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{{Short description|Indian translator and former journalist}}{{Infobox person
| native_name = অরুনাভ সিনহা
| native_name_lang = Bangla
| birth_date = 1962
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| citizenship = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| alma_mater = [[Jadavpur University]]
| occupation = translator, professor
| website = https://arunavasinha.in/
}}
'''Arunava Sinha''' is an Indian translator, former journalist, and professor of creative writing at [[Ashoka University]], [[Haryana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Aditya Mani |date=2025-07-18 |title=Arunava Sinha's 'The Laboratory' {{!}} Found in translation |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/leisure/story/20250728-arunava-sinhas-the-laboratory-found-in-translation-2757890-2025-07-18 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramani |first=Priya |date=2022-10-14 |title=Meet Arunava Sinha, likely India's most prolific translator |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/meet-arunava-sinha-likely-indias-most-prolific-translator/article65974733.ece |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Rush |date=2023-03-26 |title=For Arunava Sinha, time is the best workspace |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/for-arunava-sinha-time-is-the-best-workspace-111679728597518.html |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> He is also the co-director of the Ashoka Centre for Translation. His work mainly involves translating [[Bengali language|Bengali]] fiction and nonfiction, both classical and contemporary, into English, as well as translating from English into Bengali.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Arunava Sinha, One of the Most Ingenious Indian Translators Who Spreads Magic One Book at a Time |url=https://www.india.com/lifestyle/meet-arunava-sinha-one-of-the-most-ingenious-indian-translators-who-spreads-magic-one-book-at-a-time-6840123/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www.india.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arunava Sinha lets young translators experience Manto's stories in a new anthology |url=https://t2online.in/goodlife/books/arunava-sinha-lets-young-translators-experience-manto-s-stories-in-a-new-anthology/2000389 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=t2online.in |language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, over ninety of his translations have been published.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Soumitra |date=2024-09-20 |title=Flavour lost {{!}} Review of 'The Penguin Book of Bengali Short Stories', edited by Arunava Sinha |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/book-review-the-penguin-book-of-bengali-short-stories-editor-arunava-sinha-flavour-lost-in-english-translation/article68584800.ece |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=In conversation with Arunava Sinha - |url=https://www.himalayanwritingretreat.com/in-conversation-with-arunava-sinha/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> He has received translation awards and has been shortlisted for others, both in [[India]] and abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-04-20 |title=Bengali novel shortlisted for Independent Foreign Fiction prize |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/Bengali-novel-shortlisted-for-Independent-Foreign-Fiction-prize/article16371394.ece |access-date=2025-09-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arunava Sinha wins Vani Foundation distinguished translator award |url=https://www.printweek.in/news/arunava-sinha-wins-vani-foundation-distinguished-translator-award-55848 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=PrintWeek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-09 |title=Indian translator Arunava Sinha is among PEN Translates 2017 grant winners |url=https://scroll.in/latest/857247/indian-translator-arunava-sinha-among-pen-translates-2017-grant-winners |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> He has conducted translation workshops at institutions including the [[British Centre for Literary Translation]] (UEA), [[University of Chicago|the University of Chicago]], the Dhaka Translation Centre, and [[Jadavpur University]], and has worked with translators internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SummerSALT: A Unique Training for Emerging Translators {{!}} South Asian Literature in Translation |url=https://salt.humanities.uchicago.edu/2024/05/22/summersalt-a-unique-training-for-emerging-translators/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=salt.humanities.uchicago.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The unique experience of summer school at BCLT |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/magazine/arts-and-letters/125620/the-unique-experience-of-summer-school-at-bclt |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=www.southasiaspeaks.org — mentors |url=https://southasiaspeaks.org/p24569152/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=www.southasiaspeaks.org}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Sinha was born in [[Kolkata]], [[India]], and spent his early childhood in [[Mahim]], [[Mumbai]]. In an interview with the writer [[Nilanjana Roy|Nilanjana S Roy]], he recalled his first memories of language as being in [[Marathi language|Marathi]], spoken by older children in the household. However, his earliest meaningful exposure to language came through songs played by his mother, particularly [[Rabindra Sangeet|Rabindrasangeet]] sung by [[Debabrata Biswas]], which left a lasting impression on him.<ref name="nilanjanaroy.com">{{Cite web |date=2014-09-09 |title=The Creative Life: Arunava Sinha, Translator |url=https://nilanjanaroy.com/2014/09/09/the-creative-life-arunava-sinha-translator/ |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=nilanjana s roy |language=en}}</ref>

From the age of four, Sinha began reading in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], his mother tongue. At eight, he transitioned to reading exclusively in [[English language|English]], although Bengali remained the language of communication with family and neighbourhood friends. He describes himself as being [[bilingual]] from childhood, though he did not enjoy studying Bengali as a subject in school.<ref name="nilanjanaroy.com"/>

Sinha pursued his undergraduate studies in [[electrical engineering]] but soon realised it was not his calling. He switched to studying [[English literature]] at [[Jadavpur University]], where he developed a deeper appreciation for language and literature.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Interview: Arunava Sinha, Translator, winner of the 6th Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award 2022 – “I'm very hopeful for the future of translations” |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/interview-arunava-sinha-translator-winner-of-the-6th-vani-foundation-distinguished-translator-award-2022-i-m-very-hopeful-for-the-future-of-translations-101653672349327.html |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

His journey into translation began during his college years, when he gave a talk on [[translation]]. This early exposure sparked his interest in the field, leading him to translate short stories for a city magazine in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arunava Sinha |url=https://www.platform-mag.com/literature/arunava-sinha.html |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=www.platform-mag.com}}</ref>

In 1992, Sinha undertook his first book-length translation, translating [[Sankar (writer)|Sankar]]'s novel ''[[Chowringhee (novel)|Chowringhee]]'' from Bengali to English. This project came about when Sankar requested that he translate the novel for a [[French language|French]] publisher. Years later, in 2007, the translation was published by [[Penguin India]], marking the beginning of Sinha's professional career as a translator.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cultural bridges built of words |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/books/cultural-bridges-built-of-words-3724616 |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Sukanta Chaudhuri]]
* [[Sankar (writer)|Sankar]]
* [[Rabisankar Bal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinha, Arunava}}
[[Category:Indian translators]]
[[Category:Journalists from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1962 births]]

Arunava Sinha - Revision history

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