CIIL: Scholars’ meet on translation of Constitution begins

Officials and scholars at the International Translation Day programme at CIIL in Mysuru on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The National Translation Mission (NTM) of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, is organising a two-day interactive programme, “Reflections on the Translation of the Constitution of India,” on September 29 and 30, to mark International Translation Day, celebrated annually on September 30.The programme, inaugurated at the Preview Theatre of CIIL on Tuesday, brings together 21 translators and language experts representing 11 Indian languages - Sanskrit, Kashmiri, Gujarati, Konkani, Sindhi, Maithili, Odia, Santhali, Assamese, Nepali and Bodo to share their experiences and reflections on translating the Constitution of India.The programme provides an interactive platform for translators, scholars and NTM resource team to discuss the linguistic, cultural and contextual dimensions of translating the Constitution of India into Indian languages. The translations were undertaken by NTM of CIIL for the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, according to CIIL.International Translation Day recognises the vital contributions of translators, interpreters, terminologists and other language professionals in facilitating communication, fostering cultural exchange and strengthening mutual understanding, thereby bridging linguistic boundaries and connecting people across cultures, a press release said.In his presidential remarks at the inaugural session, Prof. P.R. Dharmesh Fernandez, deputy director, CIIL, said translation involved more than transferring words from one language to another and also required an understanding of cultural and civilisational contexts. He emphasised the relevance of linguistic and social sciences in examining the wider dimensions of translation.Speaking at the inaugural session, Sunderdas V. Gohrani, former director, Official Language, Kanpur, highlighted the importance of translating knowledge texts into Indian languages. He underlined the role of translation in making knowledge accessible to diverse linguistic communities.Narayan B. Desai, retd. principal and translation expert associated with the Sindhi version of the Constitution of India, described translation as an engagement with languages, cultures and communities. He said translators played an important role in enabling communities to understand a rapidly changing world shaped by migration and social transformation. “Translation is a lesson in harmony,” he said.Tariq Khan, officer-in-charge, NTM, CIIL, outlined the evolution of the Constitution of India translation project. He said discussions between the Ministry of Law and Justice and NTM began in late 2022, with the project gaining momentum in 2023.The two-day programme comprises six academic sessions focusing on the experiences, challenges and insights emerging from the translation of the Constitution. The sessions examine the significance of making constitutional knowledge accessible in Indian languages and the role of translation in promoting linguistic accessibility, inclusivity and multilingual engagement with the Constitution.The 21 participating translators and language experts from universities and research institutions across the country are presenting their reflections in the respective languages. The sessions also provide opportunities for interaction between the experts and NTM staff involved in the translation project. Published - September 29, 2026 07:57 pm IST