Amrit Mehta - Forschungsplattform Elfriede Jelinek

Amrit Mehta - Forschungsplattform Elfriede Jelinek

AMRIT MEHTA
C.V.
Name:
Amrit Lal Mehta
Father's Name:
Mr. Har Narain Mehta
Place of Birth:
Multan
Date of Birth:
9.10.1946
Educational Qualifications:
Address:
Telephone & Fax:
M.A. (German), Ph.D (German Literature)
A one-year Course in Journalistic German from Deutsche Welle,
Cologne
J-3/C Lajpat Nagar III, New Delhi– 110024, India.
-91-11-29841493
e-mail:
[email protected]
Positions held:
1975-1981: Hindi Translator at the Ministry of Railways, New Delhi.
1981-1996: Lecturer/ Reader and Head of Department of German,
Panjab University, Chandigarh.
1984-1987: Editor/Announcer/Translator at the Deutsche Welle, the
Voice of Germany, Cologne.
1996-2006 : Head, Center for Translation & Interpretation, Central
Institute of English & Foreign Languages, Hyderabad.
Languages known:
German, Hindi, English, Punjabi, Italian and Seraiki
Membership of
Learned bodies
1. Bundesverband Deutscher Autoren, Berlin
2. Berliner Autorenvereinigung
3.Internationale Vereinigung germanischer Sprach- und
Literaturwissenschaft, Paris
4. Institut zur Foerderung und Forschung internationalen und
oesterreichischen Literaturprozesse, Vienna.
5. Kulturverein "Bruecke", St.Poelten (Executive Member)
6. Gesellschaft interkultureller Germanistik, Salzburg
6. Internationale Theodor Fontane Gesellschaft, Potsdam
International assignments: 1. 1982: International Conference of Germanists at Weimar
2. 1992: Fellow at the Carl von Ossieztky University, Oldenburg at
the invitation of German Academic Exchange Service
3. 1992: Recitation of Poetry at City Library, Hildesheim at the
invitation of German Authors' Guild
4. 1992: Recitation of Poetry at Berlin at the invitation of Berlin
Authors' Association.
5. 1995: International Congress of International Association of
German Philologues at Vancouver. Presented a paper entitled
'Problems of translating German literary texts into Hindi'.
6. 1995: Participated in 'Solothurner Tage', a literary meet of Swiss
writers, in Solothurn, Switzerland, at the invitation of Pro
Helvetia.
7. 1995: Recited Poetry at Berlin at the invitation of Berlin Authors'
Association.
8. 1995: Recited Poetry at Zeuthen at the invitation of the
International Theodor Fontane Society, Potsdam
9. 1998: International Congress of European Society of Translation
Studies at Granada (Spain). Presented a paper entitled
'Translating Humor from an alien culture'
10. 1998: Was the main speaker at a podium discussion at the House,
Literature House, Vienna to speak on an anthology of modern
Austrian literature, entitled “Videsh” translated by myself.
11. 1998: Delivered a lecture on 'Austrian Literature in India' in
Karmeliterhof, St.Poelten, Austria
12. 1998: Recitation of Poetry at Berlin at the invitation of Berlin
Authors' Association.
13.2000:Attended the International Congress of Germanists at Vienna
14.2000:Held consultations with experts at the University of Cologne
in Germany regarding translation of Guenter Grass’ “Mein
Jahrhundert” into Hindi.
15.2000:Visited Basel, Switzerland for inviting Swiss-German
authors to India for persuading them to recite their work
in India at the best of the Swiss Embassy in india.
16.2002:Attended the International Congress of Gesellschaft
interkulturelle Germanistik at the University of Salzburg,
and presented a paper entitled: Problem beim Übersetzen
‘Geschichts-Humor’ am Beispiel Guenter Grass’ “Mein
Jahrhundert“.
17.2002:Recited the German translation of my Hindi short-story
‘Dilli’ (In German entitled:”Ashramkinder”) at Slowakisches
Kulturzentrum, Vienna, at the invitation of “Die Bruecke
International.”
18.2004: Did a project on ‘Sensuality and Obscenity in modern
Austrian Literature’ in Vienna at the invitation of the
Österreichische Gesellschaft fuer Literatur.
19.2004:Delivered a lecture on ‘Problems of translating German
literary texts into Hindi’ at the University of Hamburg.
