GUWAHATI, Dec 14 � The barrier of language has been keeping the NE peoples strangers to one another. This barrier has hindered mutual communication and understanding among the peoples of this region.
This observation was made by noted scholar Dr Hiren Gohain while inaugurating a three-day workshop on inter-language translation of children�s books here today. The workshop has been organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the city-based voluntary organisation Anwesha as part of their joint venture of inter-language translation of children's books in Assamese, Bodo, Garo, Khasi, Manipuri and Mizo.
Dr Gohain emphasised on removing this barrier saying, �Since geography and history have brought us together, we had better overcome this barrier.�
He maintained that for the purpose of removing this barrier, translations among the languages of the region are a vital necessity, apart from holding exhibitions on cultural heritage of each state elsewhere in the region.
Though English can be a useful medium for translation for want of first-hand knowledge of the original language, it is decidedly much better to translate from the original language. But before we can reach that stage, there should be close rapport between the original author and the translator, he said.
Moreover, he said, there are certain hurdles like inadequate or incorrect ideas about the culture of other neighbouring societies which need to be overcome, he said.
The function, presided over by IGNCA NE Regional Centre Head Prof AC Bhagaboti, was also addressed by coordinator of the project Paresh Malakar and Anwesha's Dudulmoni Sarma.
The IGNCA-Anwesha project has aimed at publishing 180 books, with each of the above languages having a share of 30 books. The final copies of the books are expected to be handed over to the IGNCA by March next.
The Assamese books included in the project are-- Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua�s Burhi Aair Sadhu, Trailokewari Devi Baruani�s Chaulpuriar Sadhu, Anuradha Sarma Pujari�s Tupi Mamar Sathar, Priya Das Talukdar�s Kishingar Paymal, Navakanta Barua�s Bagh Aru Kawoi Tilika and the biographies of Sankaradeva, Lakshminath Bezbarua, Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Bishnuprasad Rava, Krishnakanta Handique, Chandraprava Saikiani, Miles Bronson and Anundoram Dhekial Phukan, said Dudulmoni Sarma.
