Book Release: A Chinese Translation of Surdas’ Sursagar

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A Chinese translation of Sursagar (the ocean of poems, originally composed by Surdas, a late 15^th century blind saint, poet and musician) was released by Mr. Tarun Vijay, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, at the Vivekananda International Foundation on January 08, 2016 in the presence of Mr. Sun Shoushan, Vice Minister, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, and Film & Television of the Republic of China, Prof. Jiang Jingkui, Head of the Department of Hindi and Director, Centre for South Asian Sudies Peking University, who translated the famous Indian classic, and other distinguished invitees.

The release of a Chinese translation of Sursagar marks the beginning of a planned series of translations of both the Chinese and the Indian classics and contemporary works on a reciprocal basis, an initiative that finds its mention in the joint communiqué agreed between China’s Premier Mr. Le Keqiang and then India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on 20 May 2013. In his opening remarks, General NC Vij, Director, VIF, underlined that the initiative to translate important works of literature of both the countries is gaining momentum, especially with the Ministry of External Affairs, India, coordinating efforts in this direction. On this occasion, he also congratulated the Chief Guest Mr. Tarun Vijay, M.P. whose books on Kailash & Mansarovar and India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi have been translated into the Chinese language and were scheduled for release the very next day at the India International Centre.

Speaker after speaker underlined the importance of translating important classics and contemporary works of China and India so as to enhance understanding and promote friendship between the two Asian neighbours, long mired in mistrust and viewing each other with suspicion. Prof. Jiang Jingkui, on this occasion surmised the level of mistrust between China and India can be substantially reduced if only people knew and read about each other. He also recalled the spread of Buddhism in China would not have possible without some people translating it. The Chief Guest, Mr. Tarun Vijay, on his part, congratulated the translator Prof Jiang Jingkui for choosing Sursagar as the subject of his work because it depicted the early childhood stories of Lord Krishna conveying the message of love and compassion. It also symbolized a bridge of friendship between the two neighbours. Amb TCA Rangachari, India’s former Ambassador to France and Germany and presently a Distinguished Fellow at the VIF, proposed the Vote of Thanks. While summing up the essence of China-India relations, he recalled the words of late Ji Xianlin, Padma Bhushan and doyen of Indologists in China, “their neighbourliness is created by Heaven and constructed by Earth”.