Mysuru: An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted Kannada translation of the acclaimed book ‘My Name is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician’ authored by historian and writer Dr Vikram Sampath will be released at the Jagannath Centre for Art and Culture in Mysuru on Saturday.
The Kannada edition titled ‘Nanna Hesaru Gauhar Jaan’ will be released by Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar in the presence of linguist and researcher at the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Narayan Kumar Choudhary.
The publication is being described as the first full-length book in India to be translated using Bengaluru-based start-up NAAV AI’s innovative TransLit technology with minimal human intervention for editing and proofreading.
The development is being seen as a significant milestone in the use of Artificial Intelligence for literary translation in Indian languages.
Biography traces life of music icon Gauhar Jaan
The original English book documents the life and career of celebrated Hindustani classical musician Gauhar Jaan of Calcutta (1873–1930), who became one of the earliest recording artists in the Indian subcontinent.
Gauhar Jaan is widely recognised as the first woman musician in India to record her voice on gramophone in 1902, marking a turning point in the history of Indian music recording.
The biography explores her rise to national and international fame, her artistic achievements and the challenges she faced during the later years of her life.
According to a statement issued by the organisers, Gauhar Jaan eventually experienced financial and personal difficulties before being invited to Mysore by Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar as a State guest.
She was reportedly provided accommodation at a cottage named ‘Dil Khush’ in Chamundi Vihara and later passed away at K. R. Hospital on January 17, 1930.
The book uses archival research and musicological analysis to chronicle the many phases of the artist’s life and contribution to Indian classical music.
AI-assisted translation technology highlighted
The organisers stated that NAAV AI’s TransLit technology has been specifically developed for long-form translation between English and Indian languages and vice versa.
According to the company, the technology combines advanced AI systems with linguistic expertise to speed up the translation process while preserving cultural context and language authenticity.
The statement clarified that the technology is not intended to replace human translators but to improve productivity by reducing the time required for translation work.
Experts involved in the project said translators who earlier required several months to complete a book can now work on multiple projects within the same period through AI-assisted support systems.
The initiative is also expected to help expand access to literature in regional languages and improve the availability of translated works across India.
Award-winning original work
The original English book ‘My Name Is Gauhar Jaan’ received several national and international recognitions after its publication.
It won the Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar in English Literature in 2012 and also received the ARSC International Award for Excellence in Historical Research in New York.
The biography was later adapted into a stage production titled ‘Gauhar’ by noted theatre personality Lilette Dubey.
The Kannada version is being published by Sahitya Prakashana, Hubli, which is known for publishing Kannada literary works and adopting innovative publishing approaches.
Shrigouri Joshi, translator and language expert at NAAV AI, served as the translation reviewer for the Kannada edition.
Technology and literature coming together
The release of ‘Nanna Hesaru Gauhar Jaan’ is being viewed as an important example of how technology and literature can work together to make regional language publishing more accessible and efficient.
Experts believe AI-assisted translation tools may play a key role in increasing the availability of literary and historical works in Indian languages in the coming years while continuing to rely on human expertise for accuracy and cultural nuance.
The event is expected to attract writers, researchers, musicians and literature enthusiasts interested in both Kannada publishing and the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in creative fields.