#Indian Language Translation Services

[lisanindia]

Decoding the Costs: Understanding Language Translation Service Charges in India

In our increasingly globalized world, the demand for language translation services continues to surge, driven by cross-cultural communication, international business expansion, and multicultural exchange. For businesses, organizations, and individuals seeking professional translation assistance, understanding the factors influencing service charges is essential for budgeting and decision-making. As a leading Indian translation agency, Lisan India provides insights into the pricing dynamics of language translation services in India.

Factors Influencing Translation Service Charges:

Several key factors influence the cost of language translation services in India:

Language Pair: The language pair, or combination of source and target languages, significantly impacts translation costs. Generally, translations involving widely spoken languages such as English, Hindi, Spanish, Chinese, and French may be more affordable due to higher availability of translators and resources. Conversely, translations involving less common or specialized languages may command higher rates due to limited expertise and resources.

Complexity and Technicality: The complexity and technical nature of the content also influence translation charges. Technical documents, legal texts, medical reports, and scientific papers often require specialized knowledge and expertise, resulting in higher rates compared to general or non-technical content.

Volume and Turnaround Time: Translation service providers typically charge based on the volume of text to be translated and the requested turnaround time. Urgent or rush projects may incur additional fees due to the need for expedited processing and resource allocation.

Subject Matter Expertise: Translators with specialized knowledge and expertise in specific fields such as law, medicine, finance, engineering, or marketing may command higher rates for their specialized services. Subject matter expertise ensures accurate and contextually relevant translations tailored to the target audience.

Quality and Accuracy: High-quality translations require thorough proofreading, editing, and quality assurance processes to ensure linguistic accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and adherence to client specifications. Translation agencies offering rigorous quality control measures may charge higher rates for their premium services.

Typical Pricing Models for Translation Services in India:

In India, language translation services are typically priced using the following models:

Per Word: Many translation agencies in India charge on a per-word basis, where clients pay a fixed rate for each word translated. This pricing model offers transparency and clarity, allowing clients to estimate costs based on the word count of their documents.

Per Page: Some translation service providers may opt for a per-page pricing model, particularly for documents such as manuscripts, reports, or academic papers. The cost is determined based on the number of pages to be translated, with each page assigned a standard rate.

Hourly Rate: For projects requiring extensive research, editing, or consultation, translation agencies may charge an hourly rate for their services. This model is suitable for complex or time-intensive assignments that cannot be accurately quantified on a per-word or per-page basis.

Choosing the Right Translation Service Provider:

When selecting a translation agency in India, it's essential to consider factors beyond cost alone:

Expertise and Experience: Look for translation agencies with a proven track record of delivering high-quality translations in your desired languages and subject areas. Experience, expertise, and industry certifications are indicators of a reliable and competent service provider.

Quality Assurance Processes: Inquire about the agency's quality assurance processes, including proofreading, editing, and linguistic validation procedures. A commitment to quality ensures accurate, error-free translations that meet your specific requirements.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Research customer reviews, testimonials, and case studies to gauge client satisfaction and the agency's reputation for reliability, professionalism, and customer service.

Technology and Tools: Evaluate the agency's use of technology, translation tools, and automation solutions to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and maintain consistency across translations.

In conclusion, the cost of Indian language translation services varies depending on factors such as language pair, complexity of content, volume, and turnaround time. By understanding these factors and choosing a reputable translation agency like Lisan India, clients can access high-quality translations tailored to their needs and budget, facilitating effective communication and cross-cultural engagement.

[translationwala]

With our excellent Indian Language Translation Services, you can communicate without any problems. From Hindi to Tamil, we are experts at translating words correctly and taking into account cultural differences. Our professional translators make sure that your content stays true to its original meaning while filling in any language holes. Experience unmatched accuracy and dependability as we work with a wide range of businesses to build global links through language.

[magnonsancus]

In today's global world, the demand for effective localisation has never been higher. We continually adapt to an ever-changing landscape, with evolving trends and challenges in the localisation industry. Technology is bringing about a revolution in this industry, but it still requires human intervention to drive the change efficiently.

[greenunoreversecard]

Kai general and Romantic headcanons

A/N:sorry if I got any of the characters wrong, I was using a combo of wiki/Google translate as I don't speak any of the languages mentioned. Pls let me know if I got any info wrong, i will gladly go in and change it to make it right.

General:

Half Indian and half Chinese.

His and nya's last name is 鄭 (Zheng), but he says it's Smith bc when they where younger he got in the habit of lying about his name so he Didnt have to deal with CPS.

