Two new anthologies, both titled 5 Stories, have been released in Konkani and Kannada. The collections are part of a series edited by Mini Krishnan, a prominent advocate for Indian narratives in English translation. Vidya Pai translated the Konkani volume and Susheela Punitha handled the Kannada edition, with both books published by Bloomsbury at a price of ₹499.
The Konkani anthology opens with Damodar Mauzo’s chilling tale “Cry, Now,” which follows a Goan couple who mourn the loss of their son in an airplane crash en route to Kuwait. Other stories include Jayanti Naik’s “The Ceremonial Bull” and Mahabaleshwar Sail’s “The Potter’s Kiln,” both depicting the pain of communities caught between tradition and change. Pundalik Naik’s “Victory” examines the dilemmas of seeking justice through resistance, while Prakash Parienkar’s “Man of the Forest” offers a neutral, environmental perspective that hints at the erasure of regional identities.
The Kannada anthology features Vaidehi’s “Worlds Within Worlds,” a character study of a freeloader and his wife’s anguish, and Mogalli Ganesh’s “The Spinning Top,” which moves from a child’s fascination to a stark portrayal of Shudra life. Amaresh Nugadoni’s “This Heart Longs For More” uses a tea‑stall setting to explore Hindu‑Muslim relations amid political tension, and the works of Bolwar Kunhi and Banu Mushtaq—“Worship” and “Not a Woman”—delve into the Muslim experience with unjudgmental honesty.
Both translators retain local words and expressions—such as “pata pata” for scrubbing dishes and “daddakh” for a pig falling into a pit—in the English text, providing a sense of cultural authenticity. Vidya Pai’s translator’s note is detailed, offering a blueprint for future projects. The anthology’s source stories come from regional magazines like Jaag, Prajavaani, Patrike, and Kannada Prabha.
The reviewer, a Sahitya Akademi translation award winner, notes that the series’ “long‑shorts” present fiction as an accessible form of social history. The books are priced at ₹499 each, and Mini Krishnan also serves as editor of 250 Years Of Jane Austen: Indian Responses.
