CM Stalin, political leaders commend Tamil professor for Sahitya Akademi Award for translation
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday congratulated P. Vimala, a Tamil professor at St. Xavier’s College in Tirunelveli, on being named for the Sahitya Akademi Award for translation in Tamil for 2024.
Her Enatu Aangal, the Tamil translation of Nalini Jameela’s autobiography Ente Anungal got her the award.
In a social media post, Stalin wished Vimala and hope she would continue her commendable job of translating literary works.
Tamil professor P Vimala was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Translation on Friday for her Tamil rendition of the Malayalam book ‘Ente Aanungal’ (My Men) by Nalini Jameela.
Vimala, a professor in the Tamil department at Saint Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, is one of 21 recipients selected across Indian languages for translation excellence by the Sahitya Akademi this year.
Hailing from Kanyakumari district, Vimala’s path to literary recognition is a testament to perseverance and passion. Though she began her academic journey through distance education, she later secured admission at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, where she studied Malayalam as part of her research. This linguistic pursuit eventually led her into the world of translation.
“The opportunity at JNU changed my life. Learning Malayalam opened new literary avenues for me,” Vimala said.
She emphasized that translation is not just about words but about bridging cultures and giving a platform to unheard voices.
Her award-winning translation, Enathu Aangal, brings to Tamil readers the powerful autobiographical narrative of Nalini Jameela, a former sex worker and activist, offering a glimpse into her life in a patriarchal society.