Support and Challenges to Indian Translators Association

By Ravi Kumar (Founder President Indian Translators Association)


Now after the Indian Translators Association has been created, we are facing another waves of resistance, criticism and speculations from all corners.

The resistance, criticism and speculations and support from all corners can be summed up as follows -

Support from students

We have received unconditional support from students. Probably they need a body to start their professional career by taking part in seminars, training programs, translators meet etc. that are activities beyond course curriculum.

Resistance from a few misguided Translators

They say ITA allows agencies to be its members. Agencies are exploiters. I do not agree to this argument – Domestic Market of India has its own limitations. One can not expect Indian agencies to pay to the tune of US price. Moreover, rate between translators and agencies are private matters which is mutually decided between 2 parties, but beyond rate and business Indian Translators Association has lots many more things to do. For the interest of larger mass , for the time being can we forget this price issue and try and understand that a coin has 2 sides – one side is for translators and another for agencies.

Many of the established translators have commented, they do not need an association. This is true, I agree – They need portals – many are so much portal oriented that they prefer to be slave of these portals by being associated with these portals as their localization volunteers for translating their web contents into local languages – and prefer to be promoted by them as featured translators or so called moderators of forums. I am sorry if I appear to be straightforward and rude. For quite a few this slavery is so much intense that announcement of formation of ITA at such portals becomes disturbing, as this announcements confronts with their identity on such and such portals. Leave aside cooperation – they attack promoters of ITA with personal remarks, professional remarks, abuse and so on…., publicly on International forums. Their greed has increased so much that with their foreign counterpart they join hands in criticizing Indian Translators for being cheap labour!, and at the same time they continue working on cheaper price than international rates. Again I am sorry if my thoughts appear to be straightforward and rude.

I have no objections to any rate – as it is decision between 2 parties – If you agree to work on a price – you go ahead, if you do not agree as you feel it is lower, it may be possible that another translator agrees on the same price that you refused saying it was a lower price, but for this new individual – it may be possible that it was a good price. But refusing a work by saying that it was a lower price does not allow you to curse your fellow translator for being cheap labour. You can do that as well, but only when you ensure that next day you will provide him/ her bread if he / she fails to have a project.

So ITA has more aims and objectives that are beyond rates.


Support from agencies

Many leading agencies have supported the formation of ITA, as they have more practical approach towards growth of Translation Industry, many of them are worst suffers on account of un - professionalism they have been confronting from so called established translators. They charge more and create more fuss, and deliver less. This statement may not be taken as judgment, rather a typical situation. Many times agencies play worst role, they take services and never pay ! I agree on economic front there are conflicting interests, but ITA has vision beyond price and payment issues.

Support from corporate bodies and Institutions

No corporate body or institution shall be part of ITA unless ITA has proved its value by bringing balance of interests and adding value to human skills.

All above challenges are domestic and internal – it is a human nature – attack, counter – attacks, deliberations and speculations will go on. But the most important and interesting challenges are from International fronts

They can be summed up as

Challenges from leading Portals

Many of the leading portals have developed strong foothold in India. It is true they have given good opportunities to many of us to get in touch with domestic as well as International agencies that have resulted in increase in our income. Please always note most of these portals are being operated from the foreign land and they follow their own rule. If you go through their forums and postings you will realize that majority of the translators fear Indian talents and cost- effectiveness they offer. This results in creating a fear that if Indian translators get united and a forceful forum is created, focus will shift to hiring organized Indian talents.

Competition from International agencies

This is true that majority of Indian translators still follow the translation approach of translation – many times translations are done handwritten, followed by typing, re-checking – and final delivery; this translation approach has its own importance, but it results in delivery delay and lack of quality control, making the whole affair vulnerable to stiff competition.

On the other hand, International agencies are sophisticated, they make use of trained translators who are well versed with computer applications and CAT tools (Computer Aided Translation Tools). Unless Indian translators and Indian Translation agencies equally upgrade themselves with this modern translation approach, they will continue to suffer in front of a selected privileged few.

Challenges from Individual stereotype translators

There are a few translators who feel they do not need an association at all, and talk of individual personal interest as a translator. They even say, “ We have been doing well without an association”, they do not need it. I agree that when we talk to self interest, an association may not provide them job or assignments, nor Indian Translators Association has been created to work as job portals or mega agency. It has certain social goals, and it will stick to it. Even if we are doing good business, we must also take steps to contribute towards professional growth of our fellow translators – specially those who are deprived. Imagine, what about those who never worked on computers, and they are still fit to be called “translators” !


Challenges from racist attitude

Recently I saw a posting at a leading portal where Indian Translators were declared being most unprofessional and unreliable ! Thanks to the racist attitude that many of the leading writers of such portal propagate it, and so called our established translators continue to provide unconditional and active support to these thought process. I am sure if they had been united, no one had dared to say anything against Indian Translators. I agree there could be a few who are dishonest to their profession, but majority are honest, and all of them deserve honor of being called professional translators of India.

Above views are solely my personal views. For feedback and comments always write to: info@itaindia.org

! Long Live Indian Translators Association!

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 : http://www.modlingua.com/