Ambassador Albert sees huge potential in realm of Russian-Urdu translation
Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mr Albert Khorev on Tuesday viewed huge potential in the realm of translation of literature between Russia and Pakistan saying writers of the two countries can undertake translation of not only classics but also contemporary fiction and poetry.
Mr Khorev was addressing as Chief Guest book-launch of the Urdu translation of selected Russian short stories held at the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL).
Veteran poet and former Chairman of the PAL, Mr Iftikhar Arif presided over the launching ceremony while Chairperson of the PAL Prof Dr Najiba Arif was the host of the event.
Eminent writer of Urdu, Dr Mujahid Mirza who has spent years writing and teaching in the former Soviet Union has translated 11 Russian short stories by the contemporary writers into Urdu.
The book launching ceremony was also addressed by the HoD, Department of Russian Language NUML, Dr Asma Navid, senior journalist and an expert on Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations, Almas Haider Naqvi, publisher and writer Zahid Kazmi and renowned Russian scholar of Urdu Dr. Ludmila Vasilyeva (virtual address).
Mr Albert Khorev commended Dr Najiba Arif for undertaking translation of his country’s well-known writers’ stories into Urdu and hoped this would continue between the two countries. The Russian Ambassador called for joint projects of translating Urdu-Russian literatures and exchange of writers. He however regretted that in today’s polarized world, literature and art have become mere political tools. For instance, he said, in Ukraine many streets earlier named after the Russian writers and poets are being re-named and the national icons bearing the names or images of the Russian writers and poets are being destroyed.
Iftikhar Arif in his presidential address termed the launching of the book a significant milestone in fostering literary exchange and cultural ties between Pakistan and Russia.
Chairperson of PAL, Dr. Najiba Arif highlighted the importance of literary diplomacy and cultural dialogue. She expressed PAL’s commitment to promoting global literature in Pakistani languages, stating that translations serve as bridges that connect readers across borders. She also proposed that an anthology of Pakistani short stories be translated into Russian language and be published by the Academy’s counterpart in Russia.
Dr Asma Navid praised the PAL and the translator of the book Dr Mujahid Mirza for not only translating Russian works into Urdu but also conveying the thought and background. The book, she said is a fresh addition and opened a new window of Pak-Russian literary collaboration. The influence of literature is not confined by geography; it often crosses borders, cultures, and ideologies to spark entirely new literary movements, said she.
