Mysuru, February 01, 2023: “Today, all of us are students. No work will continue without translations. Translation training is essential in classes. Priority has been given to language learning and translations under the new NEP. Translation is not essential; it is inevitable. It has created several job opportunities. Accordingly, translation is flowing like an invisible river in our lives,” observed Prof. Lakshminarayan Arora.
He participated in the one-day seminar on the topic, “Translation, Literature, and Job Opportunities,” organized by the English Department, of the JSS College of Arts, Commerce, and Science, Ooty Road, Mysuru, on January 31, 2023.
Inaugurating the seminar, Prof. Lakshminarayan Arora emphasized the vital role of translation in India. He highlighted that India’s multilingual and culturally diverse nature makes translation a necessary component. Prof. Arora cited examples of translations seen after Vedic literature, such as the Ramayana and Mahabharatha published in old and recent Kannada texts after Sanskrit, and Baanabhattas fiction, which was translated to Champu by Nagavarma 1 as Karnataka Kaadambari. He explained how the Indian education system changed due to Lord Macauly in the 20th Century and how Christian Missionaries learned Indian languages and took up the task of translations. He added that as teaching several subjects in the mother tongue has become difficult, translation has become inevitable in all sectors today.
Prof. B.V. Sambashivaiah, Chief Executive of the College presided over the program. He highlighted the significance of translation and introduced the college and its activities briefly, and praised JSS Mahadvidyapeetha for its constant improvement efforts. Prof. Sambashivaiah emphasized that September 13 of every year is observed as International Translation Day, underlining the growing importance of translation. He also mentioned the increasing demand for translators in mass media houses like radio and TV channels, as subtitles have become inevitable in TV programs. This has led to a rise in job opportunities for people possessing translation skills, making translation a prominent skill today.
After the inaugural program, the seminar proceeded with three insightful seminars delivered by Dr. Udayaravi Sastry, Dr. S. Winston Cruz, and Dr. M. Girijamma. These seminars covered various topics related to translations, alongside other engaging lectures delivered by nine other expert lecturers. The sessions were packed with valuable information and proved to be an excellent opportunity for attendees to enhance their understanding of the field of translations.
Prof. M.P. Vijayendra Kumar, Principal of the Degree College was present. Second B.A. student Kum. M. Preethi rendered an invocation. English Department Professor Deepa welcomed and teacher Shruti gave a vote of thanks. P. Arjun of the English Department mastered the program.