Amiyabala Patnaik with the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award 2011. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 22: She has translated 22 books and has seven poetry collections to her name in the four decades of her tryst with literature.

Meet 62-year-old Amiyabala Patnaik of Berhampur who has created a niche for her in the field of Oriya literature and has been awarded Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award 2011 for translation. Amiyabala received the award from the president of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award 2011, Sunil Gangopadhyay, at Trichur in Kerala last week.

“Kendra Sahitya Akademi selected my translated book Renu Rachana Sanchayana in Oriya, published in 2006. It included stories, novelette and features. The original Hindi book was written by famous socialist literati of Bihar Phaniswarnath Renu, which was published by the Kendra Sahitya Akademi in 1998,” Amiyabala said.

“Translation of any piece of literature is very difficult since the fundamental thoughts and the style of presentation of the original literati have to be kept intact. When I translated the works of Phaniswarnath Renu, I forgot my existence and mingled with his thoughts and aspirations. I am thankful to thousands of readers in Orissa who have accepted me as a translator and it is the reason for which my book Renu Rachana Sanchayana in Oriya published by Kendra Sahitya Akademi was reprinted for the second time, which is a record,” said Amiyabala.

“Renu’s writings have touched my heart unlike others. His approach to an issue is definitely unique. Although he concentrates more on Bihar, its people, its culture and its nature, the story reflects the picture of a common man and hence it is so appealing,” she said.

Receiving the coveted Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award feels special for Amiyabala. “I was delighted to hear the news and the wonderful moment of collecting the award will always remain fresh in my memory,” she said.

Amiyabala who was the principal of the Red Cross School for the Blind, Berhampur from 1975 to 1989 and worked as the principal Navodaya Vidyalaya from 1989 is adept at many languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu besides Oriya.

“The award has encouraged me a lot and I intend to translate some valuable writings of Telugu literature into Oriya,” she added.

Four books of Amiyabala including three translation books — Anam Dasanka Pothi written by professor Hajari Prasad Dwibedi, Shobhayatra by Phaniswarnath Renu and Sishiphos by Bimal Mitra besides a poetry collection are yet to be published.