Archive · 24 Jul 2026
Classics Need New Translations for Generations
Translating classical works from one language to another is a big challenge.
The Murty Classical Library of India is working to translate old Indian books into English.
This is hard because there isn't a long history of translating these languages like there is for Greek or Latin.
The first translation is very important because there aren't any earlier versions to compare it to.
Sharmila Sen from Harvard University Press talks about how to make the English translations beautiful while staying true to the original Indian texts.
The Murty Classical Library of India is translating 500 volumes of classical Indian works into English over a century.
Languages being translated include Bangla, Kannada, Pali, Panjabi, Sindhi, Telugu, Urdu, and Persian.
Translating these works is challenging due to the lack of a long tradition of translation.
The first translation carries significant weight as there are no earlier versions to compare it to.
Sharmila Sen of Harvard University Press discusses the balance between beauty in English and fidelity to the original Indic texts.
- Who
- Sharmila Sen, Harvard University Press
- What
- The need for new translations of classical Indian works.
- When
- Ongoing project planned over a century.
- Where
- India, with translations into English.
- Why
- To make classical Indian works accessible to a wider audience while preserving their original beauty and fidelity.
Preservation of Original Text
Accessibility and Modern Understanding
Fidelity to Original Text
Preservation of Original Text
Translations should prioritize staying as close as possible to the original text to preserve the author's intent and cultural nuances.
Accessibility and Modern Understanding
Translations should adapt to modern language and cultural contexts to make the text more accessible and understandable to contemporary readers.
Cultural Context
Preservation of Original Text
Translations should retain the cultural context of the original text to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural background.
Accessibility and Modern Understanding
Translations should adapt the cultural context to make the text more relatable to modern readers, even if it means losing some of the original cultural nuances.
Language Evolution
Preservation of Original Text
Translations should use archaic language to reflect the original text's language and style, even if it is not commonly used today.
Accessibility and Modern Understanding
Translations should use modern language to make the text more accessible and engaging to contemporary readers.
- Murty Classical Library of India
- A project aimed at translating 500 volumes of classical Indian works into English over a century.
- Languages Translated
- Bangla, Kannada, Pali, Panjabi, Sindhi, Telugu, Urdu, and Persian.
- Challenges in Translation
- Balancing beauty in English with fidelity to the Indic original, without a long tradition of translation.
- First Version Weight
- The first translation carries the weight alone, as there are no earlier attempts to argue with.
- Sharmila Sen
- A scholar from Harvard University Press who has described the difficulties in translating classical Indian works.