Faculty Development Programme : Translation as Dialogue: Creative License, Crossover and Current Developments (Faculty Development Programme )
HOWRAH
Organization: Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur
Event: Faculty Development Programme
Faculty Development Programme
Translation as Dialogue: Creative License, Crossover and Current Developments
[Researchers with relevant experience in translation and related fields can apply as well]
Organized by:
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur
Important Dates:
Faculty Development Programme:
16th - 22st September, 2025
Last Date for Submission of Statement of Purpose:
5th September, 2025
Declaration of Selected Candidates:
7th September, 2025
Last Date for Registration & Payment:
10th September, 2025
Concept Note:
Translation from one language to another plays an important role in dissemination of ideas, notions and knowledge of cultures. The suppression of languages is a political and hegemonic act that aims at homogenisation and erasure of the cultural memory of certain people or may be directed towards strengthening the stranglehold over certain groups and nations. During the freedom struggle of India translation of texts became important for linking diverse languages to posit a fresh view about unity, and develop the discourse of nationalism. Literary translations provided a potent platform for the emergence of a federal identity that is reflexive and challenged Eurocentric and colonial perspectives. Six decades after independence, according to the Census of 2011 in India there are 2843 mother tongues of which 1369 are classified as recognized. However, there are many which remain outside the purview of official recognition. We have a different politics of linguistic suppression which plays itself out in covert and overt ways in independent India.
For a host of reasons, therefore, the fast-changing landscape of translation studies need to be interrogated within the interdisciplinary framework that recognises the challenges of interpretation, and academic silos that may often overlook the inalienable connection between history, theory and practice that determine each other or the crossovers and boundaries between languages. Examining the role of texts and contexts, the translator's choices, the cultural influences that shape and are shaped by translations, and the matrix of relationships that develop as a result of such choices provide significant issues for exploring and rethinking methodologies and practices of translation.
This Faculty Development Programme (FDP) in the workshop mode will try to interrogate these issues and also bring together discussions on the role of the translator, the idea of the faithfulness to the original or creative licence. It will take a look at the value of translation which is not a second order task as well as at ideas of the gendering of the act of translation. It will also address issues of translation of texts originally composed in foreign languages and the role of a mediating language between the source language and the target language. Discussions will focus on the aspects of preservation of languages, the theoretical and practical challenges faced in translating texts, especially in the multilingual Indian context, and on archiving, and the latest technological impact of AI/ML and NLP and app-based translations. It is aimed at skill enhancement and better understanding for a nuanced approach to the theories, processes and methodologies that allow for creative transformations within literary translations.
About the Programme:
The FDP will take place in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIEST, Shibpur and aims to promote meaningful dialogue among practitioners, scholars, and educators of translation across various languages and disciplines.
Keynote & Resource Persons:
· V Ramaswamy
Literary and non-fiction translator of voices from the margins
· Prof. D. Venkat Rao
Professor of English Literature, English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
· Avishek Rath
Programme Officer at Sahitya Akademi
· Ms. Clémentine Bertschy Mandal
Course Director, Alliance Française du Bengale; Freelance Hindi–French Translator
· Mr. Trinanjan Chakraborty
Translator; French Language Instructor, Alliance Française du Bengale
· Dr. Mrinmoy Pramanick
Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Indian Language and Literature, University of Calcutta; Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize Winner (2023)
· Dr. Anupam Basu
Former faculty at Washington University at St. Louis
· Prof. Baran Fraooqi
Prof (Retd.) Jamilia Milia Islamia
· Mr. Biplab Nayak
Independent scholar ad film maker
· Dr. Ayan Chatterjee
Asst. Prof. Maharaja Sris Chandra College
· Ram Prasad Gain
Head, Department of Film Studies, T H K Jain College
· Dr. Ritam Mukhopadhyay
Asst. Prof., Presidency University
Eligibility:
Faculty members working in any recognized Higher Education Institution in India.
Researchers with relevant experience in translation and related fields.
Selection Process:
Interested candidates must submit a Statement of Purpose (SoP) not exceeding 500 words, clearly stating:
Their reason for attending the FDP
Any relevant expertise in translation
Details of any published or ongoing work in the field of translation
As seats are limited, selection will be based on the merit of the submitted SoP.
Deadline for submission: 5th September, 2025
Early submission is encouraged. Late applications will not be considered.
Submit your SoP to: iiestfdpontranslation@gmail.com
Participation Fee:
Faculty: Rs. 5,000 (Offline - includes workshop kit, lunch, and refreshments) | Rs. 3,000 (Online)
Research Scholars/Independent Researchers: Rs. 3,000 (Offline - includes workshop kit, lunch, and refreshments) | Rs. 2,000 (Online)
Accommodation: Limited accommodation is available on a payment basis.
Certification
Participants will receive a certificate only upon attending all sessions.
Venue
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur
Howrah, West Bengal – 711103
Contact Us
For queries, please contact: iiestfdpontranslation@gmail.com
Or
Research Scholars, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIEST, Shibpur:
Ms. Sampriti Bhattacharyya: 7063410515
Mr. Russel Khan:9593696945
Ms. Mallika Bala: 6297979152
Mr. Sanjay Paira: 919614831945
Coordinator: Dr. Mallika Ghosh Sarbadhikary, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIEST, Shibpur
Joint-Coordinators: Dr. Madhumita Roy and Dr. Shashwati Banerjee, Assistant Professors, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIEST, Shibpur
iiestfdpontranslation@gmail.com
iiestfdpontranslation@gmail.com