Nikolas Nikalbi

Based on the provided Gujarati text, here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text, focusing on the translated work "Nikolas Nikalbi" by Charles Dickens:

Book Title: Nikolas Nikalbi Author: Charles Dickens (Original), Gopaldas Jivabhai Patel (Editor/Translator) Publisher: Parivar Prakashan Sahkari Mandir Ltd, Ahmedabad Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/006010/1

This publication is a Gujarati translation of Charles Dickens's novel, presented as an expanded abridgement. The text highlights the following key aspects:

Introduction and Appreciation:

• Literary Significance of Dickens: The introduction places Dickens among the great European storytellers of the 19th century, alongside Victor Hugo, Dumas, and Tolstoy. Dickens is praised for his unique contribution to literature, particularly his worship of humanity and his ability to evoke gentle and sweet emotions that deeply touch the reader's heart.
• Praise for the Translation: Maganbhai Desai is quoted, expressing gratitude for the translation of such a beautiful story into Gujarati and welcoming it wholeheartedly. He believes that well-translated foreign literature can be enjoyed by those who primarily read in Gujarati, offering a different kind of aesthetic pleasure.
• Language Development: The introduction by Gopaldas Patel emphasizes the momentum gained by the Gujarati language during the Gandhi era. It highlights how Gujarati became a medium for higher education, benefiting from appropriate development, a benefit not yet fully realized by other Indian languages. This has positioned Gujarati ahead in terms of language development.
• Publisher's Vision: The publisher's statement articulates a belief that great books by great authors are a heritage of all mankind. They find particular joy in presenting foreign works through the mother tongue, likening it to the sweetness of mother's milk. The translation of "Nicholas Nickleby" is seen as a step in their ongoing commitment to making Dickens's stories accessible to Gujarati readers.

The Novel "Nicholas Nickleby":

• A Significant Work: "Nicholas Nickleby" is identified as one of Dickens's substantial novels. The book acknowledges that while some of Dickens's works are more widely known in India, "Nicholas Nickleby" is nonetheless a powerful and engaging narrative.
• Character Depiction: The novel is noted for its large cast of characters. The summary mentions characters like:
  • Squeers: An educator who exploits children and their parents, serving as a contemporary reminder of exploitative educational practices.
  • Nicholas: A young man admired for his courage, loyalty, and bravery. He is presented as a protagonist who confronts societal evils.
  • Ralph Nickleby: A ruthless moneylender and an antagonist, representing greed and selfishness.
  • The Cheeryble Brothers: Charitable and good businessmen who contribute to the fabric of society.
  • Wackford Squeers: Cruel schoolmaster who abuses and exploits children.
  • Snawley: A guardian who marries a woman for her property and then hands her children over to monsters.
  • Other characters like John Browdie, Newman Noggs, the Crummles family, and the Cheeryble family are also mentioned, contributing to the novel's richness and educational value.
• Themes and Style:
  • Social Critique: Dickens wrote not just for entertainment but to expose societal flaws and foster public opinion against them.
  • Vivid Portrayal: The translation is praised for maintaining the original author's style, masterful characterizations, and engaging narrative. It offers a lively and authentic experience of Victorian England society, its hopes, disappointments, struggles, achievements, and expectations.
  • Moral Compass: Nicholas's character is portrayed as embodying virtues like love, kindness, generosity, bravery, respect for women, friendship, gratitude, brotherly affection, and obedience to elders. These qualities are presented as the core of his "religiosity" in a broader sense.
  • Truth and Courage: Nicholas is depicted as someone who stands for truth, facing danger and adversity without compromising his principles. His story inspires the reader with its message of perseverance and moral integrity.
• The Translation Process:
  • Abridged and Expanded: The translation is a "vistrut sankshsep" (expanded abridgement), roughly one-third the size of the original, adapted to the Gujarati reader's preferences.
  • Serial Publication: The abridgements of Dickens's stories, including this one, were initially published serially in the weekly publication "Satyagraha." This process ensured meticulous editing and refinement by the editor.
  • Demand for World Literature: The positive reception of previous Dickens translations by the Gujarati public has spurred further efforts to bring more world literature to them, demonstrating the Gujarati readership's appreciation for such works.

Editorial and Publishing Details:

• Editor: Gopaldas Jivabhai Patel
• Publisher: Parivar Prakashan Sahkari Mandir Ltd, Ahmedabad
• Printer: Jivanji Dahyabhai Desai, Navjivan Mudranalaya, Ahmedabad
• First Edition: 1000 copies
• Publication Date: August 1995
• Price: ₹10.00

Overall Message:

The publication of "Nikolas Nikalbi" in Gujarati is presented as a significant cultural contribution, making a classic of world literature accessible to a wider audience. It underscores the enduring relevance of Dickens's work in highlighting human virtues and societal issues, and the importance of translating such works into regional languages to enrich the literary landscape. The preface by Maganbhai Desai connects the narrative to the pursuit of truth and righteousness, referencing a verse from the Bhagavad Gita: "Kaunteya pratjanahi na me bhaktah pranashyati" (O son of Kunti, declare it boldly, that My devotee never perishes).