3rd National Translators' Conference 2024
The 3rd National Translators' Conference was recently held at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, in collaboration with the university's Department of Language and Literature. The two-day event saw the participation of 52 translators from 10 different states across India.
Key Highlights:
- Inauguration and Keynote Address: The event was inaugurated by Dr. Santosh Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor of Fakir Mohan University, who expressed that it was a memorable day for the university. He emphasized the importance of translation in preserving language, literature, and culture. Dr. Tripathi also announced the establishment of a Translation Center at the university and the collection of the "Fakir Mohan Dictionary."
- Guest Speakers: Dr. Jnaneshwar Mule, a noted Indian author and translator, stressed the importance of prioritizing and respecting one's mother tongue. He shared that if a translator is proficient in their native language, mastering other languages becomes easier. Another prominent speaker, Dr. Gaurhari Das, a celebrated writer and translator, remarked that every author should translate at least one book during their lifetime, as translation helps bridge linguistic and cultural gaps.
- Launch of Ten Translated Books: During the conference, ten books translated into various Indian languages were released, showcasing the diversity and richness of translation efforts in the country.
- Honors and Awards: Two distinguished translators, Professor Bijay Kumar Mahanti from Odisha and poet-translator Kavita Dutta Goswami from Assam, were honored with the Indian Translation Literature Award for their contributions to the field.
- Panel Discussions: Several sessions were held on topics such as the role of technology in translation, challenges faced by translators, the process of translating Fakir Mohan's literary works, and the significance of literary translation as a cultural bridge in the context of globalization.
The event highlighted the growing importance of translation in today's interconnected world and called upon translators to continue enriching literary traditions by promoting linguistic and cultural understanding.