Transferring a text from one language into another is an act that is social and political through and through. It is closely linked to social developments and struggles for domination or empowerment of peoples. This idea can be illustrated both logically and historically.

Translation proper is an inter-linguistic activity which has significant cultural consequences because, by definition, language is culture-preserving and culture-transmitting. It is an operation on two languages - a face to face meet, not only of two individual writers, but of two languages and two peoples as well. These two languages, cultures and peoples are not equal in power or status. Translation is thus, a blend and clash of two unequal language communities. So, on each decision of equivalence, the translator has to address a political challenge of empowering one and adapting the other language and its community.

Translation, by its nature, is an intended and purposeful activity. It aims to......