Vishes Kothari’s book of Rajasthani to English translations, Timeless Tales from Marwar, published by Penguin Random House, is a hand-picked compilation of folk tales collected and written by Vijaydan Detha

‘Stories which travelled centuries to come to you– please read them–because they still have centuries to travel. These folk tales from Rajasthan slither like serpents in the mind of the reader and tickle the imagination’

Gulzar

Picture Credit: Penguin Random House

About the Book

Padma Shri awardee Vijaydan Detha devoted his life to collecting and re-writing Rajasthan’s vast reservoir of oral traditions. His 14 volume Batan ri Phulwari is the outcome of this project spanning five decades.

Giving a new lease of life to his writings, Timeless Tales from Marwar is a handpicked collection of folk tales from this timeless classic.

This selection-retold in Detha’s magical narrative style complete with vivid imagery-offers some of the oldest and most popular fables from the Thar Desert. Vishes Kothari’s vivid English translation introduces one of the most venerated figures in Rajasthan to a wider audience. This tribute to Detha’s rich legacy is a collector’s edition for all ages.

About the Translator

A financial consultant by profession, Vishes Kothari completed his masters in mathematics from the University of Cambridge, prior to which he studied at St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and King’s College, London. He then taught mathematics at Ashoka University before turning to financial consulting.

He is a native of Sadulpur in Rajasthan and has a keen interest in the oral and musical traditions of his state. He has been associated with UNESCO-Sahapedia on projects focussed on the musical traditions of women in Rajasthan, and as a language expert with the Jaipur Virasat Foundation.

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