His ma is from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and was a practicing Hindu. Ray is from the 云南 (yunnan) province, and was a practicing theravida Buddhist. Ray is ethnically from the 傣族 (dai people, also spelt Tai in english)

Before his parents dissapearances, they both brought him to their hometowns, and actively taught him both cultures and religions, which he continued to learn about and even teach Nya about after their dissapearances.

When he was 14 he bought a small boat and him and Nya rode it across the costal line, and he promised Nya one day when he was older he'd bring the both of them to their parents hometowns.

He's a Buddhist.

He speaks so many languages.

Like so many

He's fluent in Thai, mandarin and cantonese chinese, telugu, urdu, hindi, Punjabi, arabic and ninjago-ian(idk whatever language ninjago speaks)

Also trying to learn Indonesian.

He also knows yunnan dialect bc his dad would speak in it more often than not

Absorbes info like a sponge

He likes to quilt

He always wears a golden bracelet He got from his moms jewelry box after she left.

Likes to draw but is bad at it, so he colors coloring books

Introvert

He may act all confident, but he really isn't. super insecure

Soooo good with hair

Like, has all the stops. 10 step hair care routine

rivals Zanes cooking skills.

When working out focuses on building rather than lean muscle.

Mother friend

has dragged all of his friends into the water splashing festival.

Fatal flaw is loyalty and kind of hubris (it's conflicting, ik with the insecure and extreme pride, but like- it makes sense in my head. Inferiority/maybe superiority complex.)(it makes sense bc this is such me behavior. Imagine hating yourself but thinking ur the baddest bitch alive)

Likes to stare at fire

If he can't sleep he'll make a small bonfire to stare at and think

insomnia

Chronic cigarette smoker

Romantic:

Hes more show than tell

Def acts of service (me frfr)

Although, he is very cuddly.

Not in public, though. Maybe infront of the other ninja if it was a rough day

Loves to rock you gently from side to side when yall are hug

loves to give you temple kisses

He's very gentle with you, treats you like glass

You wil prolly say ily first, and he'll go;"🧍‍♂️...cool?"

He has mommy and daddy issues, but HEAVY on the mommy issues. Have fun with this hyper-independant fuck who can't accept help without feeling like a failure even though they need it (I'm not projecting you are)

Goes all out for holidays and anniversaries.

Doberman/German Shepard vibes tbh

When it's just you two he doesn't feel the need to fill the air with meaningless chatter, so if he feels safe enough to just share air without talking feel honoured and cherish it bc that means he actually trusts you.

A little rough around the edges, but will remember that thing you said 5years ago on ur first date

Most dates are chill inside and take a nap

But sometimes if he can he takes you on the town or someplace fancy

Also likes to show you his favorite childhood spots

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

Trying to start a giant-ass meta on why I ship Mycroft/Albert and what there is to see of it and right off the bat I'm like...I want people to look at every single panel of their interactions.

No, it's not Sherliam levels. And BIG OLD DISCLAIMER: very little of what I'm going to present here is like "We were clearly intended to read it this way." I'll always argue that Sherliam is meant to be romantic: it hits so many well-established notes and tropes it's almost impossible to think otherwise. MycAl is a bit different. I do think it's definitely like...we're welcome and even invited to see it. But a LOT of my shipping it comes from the way I personally read and interpret things. So this is about explaining what I'm seeing that makes me ship it, rather than trying to be like "This is canon and you should agree with me." Anyway, for reference, I'll be using the official translation as far as it goes and then swapping to teawaffles' wonderful translation for the rest!

So...like right off the bat throughout the entirety of their Chapter 4 interactions their body language and expressions and ways of talking are so flirty? (Also, I still find it funny that in the manga Mycroft is introduced before Sherlock and thus Mycal is introduced before Sherliam. Older bros first lol.)

Maybe it's just that 2 decades on the internet have skewed me towards reading suggestiveness into everything, but the way Mycroft addresses Albert feels so flirtatious even if he's literally just being normal. "And what would an Indian Army official such as yourself want from an intelligence official such as myself this late in the evening?" Like...am I crazy? Does that not kinda sound like a porn intro? 😂 (This could also be Sherliam Side-effects. The way they call each other Professor and Detective in That One Scene is like...almost undeniably foreplay. Now every time anyone calls each other by title/profession/rank is this series I assume they're hitting on each other.)

But also Albert is just so...handsy throughout that scene. He's touching Mycroft's knickknacks, and just sort of limp-wristing all over the place. And I mean, I think that's just one of Albert's public-facing personas (customer service peeps, you know what's up) but it definitely lends itself to the existence of Vibes.

Anyway, there's this parallel of "You have my attention. What do you want?" that I think is kinda neat. (But look how comparatively sad Mycroft looks in the second version!!!)