20.2004:Was invited to Bratislava by the Slovak Information Center
for a meeting with leading Slovak authors for the publication
of a Special Issue on Slovak Literature of my Quarterly
literary magazine “Saar Sansaar”
21.2005:Invited to Solothurn Literary Days (Solothurner Literaturtage) by the Swiss Arts Council, Pro-Helvetia, where
extensive discussions and interviews were conducted with
leading Swiss authors and also with Pro Helvetia about the
translation of Swiss literature into Hindi
22.2005:Invited to Vienna by Federal Chancellors Office, Vienna to
hold discussions with authors and collect literature for an
anthology of modern Austrian literature by women
writers.
23.2006: Read a paper entitled “Reading Contemporary Austrian
Writers in India: Debates and controversies” at a
Symposium organized by the Munk Center of
International Studies, University of Toronto, Canada. The
Paper was published in 2008
24.2006: Invited for a 3-week stay in the Writers’ Residency
at Chateau de Lavigny, Switzerland, for writing a novel in
Hindi.
25.2006 : Invited by Niederösterreich Kultur, St. Pölten,
collecting literature for and meeting authors for a
proposed antghology of Lower Austrian literature.
26.2006: Read a paper entitled “Identitätsdivergenz eines
indischen Autors in Deutschland” at a Symposium organized
by “Gesellschaft interkultulle Germanistik”, Salzburg at the
University of Vienna
27.2006: Read a paper entitled “Jura Soyfers ‘Die Broadway
Melodie ins Hindi übersetzen: Übersetzungsstrategien und
die Relevanz des Werks im heutigen Indien“ in a Symposium
organized by the Jura Soyfer Gesellschaft, Vienna. The
paper was published in 2009
28.2006: Read a paper entitled: “Elfriede Jelineks ‘Lust’ auf
Hindi:Wie würden die Kulturmoralisten reagieren?”
organized by the Elfriede Jelinek Forschungszentrum,
Vienna. The paper was published in 1908
29.2007: Read a paper „Literarisches Übersetzen ist auch ein Beruf:
Ein Überblick über den deprimierenden Stand deutschLiteratur in Indien: Fragestellungen und Lösungsvoschläge“ at a Conference of Gesellschaft interkulturelle
Germanistik at Tampere (Finland). The paper was
published in 2009
30.2008 Read a paper entitled “Jura Soyfer’s timeless criticism of
Society”: A probable upshot of a stage adaptation of the
‘Broadway Melodie 1492” at a Symposium organized
by Jura Soyfer Gesellschaft at Vienna. The paper was
published in 2009.
31.2008:
Invited by the Cultural Department of Oberösterreich for
holding consultations for translation and publication of
an anthology of Upper Austrian Literature.
32.2009: Stay at Übersetzerhaus, Looren for translating a German
Book
33.2009: Guest at the Solothurner Literaturtage at Switzerland.
34.2009: Attended the Summerakademie 2009 at Literarisches
Colloquium, Berlin.
35.2009: Stay at Vienna with the support of the Ministry of
Education, Arts and Culture in connection with the
preparation of a Hindi anthology of literature from
Salzburg.
36.2009: Presented a paper entitled “Die Darstellung der a
Metropolen Sao Paolo, Paris und Wien in Robert
Menasses Romanen ‚Der Schubumkehr‘ und ‚Don
Juan de la Mancha‘ in Istanbul in a symposium
organized by Gesellschaft Interkulterelle Germanistik
37.2010: Attended a Übersetzertreffen at the Literarisches
Colloquium, Berlin
38.2010
Stay at Übersetzerhaus, Looren (Switzerland) for
translating Swiss literature.
39.2010:
Stay at Literarisches Colloquium, Berlin as Translator in
Residence.
40.2010: Presented a paper entitled “Die suizidale Literatur-
Publications:
Organization of Seminars:
Other literary activities:
politik deutschsprachiger Länder in Indien”
at Göttingen.The Symposium was organized by the
Gesellschaft für Interkulturelle Germanistik at the
University of Göttingen.
41. Presented a paper entitled „Räumliche Distanzen und
Transferenz des Humors“ at Bangkok at a Symposium
organized by the Gesellschaft für Interkulterelle
Germanistik at the Chulalong University, Bangkok
Over 350, including 68 books ( mostly translations,
the languages used are German, Hindi,English & Punjabi.
