A Tale of Two Somnath Zutshis!

(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

If you’re familiar with Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities,” you might find the story of the two Somnath Zutshis equally intriguing. These two men, one from Srinagar and the other from Calcutta, share not only their name and surname but also almost identical professional capabilities, leading to a great deal of confusion in the digital world. This has overshadowed their significant contributions to the arts of translation, writing for radio, theatre, and cinema, keeping their achievements unsung.

The Srinagar Somnath Zutshi

Somnath Zutshi from Srinagar, Kashmir, was a contemporary of the nonagenarian Pran Kishore and  Dinanath Nadim, a prominent Kashmiri poet of the 20th century. Despite his considerable contributions, the dates of birth and death attributed to him often get confused with those of his Calcutta namesake. By the time the Calcutta-born Zutshi was born, the Srinagar-based Zutshi had already started his literary journey, crafting short stories.

Initially writing in Urdu, the Srinagar Somnath Zutshi later switched to Kashmiri. He served as the Secretary of the Progressive Writers Association of Kashmir and, alongside Dina Nath Nadim, pioneered Kashmiri short story writing. From the inception of Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, on July 1, 1948, Zutshi began writing short stories. Despite his application for a permanent position at Radio Kashmir, he never secured a berth.

One of Zutshi’s notable works, “Yeli Phol Gaash” (translated into English as “When the Light Dawned” and included in Neerja Mattoo’s book “The Greatest Kashmiri Short Stories Ever Told”), features the character Rasul, inspired by the progressive genre’s short stories of that era. This period saw frequent visits from notable progressive writers, poets, and painters like Rajinder Singh Bedi, Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Balraj Sahni, S H Raza, and Devinder Satyarthi, who acted as catalysts for creative activity in the valley.

Zutshi also wrote dramas in Kashmiri. His radio drama “Viji Vaav” won first prize in the All India Radio Drama competition of 1955. Additionally, he was instrumental in creating counter-propaganda dramas during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, as mentioned in the book “Radio Kashmir in Times of Peace and War.” He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003 for his short story “Yeli Fol Gaash.” As a translator, he brought Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” and Nikolai Gogol’s “The Inspector General” into Kashmiri, earning the Soviet Land Nehru Award for his translation of Gogol in 1974.

The Calcutta Somnath Zutshi

On the other hand, Somnath Zutshi from Calcutta (1944-2014) was primarily a psychoanalyst by training but wrote extensively for and about cinema. He translated works by Banaphool, Mrinal Sen, and Somnath Hore. Hore (1921–2006) was a renowned Bengali sculptor and printmaker whose sketches, sculptures, and prints were reactions to major historical crises and events in twentieth-century Bengal, such as the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the Tebhaga movement.

Conclusion

The two Somnath Zutshis, despite their different backgrounds and areas of focus, have both made significant contributions to their respective fields. Yet, their similar names and professional abilities have led to persistent confusion, preventing each from receiving the recognition they deserve. This tale of two remarkable men highlights the complexities of identity and legacy in our interconnected world.