Mysuru: A Kannada novel on the life and contributions of cancer researcher Zao-Zhong Su has been translated into Italian.‘Su’, written by city-based researcher Dr Prasanna Santhekadur, is based on the life of the cancer scientist. Dr Prasanna is a senior professor at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative medicine (CEMR) and the department of biochemistry, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research. Originally from Shivamogga, he has been working in the field of liver cancer for nearly two decades.First published in 2020, the novel has now been translated into several Indian languages, including Malayalam.The novel revolves around Su, whose wife died of cancer, prompting him to dedicate himself to finding a cure for the disease. The story also traces how Su eventually succumbed to liver cancer.The novel is narrated through a fictional character Prakash, an Indian scientist whose father dies of liver cancer. The novel brings the science of cancer, the research behind it, and the human side of the disease to Kannada readers.“Su is one of the greatest personalities who influenced me. While Prakash is a fictional character, Su was a real person. I wrote the novel to introduce the real-life journey of a cancer scientist to Kannada readers, which makes the work unique in many ways,” said Dr Prasanna.The Italian translation was done by Jaya Murthy, a 78-year-old writer who moved from Mysuru to Italy with her family nearly four decades ago. She has earlier translated three Kannada works, including ‘Sharapanjara’ by Triveni and ‘Dollar Sose’ by Sudha Murty. She has completed her master’s degree in Pisa and wrote her thesis on legendary novelist RK Narayan.
