Kolkata Poets Translated Under Open Sky at Iconic Maidan

When was the last time you saw academics ditch the conference room for a park picnic? This month, Kolkata is proving that great ideas don't need PowerPoint presentations or microphones.

On January 25, nearly 40 translators will spread out across the city's iconic Maidan park to translate famous Bengali poems into English together. The works of literary giants like Rabindranath Tagore, Shankha Ghosh, and Sunil Gangopadhyay will be reimagined under open skies as winter gives way to spring.

The event, called "The City in Translation at the Maidan," was organized by Calcutta Comparatists 1919, a group dedicated to comparative literature. They partnered with Goethe-Institut Kolkata and Anubad Patrika, a respected literary magazine, to create something different from typical academic workshops.

"We seek to move away from traditional indoor settings and instead adopt a more informal, open-air discussion format," said Ayan Ghosh, a doctoral researcher with the organizing group. The goal is connecting experienced translators with beginners in a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere.

Why This Inspires

This workshop represents a bigger shift in how we think about scholarly work. By taking translation outside, organizers are saying that great literature belongs to everyone, not just people in university buildings.

"By taking translation out of closed academic spaces and into the open expanse of the Maidan, this initiative reflects Kolkata's own plural, porous cultural ecology," said Astrid Wege, Director of Goethe-Institut Kolkata. The location itself becomes part of the lesson.

Bitasta Ghoshal, editor of Anubad Patrika, called it "a breath of fresh air in translation practice." Her magazine has promoted translation of Indian literature for 50 years, but this marks a new approach to sharing that passion with wider audiences.

The workshop also aims to build community among translators who often work in isolation. "The translators' community needs to come together to know what our shared vision should be for the field," said Mrinmoy Pramanick, president of Calcutta Comparatists 1919 and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Participants will explore Kolkata through the lens of translation, discovering how poems about their city can speak across languages and generations while keeping their soul intact.

The event proves that meaningful academic work can be both fun and accessible, bridging the gap between scholarship and everyday life.