Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has discontinued the MA in Hindi Translation course within two years of its launch ostensibly on the ground of lack of funds, although the Narendra Modi government’s National Education Policy (NEP) recommends setting up high-quality departments for translation studies.

According to the e-prospectus of JNU, zero seats are mentioned against the course for admission in the current year. The course was started by the Centre of Indian Languages at JNU in 2022-23 with 10 seats. The course had admitted two batches and recruited two regular faculty members with expertise in translation studies. The two teachers had been managing the course in addition to supervising PhD students.

The Academic Council (AC) of JNU had in 2021 approved a proposal from the Centre of Indian Languages for starting an MA course in Hindi translation. The centre had recommended the recruitment of one professor, an associate professor and three assistant professors.

The university, however, did not provide the required faculty members. Last year, the centre iterated its demand for at least four guest faculty members to manage the classes, but received no response.

When JNU asked all its departments to mention the courses and the number of seats in the prospectus, the Centre of Indian Languages suggested that guest faculty be hired for the Hindi translation course.

Sources said the university declined the demand for “lack of funds”. The course was finally discontinued this year.

The translation courses are considered significant as they produce trained professionals for translation of study materials.

The Union government is promoting the conduct of courses in all subjects, including professional ones like medicine and engineering, in Indian languages. Since there are not enough books in vernacular languages, the materials are being translated from English to Indian languages by using artificial intelligence. Academics consider such machine-generated content as sub-standard.

At present, some institutions like Aligarh Muslim University, Hyderabad Central University, Ignou, Haryana Central University and Jadavpur University are running Master’s degrees in translation studies.

A faculty member at Delhi University said the government last month asked institutions to conduct week-long celebrations revolving around the NEP. JNU discontinuing Hindi translation studies “exposes the lack of sincerity of the government on its own policy”, academics pointed out.

“The government wants the NEP to be celebrated. Some kind of function should take place to show that the NEP is a great policy. But the real picture is different. The government and its institutions are not very sincere in implementing it,” the DU teacher said.

The NEP recommended setting up an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to promote all Indian languages, but it has not been established yet, he said.

The Telegraph sent an email to JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Pandit on August 14 to understand her perspectives on the closure of the Himdi translation course. Her response is awaited.