Arunava Sinha (translator)

Career

'''Arunava Sinha''' is an Indian translator, editor, and educator best known for translating Bengali literature into English. Over the course of his career, he has translated more than forty works by prominent Bengali authors, helping introduce contemporary and classic Bengali writing to international audiences.

Sinha's translations span a wide range of literary genres, including novels, short stories, poetry, and literary fiction. His work has played a significant role in increasing the visibility of Bengali literature among English-language readers. He has translated works by notable authors such as Sankar, Buddhadeva Bose, Anita Agnihotri, Bhaskar Chakravarti, Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay, and several other acclaimed Bengali writers.

One of his most recognized translations is ''Chowringhee'' by Sankar, a landmark Bengali novel set in Kolkata's hospitality industry. The English translation received widespread critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in the United Kingdom in 2009. The work is often credited with helping expand international awareness of modern Bengali fiction.

In addition to literary translation, Sinha has been involved in creative writing education and has taught creative writing courses at Ashoka University. Through his teaching and literary advocacy, he has encouraged greater engagement with translated Indian literature among younger readers and writers.

Sinha has frequently spoken about the challenges of literary translation, particularly the difficulty of conveying cultural nuances, linguistic subtleties, and historical context across languages. He has emphasized that effective translation should recreate the emotional and artistic impact of the original text rather than merely reproduce its words.

Awards and recognition

Sinha has received several awards and honors for his contributions to literary translation. He won the Crossword Translation Award for his translation of ''Chowringhee'' in 2007 and later received the award again for his translation of Anita Agnihotri's ''Seventeen'' in 2011. He was also awarded the Muse India Translation Prize for his translation of Buddhadeva Bose's ''When the Time Is Right''.

In 2017, Sinha's translation of ''The Yogini'' by Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay was selected for a PEN Translation Grant, recognizing the importance of the work and supporting its publication for a wider international readership.

Selected translations

• ''Chowringhee'' — Sankar
• ''Seventeen'' — Anita Agnihotri
• ''When the Time Is Right'' — Buddhadeva Bose
• ''The Yogini'' — Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
• ''Things That Happen and Other Poems'' — Bhaskar Chakravarti

Quotations

Sinha has described literary translation as an attempt to bridge cultures and histories through language. Discussing the challenges of the profession, he noted that every word carries cultural associations that can be difficult to reproduce in another language. He has argued that the ultimate goal of translation is to create an experience for readers that mirrors the impact of the original work.

See Also

20 More Rules for Translation: Arunava Sinha & Alison Anderson

Books by Arunava Sinha

Arunava Sinha on translating Buddhadeva Bose’s classic Tithodore and the future of translations.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives

Conflict And Coexistence

Madras Mosaic

The Fifth Man by Bani Basu, translated by Arunava Sinha

References

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