ShaneraDeF at 16:49, 31 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian translator (born 1952)}}
{{Given name hatnote|Prema|Jayakumar|lang=Malayali}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Prema Jayakumar
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1952}}
| birth_place = [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]]
| death_place =
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| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Translator
| movement =
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children =
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] (2023)
| influences =
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}}
'''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.

==Biography==
Prema Jayakumar was born in Kozhikode in 1952.<ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=പ്രേമ ജയകുമാര്‍ |url=https://keralaliterature.com/malayalam-writers-%e0%b4%ae%e0%b4%b2%e0%b4%af%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b3%e0%b4%82-%e0%b4%8e%e0%b4%b4%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%95%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b0%e0%b5%8d/prema-jayakumar/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=14 January 2019}}</ref> He father B.K. Menon, a banker, was also a poet and writer.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news |date=2012-12-28 |title=...Word for word |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/word-for-word/article4248973.ece |access-date=2025-08-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She holds a Master's degree in English Literature and worked as an officer in the State Bank of India for 20 years.<ref name="Hindu" />

==Literary contributions==
Prema translated the novel ''Aswathathmavu'', written by writer and actor [[Madampu Kunjukuttan]] into English.<ref>{{cite web |title=അശ്വത്ഥാമാവ് നോവലിന്റെ പുതിയ പതിപ്പ് ബി ഉണ്ണികൃഷ്ണൻ പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു {{!}} DCBooks |url=https://dcink.in/literature-news/b-unnikrishnan-releases-new-edition-of-ashwathamavu-novel |website=dcink.in |language=ml |date=5 June 2025}}</ref> That was her first translation.<ref name="Hindu" /> Writer [[N. N. Kakkad]], who was also a family friend and who read it, encouraged her efforts at translation.<ref name="Hindu" />

Later, Prema translated the historical novel "Theekdal Kadanju Thirumadhuram" written by novelist [[C. Radhakrishnan]], about the life of the [[Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan|Ezhuthachan]], into English under the title ''Nectar from the Sea of Fire''.<ref name="Keralakaumudi">{{cite news |title='Nectar from Sea of Fire': A novel about the Father of Malayalam language |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1238529 |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en}}</ref> She translated [[Sethu (writer)|Sethu]]'s ''Marupiravi'' into English as ''The Saga of Muziris''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purohit |first=Sudarshan |date=2017-01-21 |title=Tracing back the forgotten roots |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2017/Jan/21/tracing-back-the-forgotten-roots-1561387.html |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Sethu's ''Pandavapuram'' was translated when she was advised to take bed rest during her pregnancy.<ref name="Hindu" /> Sethu's another work ''Niyogam'' was translated as ''The Wind from the Hills''.<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news |title=Prema Jayakumar short-listed for Crossword award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2009/Jul/07/prema-jayakumar-short-listed-for-crossword-award-65720.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=15 May 2012 |language=en}}</ref> This book was nominated for the Crossword Award in the Indian Language Fiction Translation category in 2008.<ref name="Indian Express"/> 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'').<ref name="Indian Express"/>

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''), and ''Mrithiyude Kavadam'' (English title:''Doorways to Death''), Sethu's ''Jalasamadhi'', among others.<ref>{{cite news |title=ലോകം കണ്ട മലയാള കൃതികള്‍; ഇംഗ്ലിഷിലേക്കുള്ള മലയാളസാഹിത്യ വിവർത്തനത്തിന്റെ പാരമ്പര്യത്തിലൂടെ... |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/2025/03/10/marumozhi-column-about-history-of-malayalam-to-english-translation.html |language=ml}}</ref> The BBC has selected the translation of ''Yakshi'' for their 'Off the Bookshelf' radio programme.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-05-04 |title=For the love of the language |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2009/Jul/15/for-the-love-of-the-language-63608.html |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

[[C. V. Raman Pillai]]'s epic novel [[Marthandavarma (novel)|Marthandavarma]] was translated into English by her father B.K. Menon in 1936.<ref name="Manorama">{{Cite web |title=ചരിത്രം സൃഷ്ടിച്ച പരിഭാഷ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/2020/12/09/131th-year-of-indulekha.html |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Manoramaonline |language=ml}}</ref> 62 years later, Prema revised this translation and it was reprinted by the [[Sahitya Akademi]] in 1998.<ref name="Manorama" /> She has also translated ''[[Ramarajabahadur (novel)|Rama Raja Bahadur]]'' by [[C. V. Raman Pillai]].<ref name=":0" />

