Open-air workshop to take up acclaimed poems on Kolkata for translation

On one of the days when the weather is likely to be best in Kolkata and winter gives way to spring, a large group of literature lovers will gather at the iconic Maidan for an open-air workshop on translating well-known poems about the city into English.

in the name Maidane Anubade Mahanagar (City of Translation on the Maidan), this workshop and meeting of translators will take place on January 25 and is organized by Calcutta Comparatists 1919, a collective dedicated to comparative literature, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, Calcutta. Anubad PatrikaA respected literary magazine.

“Through this event, we aim to discuss and understand the city’s translation trajectories and offer a hands-on practice session through the translation of selected poems in Calcutta. We aim to move away from the traditional concept of translation workshops conducted in closed academic settings and instead adopt a more informal, open-air discussion format to enable interactive interaction between experienced translators and those new to the field,” said Ayan Ghosh, PhD research scholar associated with Calcutta Comparatists 1919.

In addition to Rabindranath Tagore, famous poets whose works will be discussed in the workshop include Shankha Ghosh, Nirendranath Chakraborty, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Birendra Chattopadhyay and Purnendu Pattrea.

Astrid Wege, Director of Goethe-Institut Calcutta, said: “We are delighted to partner in this unique program that highlights practice, mentorship and the joy of reacquainting yourself with the city through translation. This initiative, which brings translation from closed academic spaces to the open space of the Maidan, reflects Calcutta’s own pluralistic, permeable cultural ecology.”

Its editor, Bitasta Ghoshal, said: “We have been working to promote the translation of Indian literatures into Bengali for the last 50 years. This workshop is a new initiative in the field of translation: a truly new breath of life into the practice of translation, an informal discussion that moves away from microphones and PowerPoint presentations, and offers a much-needed effort to promote and practice translation.” Anubad Patrika.

Approximately 40 translators are expected to attend the event; According to the organizers, the aim was to provide academic engagement among budding and experienced translators about translation and the city’s relationship with translation.

Mrinmoy Pramanick, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University and president of Kolkata Comparatives, said: “The community of translators needs to come together to know what our common vision should be for this field. This time, we will look at the city through the lens of translation. This initiative will not only provide academic translation services but also connect scholars to the larger society, making the event a fun and engaging experience, but also with a serious emphasis on serving a larger purpose and reaching a wider audience.” “It aims to continue,” he said. 1919.