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Das Kapital translated into Tamil

The Tamil version of German philosopher Karl Marx's monumental work, Das Kapital, which changed the face of contemporary history, will be released in Madras on Tuesday, May 5, his 181st birth anniversary.

Interestingly, the Tamil translation of this legendary work, completed by the German thinker when he was in exile in London in the latter part of the 19th century, was begun by Marxist ideologue Thyagu alias Thyagarajan when he was incarcerated in the Tiruchirapalli central prison in the early 1970s after getting involved in left-wing extremism. Another Marxist writer, the late Krishniah, provided the final touches to the work.

P Manickam, chairman of the New Century Book House, which is publishing the work, told reporters in Madras that the five-part, three-volume work, running to 3,200 pages, would be released by Tamil Nadu minister for official language and Tamil culture, Dr M Tamizh Kudimagan.

The Madras-based publishing house took up the task of releasing the book after publishing houses in Moscow declined to do so following the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Manickam said state Communist Party of India-Marxist secretary N Sankaraiah would receive the first two volumes, and state CPI secretary R Nallakkannu the third volume.

He said more than 1,500 orders have been received so far for the book at the pre-publication price of Rs 600, which could be paid in two instalments of Rs 300 each. The offer would close on May 5, after which the book would be priced at Rs 900.

UNI

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