Indian scholars seek removal of professor from Harvard project for translating

ancient texts
A group of Sanskrit scholars in India is calling for the removal of an American
professor from a $5 million project to translate Indian classics because of his deep
antipathy to Indian ideals and culture. Columbia University Professor Sheldon
Pollock is the editor of the Murty Classical Library of India by Harvard University
Press for publishing dozens of Indian classical texts with English translations.
More than 132 professors have signed a Change.org petition that calls for Pollocks
removal as editor. The Murty Classical Library of India is funded by Harvard
graduate Rohan Murty, the son of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murty.
The Indian scholars argued that the work of translating the ancient texts should be
done in India and not outsourced wholesale to American Ivy Leagues.
Ramesh C. Bhardwaj, professor and head of the Department of Sanskrit at Delhi
University, said that the issue was an academic one, rather than personal. He said
that Pollock associated himself with Marxist scholars in India and that his work
does not provide the true picture of Indian heritage. Neither Pollock nor Harvard
University Press immediately returned emails requesting comment.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to promote pride in
India's centuries-old knowledge systems and reinvigorate Sanskrit, India's ancient
language, with classes and a new government committee to expand Sanskrit in
schools and colleges.
College campuses across India have been embroiled in controversies in recent
months, with critics charging that Modi's government has been acting to suppress
dissent. The education minister, Smriti Irani, vehemently denied this charge in an
interview with The Washington Post last week.
Pollock was among a group of Western academics who signed a petition in support
of students on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi who were
arrested and charged with sedition after they allegedly chanted anti-India slogans at
a rally. The issue blew up into a national debate about freedom of expression and
nationalism.
It is crystal clear that Pollock has shown disrespect for the unity and integrity of
India, the Indian scholars wrote, adding that such an individual cannot be
considered objective and neutral enough to be in charge of your historic translation
project.
The scholars petitioned Narayana Murthy and Rohan Murty to reconstitute the
editorial group of the project, noting that There must be a written set of standards
and policies for the entire project, pertaining to the translation methodologies,
historical assumptions and philosophical interpretations that would be used
consistently in all volumes.