Prema Jayakumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 (age 72–73) Kozhikode, Kerala |
| Occupation | Translator |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable awards | Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions (2023) |
Prema Jayakumar is an Indian translator from Kerala. She translated many noted works from Malayalam to English. She received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions in 2024.
Prema Jayakumar was born in Kozhikode in 1952. [1] He father B.K. Menon, a banker, was also a poet and writer. [2] She holds a Master's degree in English Literature and worked as an officer in the State Bank of India for 20 years. [2]
Prema translated the novel Aswathathmavu, written by writer and actor Madampu Kunjukuttan into English. [3] That was her first translation. [2] Writer N. N. Kakkad, who was also a family friend and who read it, encouraged her efforts at translation. [2]
Later, Prema translated the historical novel "Theekdal Kadanju Thirumadhuram" written by novelist C. Radhakrishnan, about the life of the Ezhuthachan, into English under the title Nectar from the Sea of Fire. [4] She translated Sethu's Marupiravi into English as The Saga of Muziris. [5] Sethu's Pandavapuram was translated when she was advised to take bed rest during her pregnancy. [2] Sethu's another work Niyogam was translated as The Wind from the Hills. [6] This book was nominated for the Crossword Award in the Indian Language Fiction Translation category in 2008. [6] Before that, in 2005, Prema was nominated for the Crossword Award for her translation of V.K. Madhavankutty's novel Aashreekaram (English title: The Unspoken Curse). [6]
Her other major translations include English translations of M. Mukundan's Daivatthinte Vikrithikal (English: God's Mischief ) and Haridwaril Manimuzhangumbol (English title: The Bells are Ringing in Haridwar), Malayattoor Ramakrishnan's Yakshi, Aram Viral (English title:Sixth Finger), andMrithiyude Kavadam (English title:Doorways to Death), Sethu's Jalasamadhi, among others. [7] The BBC has selected the translation of Yakshi for their 'Off the Bookshelf' radio programme. [8]
C. V. Raman Pillai's epic novel Marthandavarma was translated into English by her father B.K. Menon in 1936. [9] 62 years later, Prema revised this translation and it was reprinted by the Sahitya Akademi in 1998. [9] She has also translated Rama Raja Bahadur Raman Pillai. [8]
Prema has also written many books based on Indian mythology and epics in children's literature genre. [10]
Prema received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions (for 2023) in 2024. [11] She received the V. Abdullah Translation Award in 2024 for translating C. Radhakrishnan's Theekkadal Kadanju Thirumadhuram under the title Nectar from Sea of Fire. [12] Her translation work Nectar from Sea of Fire also won the 2024 C.P. Menon Memorial Award. [13] She was also shortlisted for the Crossword Prize three times. [14]