An Evening Celebrating Translation, Literature, and Cultural Exchange with Arunava Sinha

The Write Circle in Kolkata brought together literature enthusiasts for an engaging conversation featuring acclaimed translator and academic Arunava Sinha in dialogue with Supriya Chaudhuri. The evening offered audiences a fascinating insight into the art of translation and its role in bringing literary voices across languages, cultures, and generations.

The session opened with a warm welcome by Esha Dutta, Honorary Convenor of North-East Affairs and Ehsaas Woman of Kolkata. Through an engaging discussion, Sinha reflected on his journey as a translator, the challenges and nuances of carrying stories across linguistic boundaries, and the importance of making regional literature accessible to wider audiences. The conversation highlighted the transformative power of translation in fostering cultural exchange and preserving literary heritage.

Widely regarded as one of India’s foremost literary translators, Sinha has translated classic, modern, and contemporary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry from Bengali and Hindi into English, while also translating works from English and Hindi into Bengali. His translations have been published in India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, earning widespread acclaim for introducing readers around the world to the richness of South Asian literature. In addition to his literary work, Sinha teaches at Ashoka University, where he serves as Co-Director of the Ashoka Centre for Translation.

The evening witnessed an enthusiastic gathering of the city’s literary aficionados, sparking a vibrant exchange of ideas and perspectives throughout the session. Adding a touch of tradition to the occasion, Prof. Shabina Nishat Omar felicitated the author and conversationalist with exquisite Dokra artefacts, celebrating both literary excellence and India’s rich craft traditions.

The session concluded with an engaging interaction between the speakers and the audience, followed by a warm book-signing session. As attendees gathered around the author, the conversation continued beyond the stage, bringing to a close an evening marked by literary discovery, thoughtful dialogue, and a shared appreciation for the written word.