Background

1.1 The last three decades have been eventful for Indian writing, with many gaining worldwide recognition. This however remains largely confined to writings in English. The best of regional writings produced in India by and large is not available to a global readership. The lack of good translations has been widely acknowledged as a major constraint in this regard. This is notwithstanding some brilliant and individual efforts of scholars like A K Ramanujam and Gayatri Chankravarti Spivak.

1.2 The NBT India has over the years been engaged in the promotion of Indian books abroad as part of its mandate and has been a regular participant in international book fairs and been the nodal agency for India Guest of Honour Presentations. While this has definitely contributed to generating a certain interest in Indian books, it has not produced the kind of visibility it was hoped for.

The Proposal

2.1 To overcome this shortcoming, NBT has set up a NBT Financial Assistance Programme (NBT-FAP), a dedicated Rights Exchange Programme that will pursue translation of Indian books into foreign languages. Under this initiative, the Trust will provide financial support to foreign publishers who are interested in translating Indian works. Financial assistance will be granted as part of an ongoing support programme to enhance and strengthen the International profile of Indian writings. This incentive would help in making it commercially viable for foreign publishers to take up Indian books. Indian publishers keen to avail of this grant should furnish a copy of the agreement they have signed with the translator and the foreign publisher.

2.2 The scheme will cover the broad categories of fiction, non-fiction, science and technology and books for children except dictionaries, magazines, journals, text-books, for schools/colleges and professional courses like medicine, engineering, science & technology, business administration.

2.3 Regional language publications not available in English translations will also be considered for selection into foreign languages. In such cases, if a direct translator for the target language is not found, the Trust would facilitate its translation into English. NBT would provide 50% of the translation fee at the prescribed rate of NBT for translation of writings from regional language to English.

Modalities and Procedures

3.1 A Rights Catalogue of Indian writings will be made available at regular intervals for the benefit of publishers applying for the grant. The catalogue will be brought out by the NBT.

3.2 Payment of the translation grant will be made to the publisher once NBT has received proof of payment to the translator (only through bank transfer) and five copies of the published work which would include acknowledgement of NBT’s funding.

3.3 The application of a publisher seeking the grant may include:

i)   Publisher’s contact details

ii)    A copy of the agreement with the translation rights holder and the contract with the translator.

iii)      A copy of the translator’s bio data.

iv)          Proposed date of publication, print run and the number of pages of the translation.

v)  Two copies of the original work along with a brief synopsis of the work and the author, and 2 copies of sample translation consisting of 10-15 pages of prose or 5 poems.

3.4 NBT-India, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India with the mandate to promote Indian books abroad will administer the grant programme.

Conclusion

The NBT-FAP can play a valuable role in building a greater international awareness and appreciation of contemporary India writings, particularly in translations. It will also help foster a better understanding of India among overseas audience.

Terms & Conditions

i) Grants will be awarded only for translation costs and not for production or acquisition costs.

ii) Only two books of a single publisher can be considered for financial assistance in a year under NBT-FAP. However, exemption can be made, if the budget is applicable.

iii) The name of the translator must be printed clearly either on the cover or on the inner title page.

iv) Proof of payment to the translator through cheque/RTGS must be furnished as per the details of the agreement/contract provided with the NBT-FAP Grant application. Proof of cash payment to the translator will not be accepted.

v) The financial assistance shall be released after receiving six copies of the published translation and proof to the effect that the translator has been paid according to the contract signed with the translator. A No Objection Certificate from translator needs to provided.

vi)  The publisher must provide the exact number of words in the translated work.

vii) Retrospective grants will not be awarded.

viii) The acknowledgement, published with the financial support from National Book Trust, India- Financial Assistance Programme along with the logo of NBT-India must be printed on the imprint page or on every print run and on the back cover as well with prior approval of NBT.

ix) In case of Indian Language writings, the original Indian publisher would make available English Translation of the book within a maximum period of one year from the date of signing interest agreement for the book.

x) The foreign language translation must be published within 18 months from the financial assistance offer date. In case of Indian Language writings where an English translation is not available, the financial assistance will be offered from the date on which the English translation of the work is made available.

xi) The NBT India reserves the right to not provide financial assistance if the conditions are not fulfilled.

xii) The translation fee is Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten only) per word or actual translation fee whichever is less.

xiii) Translation assistance for general books with 500 pages (demi octavo size) i.e. 1,50,000 (One lakh and fifty thousand) words and 665 pages for scientific and technical books i.e. 2,00,000 (Two lakh) words in each case would be considered and provided. This implies that the translation assistance not exceeding Rs 15 lakh (Rupees fifteen lakh only) for general books and Rs. 20 lakh (Rupees twenty lakh only) for scientific and technical books would be provided.