Thankappan Nair who translated 'Anveshanam' is waiting for Ganagandharvan KJ Yesudas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Shaanthiyute nidhi manushyaa ninteyulliltthanneyundu. Eeshvaran undennum illennum aalochicchu thala pukaykkaathe ullil kudikollunna dyvatthe kandetthuka". How many people know that this poem was written by Ganagandharvan KJ Yesudas?

The poem was written in Malayalam under the title 'Anveshanam' (search) was translated into Hindi as 'Talaash' and published. It also received the Maharashtra Sahitya Akademi's Award for Best Translation. The translator's name is Prof. D. Thankappan Nair. This was years ago. Yesudas was the first to call when he came to know about the award. Thankappan Nair has seen him in person after that. Now when Yesudas arrives in Thiruvananthapuram, Thankappan Nair is expecting him.

Thankappan Nair is 92 years old. He is a writer who should be celebrated in Malayalam but all he wanted to do was walk along the side in silence. He has translated hundreds of Malayalam books into Hindi. He translated many famous works, including Crime and Punishment, and War and Peace, to Malayalam as well. He is a native of Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram. Thankappan Nair, who retired as the head of the Hindi department at Bishop Moore College in Mavelikara, is the lifeblood of the Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha. He was the head teacher of Hindi courses. I still go to Vazhuthacaud Hindi Prachar Sabha for classes two to three days a week. The translation is done only by paying justice to the original work.

Biography of Guru in Hindi

The biography of Sree Narayana Gurudeva was written in Hindi as 'Sree Narayana Charith Mahakavyam'. It is published continuously in The Keral Jyoti, a publication of the Hindi Prachar Sabha. 52 issues. It will also come out in the form of a book. Thankappan Nair has been a fan of Guru since childhood. According to him, there is no greater revolutionary in the world than the Guru. "Mahaguru, who gave the message of harmony, renewed man through social equality. No one should be hated. No one is an enemy. There is no class enemy. The guru gave the message of love," said Thankappan Nair.

He is currently writing an epic poem on Raja Ravi Varma in Hindi. He says this will be the last mission of his writing career. After the death of his wife Jayakumari, he was staying with his son Ranjith, an English teacher, at Ambalamukku in Peroorkada. Another son, Sajith, is an employee at Latex.

"I don't have any disappointment in life because I didn't have big wishes. I've taught a lot of kids. I have translated a lot of works. Isn't that the biggest recognition?" Thankappan Nair laughed at the warmth of his experiences. The smile that has seen many decades.