CULTURAL TRANSLATION AND FOLKLORE IN MEENA PRABHU'S 'CHINI MATI': A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS WITH JHAVERCHAND MEGHANI'S 'SAURASHTRA NI RASDHAR'

This research paper undertakes a comparative analysis of Meena Prabhu’s Marathi travelogue, 'Chini Mati', and Jhaverchand Meghani’s seminal contributions to Gujarati folk literature. The study examines their respective engagements with cultural translation and folklore, highlighting how Prabhu, through her Marathi lens, interprets Chinese folklore and cultural nuances for Marathi readership, while Meghani meticulously collects, translates, and popularizes indigenous Gujarati folklore. By exploring Prabhu's observations on cross-cultural encounters, linguistic challenges, and the representation of Chinese traditions, alongside Meghani's pioneering efforts in preserving and reinterpreting local oral traditions, the paper illuminates diverse approaches to cultural mediation. This comparison reveals shared complexities in conveying folk traditions across linguistic, geographical, and temporal boundaries. Ultimately, it underscores the profound role of authors as cultural translators who adapt, blend, and reshape narratives for their specific audiences, enriching both their native literary traditions and cross-cultural understanding.