Travelling Texts

“This book is a timely contribution to the study of translation into the languages of the Indian subcontinent. The broad range of languages, cultures and text types discussed here paint a fascinating picture of the important role of translations in literary history.”

Susan Bassnett FRSL, FIL
Professor of Comparative Literature, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Glasgow, UK
Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature, University of Warwick, UK
President, British Comparative Literature Association

“This book is a rich array of essays focussing upon an extremely important question- which things form us and make us who we are. By tracing our textual genealogies across cultures, the book shows us that origins are a myth and that translation is not only a linguistic act; but one that encapsulates being from elsewhere and going somewhere. The essays are rigorous and rich and the languages and subjects in this book varied. I recommend this book to all scholars of literary and translation studies.”

Rita Kothari
Professor (English)
Co-Director, Centre for Translation Studies
Ashoka University, India

“This book provides detailed insights into the colonial and postcolonial history of translation and reception of European literature in South Asian languages. While the main focus is on Bengali and Assamese, it also includes many glimpses into Nepali, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Santali material. More than twenty contributors cover media ranging from comics and periodicals to books and Youtube videos, and look into the cultural dynamics translation either unleashed or was itself a result of.”

Hans Harder
Professor of Modern South Asian Languages and Literatures at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany

“This is a fascinating, rich and wide collection of essays about translated texts that covers a wide gamut thematically, geographically and chronologically. It covers classical and popular literature, and in keeping with contemporary times also includes YouTube. There is also a focus on Adivasi, feminist and queer texts adding to the richness of the material. And some of the essays also bring the reader to the centre stage.”

Anchita Ghatak
Award-winning Translator and Independent Development Professional