Nanha Rajkumar Brings The Little Prince to Indian Children
A beloved French classic has found a fresh voice in India. The new adaptation of The Little Prince, titled Nanha Rajkumar in Hindi, launched at the New Delhi World Book Fair. This picture book edition is now available in English, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, and Hindi.
A Global Tale with an Indian Heart
Originally written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1943, The Little Prince is one of the world's most translated books. It has been published in over 600 languages, including 20 Indian languages. The story follows a young prince from a tiny asteroid who shares lessons about love, grief, and life's true values.
Grégor Trumel, director of the French Institute in India, praised this new version. He said it stays true to the original while becoming more Indian, colorful, and joyful.
Creative Challenges and Innovations
Adapted by Anushka Ravishankar and illustrated by Kuriyan Kuriyan, the book faced unique creative hurdles. Kuriyan had to reinvent the iconic character. The team initially considered keeping the prince's original blonde hair and fair skin.
But they decided to create a character Indian children could relate to. The result is a brown-skinned prince with dark hair. His costume draws inspiration from Indian royalty and Bollywood. Specifically, it references Rishi Kapoor's outfit from the film Karz, with a small heart on his chest.
Ravishankar worked on adapting the text. She aimed to preserve the book's profound message while making it accessible. She avoided making it too wordy or too brief. For instance, she carefully chose words to capture nuances lost in earlier translations.
Artistic Details and Cultural References
Kuriyan used acrylic paints to achieve deep, rich colors in the illustrations. The artwork includes subtle nods that adults will appreciate. One character, the king, is modeled after Nawab Wajid Ali Khan, a famous ruler from Awadh.
The book is published by Pratham Books. It emphasizes values like multilingualism and accessibility. The goal is to ensure every child can access good books in their own language.
A Book for All Ages
Recommended for ages 8 to 10, the creators believe picture books are for everyone. Kuriyan described it as for adults who are kids and kids who are adults. The adaptation encourages readers to retain their childlike wonder and not take adults too seriously.
Ravishankar highlighted the timeless message. She said the book teaches that beauty lies in the invisible things we know are there. This new version makes that message accessible to a new generation of Indian readers.
