KATHMANDU:

The Nepali translation of the award winning American play A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, was released on February 10. The book, Kismis ko Biskun, which is a part of a joint project between the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy and The Nepal Academy, has been translated by Dr Padma Devkota. The project had two phases, with first being the staging of the play, which was held on March 21, 2007.

Secretary of the Nepal Academy and director of the play, Harihar Sharma, talked about the challenges they faced while implementing the project due to the lack of a formal council. He also shared his experience while directing the play and added that the positive reaction from the audience worked as a major encouragement for the publication of the book.

Talking about the play, Acting US Ambassador Randy W Berry said, “In this play, Hansberry has touched upon issues of hope, dreams and the aspiration to be more than what you are now. It also captures the specific and robust culture and identity among the lives of different figures.”

He added the applicability of these are present in the Nepali context. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone present to hear him talk in Nepali as he conveyed his happiness on being able to release a translation of American literature on the day when the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, is worshipped.