RESISTING: PATRIARCHAL MISTRANSLATION OF SIKH SACRED TEXT

The Emily Anderson Centre for Translation Research and Practice and The Centre for the Study of Religion invite you to a talk entitled:

RESISTING: PATRIARCHAL MISTRANSLATION OF SIKH SACRED TEXT

How to translate the terse simplicity and beauty of the Sikh sacred text? A daunting task to begin with, its English translations have been weighed down by patriarchal interpretations and Christian theological terms that are hard to shake off. For me the translation task mandates a visceral reading of the text, a sensuous hearing in the original language, and a real tasting of the lyrics in the mouth. Thus, we create possibilities for unexpected equivalents that can rebound the intrinsic sound and sense. In my talk I will share the challenges and adventures of translating this sacrosanct literary body nourishing 26 million or more Sikh men and women worldwide.

About:

Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh holds the Crawford Family Chair and heads the department of Religious Studies at Colby College, USA. She has published extensively in the field of Sikh Studies. This year she published two books: Poems from the Sikh Sacred Tradition (Harvard University, 2023) and Janamsakhi: Early Sikh Art (Roli Publishers, 2023). Dr. Nikky-Guninder has served on the editorial board of several journals including the History of Religions, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Sikh Formations, and CrossCurrents.