Faculty Development Programme

Translation as Dialogue: Creative License, Crossover and Current Developments

(Hybrid Mode) 

Organized by
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur

Important Dates

• Faculty Development Programme:
  16th - 22nd September 2025
• Last Date for Submission of Statement of Purpose:
  2nd September 2025
• Declaration of Selected Candidates:
  4th 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:

• Mr. 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–Freonch 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 and film maker 

• Dr. Ayan Chatterjee

Asst. Prof. Maharaja Sris Chandra College

• Mr. Ram Prasad Gain

Head, Department of Film Studies, T H K Jain College

• Dr. Ritam Mukhopadhyay

Asst. Prof., Presidency University

Who Can Apply? 

1. Faculty members across disciplines
2. Research Scholars affiliated with any institute, as well as independent research scholars with relevant expertise and interests in translation (SoP submission required)

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: 2nd September 2025

Early submission is encouraged. Late applications will not be considered.

Submit your SoP to: iiestfdpontranslation@gmail.com

Participation Fees: 

• Faculty: ₹5,000 (Offline) | ₹3,000 (Online)
• Research Scholars/Independent Researchers: ₹3,000 (Offline) | ₹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

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