THE ROLE OF TRANSLATION IN REPRESENTING INDIAN CULTURE: A STUDY OF GIRISH KARNAD'S PLAYS

Language is a fundamental pillar of human civilization, enabling the transmission of knowledge, culture, and social norms across generations (Baker, 2018). The global proliferation of an estimated 7,000 distinct languages (Eberhard, Simons, & Fennig, 2023) has made translation an essential bridge for intercultural dialogue. The word ‘translation’ consist of two Latin words. They are ‘trans’ means ‘across’ and ‘-lation’ means ‘to take’. Thus, translation is "to carry across" which involves the complex transfer of both semantic meaning and cultural context (Bassnett, 2014). India, as a nation, is defined by its multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious traditions, making translation a practice of profound historical significance within its context.

This research paper examines the role of literary translation in mediating Indian culture for a global audience through an analysis of Girish Karnad's plays: Hayavadana, Nagamandala and The Fire and the Rain. Girish Karnad originally wrote his plays in Kannada, in which he delves deeply into Indian mythology, folklore, tradition and history. He later translated many of these works into English himself. This study investigates how culturally specific Indian elements such as myths, rituals and social structures are presented through the translation of his Kannada plays into English for an international readership. He does not merely transpose text but actively reconstructs Indian heritage, making it accessible while preserving its intrinsic complexity. Ultimately, this research highlights how translation serves as a vital tool for decolonizing cultural narratives and asserting a place for Indian thought on the world stage.

Therefore, this paper will study selected plays of Girish Karnad to understand how literature, through translation from a regional language to English, reflects Indian culture, tradition, myths, legends, heritage, and social values.