As Director organized 3 National Seminars and 1 International
Seminar-cum Workshop at the Central Institute of English &
& Foreign Languages, Hyderabad. The seminars-cumworkshops were held in 1997 (Producing Literary Translations), 1998
(Translating Alien Cultures) and 1999 (Translating Life). 5 books were
published as a result of the work done, including 4 translated books and
a book on translation theory.
Chief Editorship of "Saar Sansaar", a Quarterly Literary Magazine in
Hindi, the one of it's kind, publishing foreign language literatures
translated directly from source foreign languages into Hindi. In it's
16th year now it has published 9 Special Issues on Swiss-German,
Austrian, Czeck, Slovak, Norwegian, Kuwaiti and Hungarian
literatures. In these years the magazine has produced 59 new
translators providing a boost to direct translations in Hindi from the
source languages without the filter of English.
Published 2 collections of poetry entitled “Draußen in der Kälte” and
“Sein and Werden” in original German. Poetry and prose in Hindi,
including short stories, appeared in various literary journals. Work also
translated into and published in Slovak language in Bratislava.
Wrote a Weekly Column entitled "Bina Laag Lapet" ("Without mincing
words") appearing every Sunday in "Swatantra Varta", Hyderabad
from April to November, 1999.
Joint recitations with Austrian author Zdenka Becker’s in German and
Hindi at (i) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi on 21st November,
2000, (ii) Austrian Embassy, New Delhi on 23rd November, 2000 (iii)
University of Delhi on 24th November, 2000, (iv) Central University,
Hyderabad on 1st December, 2000, and (v) Hindi Lekhak Sangh,
Hyderabad on 2nd December, 2000.
Joint recitations with Swiss Author Franz Hohlers work in German and
Hindi at Karnal, Ambala, Kurukshetra University, Alliance Francaise,
Chandigarh, Simla, Mumbai University and Satyavati College, Delhi in
the year 2005.
Joint recitations with Austrian author Andreas Webers work in German
and Hindi at Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Alliance Francais, Chandigarh
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Hindi Authors’ Guild, Hyderabad
and Central University, Hyderabad in the year 2006.
Joint recitations with Austrian author Robert Menasse’s work in German
and Hindi at Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra University, Alliance Francais,
Chandigarh and Satyavati College, Delhi in the year 2006
Joint recitation with Swiss author Iso Camartins work in German and
Hindi at Hyderabad in the year 2007
Joint recitation with Austrian author Peter Roseis work in German and
Hindi at Delhi International Book Fair, Karnal, Kurukshetra University
and MD University, Rohtak.
Wrote a Weekly Column entitled “Europe ke Hridyasthal
Men” appearing in “Dakshin Samachar”, Hyderabad f rom
27.12.2000 to 5.9.2001.
wrote a monthly column from 2001 to 2007 in the monthly “Golconda
Darpan” entitled “Bik gaye hamare Buddhijeevi”
Editor of a journal on translation theory, named “Translation Studies”
Some of my original poems in German have been published in the
Austrian literary magazine “@cetra”.
Many of my German poems and a short-story have been translated into
Slovak language by the eminent Slovak writers Maria Batorova, and
Etela Farkasova, and published in the prestigious literary magazine
“Literarny Tyzdennik”.
Prominent newspapers and journals like Berliner Morgenpost,
Hildesheimer Tageszeitung, Solothurner Zeitung, St. Poeltner
Zeitung, die Berner Zeitung, Die Presse, Der Standard, Knizna apart
from innumerable Indian Newspapers have published reports about me
or/and appreciated my literary Work/my contribution in the area of
literary translations.
Apart from giving a boost to translation of foreign language literatures directly from the source language
without the filter of English, provided a new intermediate language to Indians, i.e. Hindi, which has cultural
affinity with other Indian languages, and thus prevents the loss of meaning in the translated texts rendered
through the filter language. Through the Hindi translations of Amrit Mehta some other Indian translators
have translated foreign language literature into Urdu, Punjabi and Telugu. Many prestigious Hindi literary
magazines in India have reproduced my translations taken from my magazine “Saar Sansaar”, and have,
thus, acted as multiplicators in bringing European literature to Indian readers. The translations of Amrit
Mehta’s translations have been published in another country, i.e. Pakistan, which is a rare phenomenon in
this part of the world.