Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Translation Brings Rassundari Devi’s Autobiography to Wider Readers
Rassundari Devi wrote about her life in a book called Amar Jiban.
She learned to read when she was an adult, even though women around her were discouraged from learning.
A new English edition of her book was presented at a conference about languages and translation.
Ananda Lal revised and added notes to the edition, and Enakshi Chatterjee translated it from Bengali.
The notes help readers understand cultural references in the book.
The conference discussed how language rights are connected to human rights.
The article says translation helps stories reach people who might otherwise never read them.
There is disagreement about whether the book first appeared in 1868 or 1876.
A revised, annotated English translation of Rassundari Devi’s Amar Jiban was introduced at an International Translation Day conference.
The event marked the autobiography’s 150th anniversary and discussed linguistic diversity and language rights.
Ananda Lal revised and annotated the edition, translated from Bengali by Enakshi Chatterjee.
Devi, born in 1810, taught herself to read and write despite restrictions on women’s education and severe domestic challenges.
The article notes a publication-date discrepancy: Devi gave 1868, while records indicate 1876, according to Sutanuka Ghosh.
- Who
- Rassundari Devi; the revised edition was prepared by Ananda Lal and translated by Enakshi Chatterjee.
- What
- A revised, annotated English edition of Amar Jiban was introduced at a conference discussing translation, linguistic diversity, and language rights.
- When
- The conference was held on September 30; the article says Amar Jiban marks its 150th anniversary this year.
- Where
- At the International Translation Day conference; the article does not specify its location.
- Why
- The edition aims to make Devi’s historically important account accessible to readers who cannot read Bengali.
- Book
- Amar Jiban (My Life), Rassundari Devi’s autobiography
- Translator
- Enakshi Chatterjee translated the revised edition from Bengali.
- Editor and annotator
- Ananda Lal revised and annotated the edition.
- Conference
- International Translation Day conference titled “Linguistic Diversity and Language Rights”
- Conference date
- September 30
- Publication date discrepancy
- Devi stated that the book was first printed in 1868; records indicate 1876, according to Sutanaka Ghosh.
- Devi’s birth year
- 1810