Translation into Irish of historic 7th March speech by Bangladesh’s Founding Father
Posted on: 08 March 2021
The Bangladesh High Commission to the UK and Ireland today unveiled an Irish language translation of a historic speech in the country’s history.
Bangladesh’s Founding Father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, gave a monumental speech on 7th March 1971 which inspired his country men and women to fight for independence.
They achieved this aim later in the same year. Since then, the speech has been translated into six United Nations’ languages and in 2017, UNESCO adopted it into the Memory of the World Register. Irish, Welsh and Scottish language translations were unveiled at the virtual launch as part of the celebrations of the birth centenary of the Bangabandhu.
The Bangladesh High Commissioner, Saida Muna Tasnee, was present along with First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon. Mark Drakeford; Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr A.K. Abdul Momen; and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Thomas Byrne. Ross Ó Colmáin, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, translated the speech with the support of Dr Eoin Mac Cárthaigh, Head of the Department of Irish.
Dr Eoin Mac Cárthaigh said
It was a great honour for us to work with the Bangladesh High Commission on this project. There are many similarities between our countries’ histories. We are very happy that this speech, which is so important on a global level, can now be read in Irish. I congratulate our graduate Ross Ó Colmáin on his great work. He has greatly succeeded in conveying the spirit and meaning of the original in this beautiful translation.
Professor Juliette Hussey, Vice President for Global Relations in Trinity, said:
I am delighted that the Bangladesh High Commission partnered with Trinity to translate the 7th March speech into Irish. The speech is of great historic significance to Bangladesh and its fight for independence. We recognise its parallels with our own struggle for freedom, and for recognition of the Irish language. I commend recent Trinity graduate, Ross Ó Colmáin, for his work in producing a translation which evokes the spirit of the speech so well; and the Department of Irish, including Head of Department, Dr Eoin Mac Cárthaigh, for their contribution to this significant language project.”
The struggle this time is a struggle for emancipation. The struggle this time is a struggle for independence. Joi Bangla! (Extract from the speech)