Jyothi Natarajan’s translation of Hasuru Honnu is a happy blend of science, satire and culture

Writer BGL Swamy, son of Kannada litterateur DV Gundappa often said, ‘When green is considered gold, everything will be fine with the world.’ Jyothi Natarajan (wife of K Natarajan, DV Gudappa’s grandson) has translated BGL Swamy’s Hasuru Honnu (When Green is Gold) and the title was recently released.

“It took me two years to complete the translation, as the book is a serious study of plants, the environment and culture packaged in a light-hearted way. It was relevant nearly five decades ago and remains pertinent and a must-read even now,” says Jyothi. 

DV Gundappa (popularly known as DVG) and BGL Swamy were an unusual father-and-son duo with regard to their contributions to Kannada literature — both in the assortment and intensity of content they offered. During DVG’s 125^th birth anniversary, prominent playwright, poet and Jnanpith Awardee Chandrashekhara Kambara observed, “Both father and son have been recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award, which is a rarity in itself. Hasuru Honnu is one of Swamy’s most popular works that won him this prestigious honour.” 

Author BGL Swamy
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Interweaving humour with storytelling was Swamy’s forte. His works pertained to botany, history, travel and satire reflecting the social life of our times. Encouraged by AR Krishnasastry, Swamy started writing as early as 1939-40 for Prabuddha Karnataka, a quarterly of the Mysore University, which Krishnasastry edited.

Jyothi was born in 1950 in Tumkur, and grew up listening to her grandfather’s stories. Residing in Bengaluru since the 1960s, she remembers her teachers — P Lankesh, OK Nambiar, B Chandrashekar and Bharatraj Singh — who inspired her while she pursued a Masters in English Literature. After a PG Diploma in Journalism, she worked as a lecturer for nearly three decades, often freelancing with mainstream media too.

“By the time I married into the family in 1975, DVG had passed away, and I missed interacting with the great man. Swamy and his siblings were highly educated and I was in awe of them. My dreams of being a creative writer fanned out in other ways, such as translating Swamy’s creative ideas ,” says Jyothi.

The idea to translate Hasuru Honnu occurred to Jyothi when she was homebound during the pandemic. “I needed to escape into a healthy, lively world where life was fun and adventurous. With the book, I could let myself be carried over difficult terrain into forests with a bunch of vivacious, post-graduate botany students and their enthusiastic professor. They trudge along, fall, pick themselves up, and tease each other as they follow their teacher.”

As they collect specimens, Jyothi says, Swamy explains the botanical features, history and facts about its nativity, invaluable features for food or medicine, its social and cultural significance.

The book, Jyothi says is peppered with situational humour. “I often laughed out loud to the amusement of those around. My serotonin levels improved and I became more communicative. That was when I decided I should share this gem with the rest of the world.”

By deciding to translate, Jyothi felt she was carrying out a crucial task. “The book brings out the connection between humans and the plant kingdom. Besides, it is a satirical take on the education system. Through sarcasm and wit, Swamy highlights the shortcomings that vitiate our education system. I did extensive research as the mix of science, satire and storytelling was challenging.”

The book is an addition to the DVG Balaga Pratisthana’s series of translations. “We translated and requested them to publish our work. In my husband’s case, this was his second book they were publishing, after his translation of DVG’s Jeevanadharma Yoga. Swamy was a prolific writer with an oeuvre that encompassed many of his non-botanical passions. While his calling was botany, he was deeply interested in music, art, archaeology, Kannada and Tamil literature. He was first and foremost a scientist and through his books, tried to educate his readers.

Jyothi chose to translate Hasuru Honnu work because it is as relevant today as it was when it was published 48 years ago. “While the book is a fun read, it also makes a social and environmental statement. One can feel a sense of foreboding when Swamy talks about deforestation.Who had heard of carbon capture and carbon removal in those days? Today they have become realities. Swamy was for biodiversity and against monoculture. He was against anything that shrunk our forests and harmed the livelihood of forest dwellers.”

Swami, Jyothi says enjoyed playing the violin. “His favourite musician was Yehudi Menuhin. He was past 50 when he began searching for a music teacher. For him, learning music did not end with learning kirthane and varna. He wanted a teacher who could make him listen to the singular voice of the violin.”

Often compared to Ekalavya because like him, Swami too was self-educated, Jyothi says. “After completing his BSc(Hons), Swamy took up a teacher’s assistant job at the Fort High School for ₹6 per month. Swamy’s mind was set on research, for which, all that was needed was a microscope and plants, that were freely available. His father DVG got him a second-hand microscope, a microtome, and a mat. Swami bought a few orchids and conducted groundbreaking research entirely on his own. This work formed the basis for an award from the University of Mysore.

Email jyojyon@gmail.com for copies of the book. Also available online.

Published – March 05, 2025 05:18 pm IST

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