GUWAHATI, Sept 29 - The life and exploits of the legendary Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib, penned by another legendary writer Gulzar in a book titled Mirza Ghalib would soon be translated under a novel initiative of Asam Sahitya Sabha, along with several other classics and contemporary best sellers.
In fact, the Oil India Limited, as part of its corporate social responsibility, has agreed to extend a grant of Rs 50 lakh to the Sabha which has taken up the mantle of translating nearly 100 books into Assamese and English.
The apex literary body has set up the Assam Translation Institute to promote translation activities, besides aiming to create a new pool of new-age translators.
Some of the books that the institute plans to translate into Assamese are The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple, My Story by Kamala Das and Woman of Rome by Alberto Moravia.
At a function organised here, OIL Chief Managing Director Utpal Bora handed over a cheque of Rs 20 lakh to the Sabha president, Dr Dhruba Jyoti Borah, as a first instalment of the financial assistance.
Speaking on the occasion, the Sabha president said, �The new initiative, under which nearly 100 books will be translated from English to Assamese and Assamese to English, would further enrich the Assamese literature.�
�Language and literature are the mirrors of the society and translation of quality literary works are taking place worldwide in different languages, which is going to benefit the society at large. Even country like China has opted for such endeavours.�
OIL CMD Utpal Bora, in his speech, said that the OIL has always tried to support such initiatives and would continue to do so. �Today we have handed over the first instalment of Rs 20 lakh and the remaining amount will be given in a phased manner,� Bora said, while appreciating the steps taken by the Sabha.
