‘Wolf Totem’ translated into Mongolian

A novel ‘Wolf Totem’ selected as a bestseller in 2005 in China and published in 31 countries has been published in Mongolian language. The World Bank published the book within frames of its environmental program in Mongolia. Although there are many
priorities that should be resolved in frames of ‘Environment Reform-2’
project, the project team decided to make it public for Mongolians because
the novel is so close to people’s heart with its describing the everyday life
of nomads, the connection between humans and nature, their loving animals, the Mongolian way of using natural resources properly, how herders hunt wolf and how they can be friends, worshipping wolves and co-existence.
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of WB’s Environment Program, the book launch of ‘Wolf Totem’ translated into Mongolian was held on September 20 in Khuush
Valley, Bogd Khan Mountain strictly protected area. Jiang Rong, author of the novel,
was so pleased with publishing his novel in Mongolian language that he gave the right of publication free of charge. In a preface of the book’s
translation, the author wrote, “Wolf Totem is now published in Mongolia’s
Cyrillic after having been published in over 30 languages including English,
French, German, Japanese, Italian and Spanish. It means that Mongolian wolf naturalism is coming back to the Mongolian steppe which is its own
native land of intelligence. I would like to express my extreme happiness
for it. After Wolf Totem was published in 2004 in China, there were severe
disputes. However readers welcomed it with appreciation and now it has

become one of bestsellers in recent years in China. Moreover, it gave
substantial influence even on the international market. Still, I desired
my novel to become a beloved book of Mongolians. For this reason, I wrote
an emphasis, “The book is dedicated to wolf and people of the steppe which
is well-known as prominent and to the Inner Mongolia’s steppe which was
astonished with its wonder”. I would like to write a Cyrillic Mongolian
version, “Dedicated to the Mongolian steppe which still maintains its
perfection and liberty.” In 1967, author Jiang Rong first visited the steppe boundary area near East Uzemchin, Inner Mongolia and wrote his novel inspired by the 11 years he spent in the Shiliin Gol steppe, the friendly relations he had with
Mongolians and his experiences. In the preface, he wrote, “My becoming
affectionate to Mongolia’s steppe and wolf naturalism connects that I was
fascinated to the beauty of nature and realized the more valuable thing in the
conscience of the nomadic culture. It is indicated with determined reverence
for liberal conscience from one side and with individual conscience for safeguarding nature from other side”. The novel was translated by Dr. and
Prof D. Boldbaatar and edited by poet G. Mend-Ooyo.Since its implementation in
1995, the World Bank’s Environment Program cooperates with Norwegian,
Irish, Dutch and Canadian Trust Funds, and Global Conservation Fund and conducted projects to work-out an action plan and program in the environmental sector, to intensify integrity between Buddhism and environmental management, to
conduct general environmental assessment, to carry out surveys and assessments on many spheres including strategy for waste water, land management, forestry, trading
of wild animals and environmental matters around mining, to draw up policy documents and handbooks, to train personnel as well as mobilize local citizens for protecting nature.

By B. Ooluun, reporter of Montsame news Agency

Source:Mongol Messenger, Weekly English Newspaper of Montsame, Mongolian State Run News Agency