Rosy D’Souza translates Kannada stories of heart and resistance
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Rosy D’Souza, a Karnataka Sahitya Akademi awardee from coastal Karnataka, translates works into Kannada driven by a love of reading and a personal connection to the material.
Though her first language is Konkani and she grew up speaking Tulu, D’Souza discovered Kannada literature as a child and developed a passion for it. She began translating informally with the philosophical writings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, then moved on to formal projects like H Y Sharada Prasad’s Prison Diaries.
D’Souza’s work extends to translating columns for Vijaya Karnataka, a newspaper where her husband, Sugata Srinivasaraju, served as editor-in-chief. She considers her translation of Srinivasaraju’s biography of H D Deve Gowda her most important project, believing a Kannada version was essential for local readers.
Chiranjeev Singh, an IAS officer and supporter of Kannada literature, praised the translation for its natural feel, and Deve Gowda himself said the Kannada version spoke “to the heart.” Currently, D’Souza is translating Srinivasaraju’s The Conscience Network, a history of resistance to the Emergency in India focused on the experiences of the Indian diaspora. She prefers to focus on translation itself, rather than participating in literary events or academic circles, and approaches each project with a deep personal investment.
