Making of Indian Translators Association - A dream come true

By Ravi Kumar (Founder President – Indian Translators Association)

When I was a language student in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (1993 onwards) I started putting efforts to unite language professionals to create a forceful forum of Indian Translators. The practical story started in January, 2003 when I started a language professionals club visit below mentioned link for more details.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/modlingua/message/140

During that phase of time as a freelancer and student (only direct clients) I approached many well known translators (Known for quality work, high price and quick delivery), they were very indifferent to this idea of creating a platform - they justified - since independence India has produced thousands of high profile translators, but no association has been created - dare not to do that or else - you shall be blamed for this noble cause? Many be people will say - You are doing for your own personal benefit? May be people will say you are undemocratic? May be people will say you are just a student? How come a student talk of heading Indian Translators Association when thousands of them are fit to be your teacher?

I kept on wondering ! on above thoughts, suggestions, warning etc. At one point of time I was forced to think , India may not have Indian Translators Association at all. At that phase of time, I was forced to analyze the main reasons behind failure of Indian Translators to create one association, they can be summed up as;

1. Translation activities have been treated as very personal and private affair of individual language professionals. Many times even best friends do not share information between themselves about their translation projects!

2. Translators suffer from identity crisis - Let us say, an Indian language professional refers to himself as a translator in a gathering of friends or acquaintances who otherwise have no other association with the translation industry. The response the professional's statement would commonly receive would simply be, "Okay, this is what you do. But what is your profession?" This underlines a very simple fact that the translation industry generally has very little professional recognition in the perception of the masses. This does affect the credibility and the position of a professional translation in the eyes of his peers in society. This is what we translators refer to as an Identity Crisis. (For more details one may like to visit at the site of Microsoft-India where my interview with Bhashaindia - Indian language promotion site of Microsoft- appears http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/SuccessStories/RaviKumar.aspx

3. Ego clashes - identity crisis makes an individual more sensitive to issues that have been making him suffer, any new initiative is taken with suspicion - once the suspicion comes - questions are asked, many times resulting in absurd questions offending egos.

4. If at all logic prevails - the established translators start fearing loosing their business which they have established since years making personal efforts - but very privately. Under no circumstances they want to come to a platform and discuss relations or issues related to their clients. But this thought is not expressed directly (part of identity crisis), rather it is expressed in terms of pin-pointing personal or professional or organizational weaknesses of the individual who has taken initiative. ! Come on, no one is perfect!, and you can expect perfection from others only when you prove that you are part of his initiatives ! Or else ego clashes again - part of another identity crisis. But established translators or critics fail to come forward and initiatives are weakened.

In due course of time, when I gained more experience fit to be called as established translator - I again approached many established translators to create a platform. This time students were more enthusiastic and supportive, but established translators starting seeing me not as a student rather a competitor! So this time it was neither ego, nor identity crisis rather competition - a direct clash of business interest. However, a few of them gave encouragement that could not motivate me much. It is also interesting to note that agencies wanted me to help and cooperated a lot. This was a good sign. Time passed by, I gained more experience to become Visiting Professor and language and culture trainer (I am happy that till date I have trained more than 400 business executives and MBA students of top 10 MBA institutes of India - I am sorry if I appear to be boasting of myself). It was the same time when I re-launched my own agency (www.modlingua.com) Allied Modlingua for bigger projects, and attract clients from abroad. I am happy that we have also diversified into CAT tools business by being exclusive distributor of CAT tool in India called Heartsome (more details available at http://www.heartsome.net/ ) a well known CAT tool maker from Singapore.

My dream of ITA formation was still alive. But I always wanted to avoid criticism and leg pulling. Probably, many of like minded individuals, agencies and corporate were watching my activities. On one historical day like minded group of individuals coming from various corners of India decided to gather at one place to create a forum called Translators Initiative (http://www.translatorsinitiative.org/)and gave me responsibility of being its Convenor. For this I extend special thanks to Patron of ITA Dr. S.K Ray and Vice- President of ITA Mr. C.M Rawal and all other founder members. The main aim of this forum was to stimulate language professionals, translators and agencies to join hands to create Indian Translators Association. With efforts of this forum a mega Indian Translators Meet was organized in September,2005.

Translators Initiative had set three specific objectives. One was to create awareness about Translators Initiative and its aims and objectives. Second was to stimulate language professionals to come together to be a part of the planning behind the proposed Indian Translators Association. The third objective was to identify leaders and volunteers who would join hands in the formation of the Association for future activities.

A complete report on Indian Translation Meet 2005 finds its proud place in leading portals as well as at the site of Microsoft India http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeetReport.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeet.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/TranslatorsMeetIssues.aspx http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/events/ForgingRelationships.aspx

After the Indian Translators Meet 2005 was over, a draft proposal for formation of Indian Translators Association was put in circulation to receive comments and suggestions from various corners of India so as to incorporate the best feasible options in the constitution and bylaws of the ITA. After having given ample time, quite a few sessions were called for deliberations and discussions in which a large number of translators and scholars participated and reached at fruitful conclusions. Finally, 17 founder members volunteered with their resources and time to be part of Indian Translators Association, which received formal approval from competent government authorities of India as well as registration certificate from registrar of societies, dated December 19, 2006.

A discussion group has also been started at http://groups.google.com/group/itaindia to stimulate discussions and keep constant touch with members of Indian Translation Industry.

For Membership and other details always write to: info@itaindia.org or visit http://www.itaindia.org/

Ravi Kumar

Founder President

Indian Translators Association

K-5/B, Lower Ground Floor, Kalkaji,

New Delhi, India

Tel : 0091-11-26291676 Fax: 0091-11-41675530

E-mail: ravi@modlingua.com Web: www.modlingua.com