CIIL: Scholars’ meet on translation of Constitution begins

The National Translation Mission (NTM) of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysuru is hosting a two-day interactive program, "Reflections on the Translation of the Constitution of India," on September 29 and 30 to commemorate International Translation Day. Organized to coincide with the annual celebration on September 30, the event gathers 21 translators and language experts from 11 Indian languages including Sanskrit, Kashmiri, Gujarati, Konkani, Sindhi, Maithili, Odia, Santhali, Assamese, Nepali and Bodo.

The program aims to facilitate discussions on the linguistic, cultural, and contextual aspects of translating the Constitution of India into various Indian languages. This initiative is a collaborative project between the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, and the NTM of CIIL, with translations undertaken to aid in making constitutional knowledge accessible to diverse linguistic communities.

Notable speakers include Prof. P.R. Dharmesh Fernandez, deputy director of CIIL, who emphasized the importance of understanding cultural contexts in translation, and Narayan B. Desai, a retired principal and translation expert, who highlighted the role of translators in enabling communities to comprehend a rapidly evolving world impacted by migration and social transformation.

The two-day program features six academic sessions, providing a platform for translators, scholars, and the NTM resource team to share experiences, address challenges, and exchange insights regarding the translation process. Attendees will present reflections on the translation project, which aims to enhance linguistic accessibility, inclusivity, and multilingual engagement with the Constitution of India.