Study and exposure to Bulgarian language is to be credited for my interest and expertise in translation. I first studied Bulgarian in 1974 at the Institute for Foreign Students in Sofia while simultaneously teaching Hindi at the Sofia University. Every day, for one year I was a student of Bulgarian for four hours and then a teacher of Hindi for three hours. The following two years it was the reverse. During my three-year stay in Bulgaria I authored the first Bulgarian – Hindi Dictionary. This and progressive exposure to Bulgarian literature enabled me to understand and appreciate the nuances of Bulgarian Language. Upon return to India I completed a three years Advance Diploma course in Bulgarian Language and Literature.
I believe it was my interest in language study coupled with the desire to export the richness of Bulgarian literary tradition that led me to translate some of the classics of Bulgarian Literature for the Hindi readers. Needless to say this would not have been possible without the encouragement and assistance of the Bulgarian literary world. I translated from the original Bulgarian language the classical Bulgarian novel “Vreme Razdelno” by Anton Donchev , “Kradetsat Na Praskovi” by Emilyan Stanev , “Septemvri” by Geo Milev. I feel very privileged to have translated the exhaustive “History of Bulgaria” (Istoria Na Bulgaria) written collectively by a team of leading historians. I also translated and published a collection of Bulgarian Folk tales in Hindi- “Tumhe Gussa Aa Raha Hai ”.
Appreciating my deep interest in translation the University of Delhi invited me to teach a course titled “Translation and Linguistics” for the students opting for a PG Diploma Course in the “Art and Craft of Translation” at the University. I also edited and published a book on translation and interpreting “Anuvad aur Tatkaal Bhaashantaran”. This book aims to facilitate the understanding of the linguistic intricacies of literary translation.
Publicatons :
Books
- Dictionaries
- 1. Bulgarsko- Hindi Rechnik ( Bulgarian – Hindi Dictionary ) 1978
- 2. Learner’s Hindi-English Dictionary ( Illustrated)
- 3. Learner’s Hindi English Thematic Visual Dictionary 2014
Translations of Bulgarian Literature
1.Vreme Ras Delno by Anton Donchev ( Hindi Title Bela Vida Ki )
2.Kradetsat Na Praskovi by Emilyan Stanev ( Hindi Title Aaroo Chor )
3.Septemvri by Geo Milev ( Hindi Title Sitambar )
4.Istoria Na Balgaria ( Balgariyaa Ka Itihas )
5.Tumhe Gussa Aa Raha Hai (Folk tales of Bulgaria)
- Books on Theory of Translation ( Edited )
- 1. Anuvaad Aur Tatkaal Bhaashantaran
- 2. Bharat -Bulgaria Anuvaad Visheshank . Special journal issue of “Anuvad”
- 3. Kosh Visheshank ( Special issue on Hindi Lexicograophy) ( Special issue
of Anuvad( Translation ) Research Quarterly of the Association of Indian
Translators, New Delhi
- Teaching of Translation
For almost three decades I have been teaching the art and craft of translation to Graduate and Post-Graduate students at the University of Delhi
For more than 10 Years I am visiting faculty at the Central Translation Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs , Government of India .
- Participation in National and International Seminars on Translation
Represented India several times in Bulgaria by presenting research papers in International Seminars held in Sofia and Varna organized by Union of Translators, Union of Writers and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences .
Official delegate of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India to present the Keynote address at the VIII Vishva Hindi Sammelan ( World Hindi Convention held in New York in 2007)
Chaired a session on Translation at the National Hindi Seminar held in New Delhi organized by Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, in April. 2016.
- Membership and Positions held in Academic Bodies related to Translaton Studies
Vice Chairman , General Secretary of the Association of Indian Translators, New Delhi
Life Member of Bharatiya Anuvad Parishad (Association of Indian Translators), New Delhi