the renowned Indian poet, scholar, and translator, honours outstanding contributions in literary translation. The recognition of this work underscores the growing global interest in Dalit writing and the importance of translation in amplifying historically marginalised voices.

Literary circles in Bengal have welcomed the honour, describing it as a moment of pride for regional academia and a milestone for Dalit feminist literature on the international stage.