Author: Suresh Kurapati

Abstract: This paper explores how Kocharethi, the first tribal novel in Malayalam by Narayan an Araya tribal man, participates in a cultural dialogue through its English translation by Catherine Thankamma. As a narrative rooted in the lived experiences, oral traditions, and ecological consciousness of the Malayar tribal community in Kerala, the text offers a unique insight into indigenous worldviews. The study examines how the act of translation becomes a site of cultural negotiation, mediating between marginalized tribal voices and the mainstream literary discourse. Drawing on postcolonial translation theory and cultural studies, the paper undertakes a close textual analysis of key elements like language, idioms, customs, and narrative style to trace the tensions between fidelity to tribal specificity and the imperatives of accessibility. While the translation enables wider visibility and recognition for tribal literature, it also involves inevitable shifts, losses, and transformations. The paper argues that Kocharethi in translation functions as a dialogic space, where tribal identity is both asserted and adapted. Ultimately, the study affirms the potential of translation not merely as a linguistic exercise but as a powerful tool for intercultural understanding and literary inclusion in India’s pluralistic narrative landscape.

Keywords: Cultural Dialogue, Indigenous Identity, Malayalam Literature, Postcolonial Theory, Tribal Literature, Translation Studies

Article Info: Received: 14 Aug 2025; Received in revised form: 11 Sep 2025; Accepted: 15 Sep 2025; Available online: 19 Sep 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.105.20