Prema has also written many books based on Indian mythology and epics in children's literature genre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-06 |title=Roundtable Discussion: Gender in Indian Scripture |url=https://www.aware.org.sg/2013/02/roundtable-discussion-on-gender-in-indian-scripture/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=AWARE |language=en-US |archive-date=2019-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027131108/https://www.aware.org.sg/2013/02/roundtable-discussion-on-gender-in-indian-scripture/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Works==
===Translations===
*{{cite book |title=The saga of Muziris |date=December 14, 2016 |publisher=Niyogi Books |location=New Delhi, India |isbn=978-9385285578 |edition=1st}}
*{{cite book |title=The sixth finger |date=November 1, 2017 |publisher=Ratna Books |location=Delhi, India |isbn=978-9386600479}}
*{{cite book |title=Nectar From Sea of Fire |date=January 1, 2023 |publisher=HiTech Books |isbn=9789381399460}}
*{{cite book |title=Jalasamadhi and other stories: Short Stories |date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=Ratna Books |isbn=9789352907427}}
*{{cite book |title=The Bells are Ringing in Haridwar: Three novellas |date=February 20, 2020 |publisher=Ratna Books |isbn=9789352907434}}
*{{cite book |title=Rama Raja Bahadur |date=January 1, 2003 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8126017867}}
*{{cite book |title=Yakshi |date=June 22, 2023 |publisher=Amazon}} Kindle edition (ASIN:B0C93WC548).
*{{cite book |title=The unspoken curse |date=April 30, 2006 |publisher=India Research Press |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8187943846}}
*{{cite book |title=Pandavapuram |date=1995 |publisher=Mcmillan India |location=Chennai |isbn=978-0333923085}}
*{{cite book |title=The Wind from the Hills |date=January 1, 2008 |publisher=Tranquebar |isbn=978-8189975647}}
*{{cite book |title=God's mischief |date=2002 |publisher=Penguin Books |location= New Delhi |isbn=978-0143028772}}
*{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f1lkAAAAMAAJ |title=The Trial of the Mahatma: Novel |date=2002 |publisher=Yeti Books |isbn=978-81-88330-07-2 |language=en}}
*{{Cite book |title=Doorways to death: two novellas on death and rebirth |date=1995 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-025561-4 |location=New Delhi}}

===Children's literature===
*{{Cite book |title= Krishna |date=November 29, 2013 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-8126441457 |language=en}} Story of [[Krishna]] in simplified English for children.
*{{Cite book |title= Karna |date=December 1, 2012 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126436439 |language=en}} Story of [[Karna]] in simplified English for children.
*{{Cite book |title= Mahabharata: The Roll of the Dice |date=January 1, 2020 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126426201 |language=en}} A story from the [[Mahabharata]], written in simplified English for children
*{{Cite book |title= Mahabharata: The Great War |date=January 1, 2022 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126426218 |language=en}} A story from the Mahabharata, written in simplified English for children.
*{{Cite book |title= Mahabharata: The Final Battle |date=June 10, 2011 |publisher=Real Reads |isbn=9781906230333 |language=en}} A story from the Mahabharata, written in simplified English for children
*{{Cite book |title= Ramayana |date=December 1, 2011 |publisher=[[DC Books]] |isbn=9788126425488 |language=en}} Simplified English translation of [[Ramayana]] for children.
*{{Cite book |title= Shakuntalam |date=January 1, 2022 |publisher=DC Books |isbn=9788126429011 |language=en}} Simplified English translation of [[Shakuntala (play)| Shakuntala]] for children.

==Awards and honors==
Prema received the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions]] (for 2023) in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡുകൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/kerala-sahitya-academy-award-doe-2023/1127704 |work=Deshabhimani |language=ml |archive-date=2024-07-27 |access-date=2025-08-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240727083004/https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/kerala-sahitya-academy-award-doe-2023/1127704 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite news |title=V. Abdulla translation prize presented to Prema Jayakumar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/v-abdulla-translation-prize-presented-to-prema-jayakumar/article68215834.ece |work=The Hindu |date=25 May 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Her translation work ''Nectar from Sea of Fire'' also won the 2024 C.P. Menon Memorial Award.<ref>{{cite news |title=കെ.സി നാരായണനും സുലോചന നാലപ്പാട്ടിനും പ്രേമ ജയകുമാറിനും സി. പി മേനോൻ പുരസ്‌കാരം |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/cp-menon-awards-kc-narayanan-sulochana-nalapattu-prema-jayakumar-j-devika-prabhavathi-menon-1.9939706 |work=[[Mathrubhumi]] |date=28 September 2024 |language=ml}}</ref> She was also shortlisted for the [[Crossword Prize]] three times.<ref name="Madhyamam">{{Cite web |last=രതിമേനോന്‍ |first=ഡോ |date=2024-07-08 |title=''ഞാൻ വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്യാറുള്ളത് എനിക്ക് ഇഷ്ടം തോന്നുന്ന കൃതികളാണ്'' {{!}} weekly interview {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/weekly/interview/weekly-interview-1305315 |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web |last=Jayakumar |first=Prema |date=2018-12-20 |title=I'm Not a Traitor |url=https://openthemagazine.com/cover-stories/new-year-2019-issue/im-not-a-traitor/ |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=Open The Magazine |language=en}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayakumar, Prema}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Translators to English]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Prema Jayakumar - Revision history

ShaneraDeF at 16:49, 31 March 2026