Chapter 4:

Chapter 23:

Btw, in Scandal in the British Empire...why does Mycroft introduce himself to the Queen? Never mind, not why we're here. Again, my weird innuendo sensors perk up in Chapter 17 at "I did not drag you out of bed this early for nothing." Maybe it's because my perception of Victorian niceties, whether it's factual or not, is that there was this sense of avoiding talk of physical realities. We don't speak of pregnancy, we speak of "her condition" and "confinement." We don't "go to bed," we "retire." And so on. So conversely, it feels almost suggestive to even acknowledge that someone was in bed. In whatever state of undress the might imply. *Kellen Goff Sasaki voice:* OOOH how sCanDaLOus. (Mind you I DON'T believe there is anything of authorial intent in this, again, just trying to explain the factors that make me read things a certain way.)

The little mind games: Albert immediately recognizing that he's being tested, and Mycroft well aware that something is off, that he and Albert are using each other to their own ends. All juicy ship ingredients.

Then there's this...I can't articulate why it's important. But it is. Something about mouths and thoughts. If I wasn't terribly lazy, I'd go digging for examples in various manga series and I have a pretty firm suspicion that I could prove that, often, Mouth-Focus Thinking Panel + Name = Ship.

Jumping forward to the start of The Riot in New Scotland Yard (Chapter 29), Mycroft's demeanour has really changed. During the meeting at the British Museum he's radiating "I'm not angry I'm just disappointed" energy. He's tense, he's not sure if the Moriartys are enemies and when he understands their plan he seems understandably sad about it even as he accepts it. But now, he's radiating an almost Sherlock-like excitement. He's just gotten to see a miniature version of The Plan in action during the Jack the Ripper case, and it worked. He says he's just visiting Albert as an acquaintance (read: friend in Mycroftian), and that's what it feels like. They're chummy. It's cute. Also Albert teasing Mycroft over his squabbles with Sherlock when he leaves? When did Albert find out about that, hmm? (I mean, could be spying of course. But I like to think it just suggests they've talked more than we've seen.)

Annnnnd....cutting this part off here because I'm bored of it for now and it's long. I'll do the rest when the mood strikes. 😂

[clairedaring]

hello claire, love your blog! i want to ask you a question about vietnamese fandom of thai pop culture, is it very big or just dedicated? i did notice that i often can find something translated into vietnamese (especially if we are talking about tpop interviews) while i can't find eng subs for it, and i started noticing it even more after a couple of weeks ago you pointed out another vietnamese blogger who has more access to obscure thai BLs than non-vietnamese bloggers. i am curious now, what's up with that? thank you in advance!

hiiiii \(￣︶￣*\))

i loveeee getting questions about thai pop culture and vietnamese fandom. for the short answer, i would say that it's both a combination of dedicated fandom and a sizable fandom. but please bare with me in my lengthy elaboration of this phenomenon...

i think the first form of 'thai pop culture' that was popularised and successfully exported to viet nam was thai lakorns. in a similar vein to older makjang korean dramas, thai lakorns had very soap opera and dramatic plots that were intriguing to viewers (mostly older grandmas who were at home). it was as if at a certain point, when vietnamese tv channels were running out of kdramas to buy the airing rights to, they looked to their neighboring countries dramas (notably, vietnamese networks were also buying rights to filipino, indian, spanish telenovelas so it wasn't just thai lakorns that they were outsourcing).

and so this was like around early 2010s, which also coincided with the emergence of thai bl series. even though i have absolutely no statistics to back this argument up, i would say that the familiarity that a portion of vietnamese audience had with thai lakorns, thai television, thai language also made it easy for them to get into thai bl series. with a number of thai-vietnamese lakorn fansubbers who were already subbing for thai series, they also took on the fansubbing for thai bl series, since they knew there was a niche but large audience who wanted to watch those series.

that being said, i wanted to make a distinction here because i wouldn't say that the vietnamese lakorn audience are the same audience who watch thai bls or they are the same fujoshi fandom who consume all things queer love/boys' love/girls' love related. but there is definitely a huge overlap between the fujoshis/sao y audience and the lakorn audience, which ended up as a very niche yet dedicated audience -> which was the biggest motivation for thai subbers to take on the subbing for thai bl series and anything related for certain thai actors who had been in bl series which are often lakorns that they've done before.

and i think you're referring to this post of mine about me finding out that @nonkul is a fellow vietnamese which allow us to have more access to "obscure lakorns". rather than this having to do with thai fansubbers for bl series/bl series related content/"bl actors" content, i think there's just more of vietnamese networks which are committed to outsourcing thai lakorns to air them (especially ones with big lakorn names attached to it like mai davika, baifern pimchanok, james jirayu, yaya urassaya, tor thanapob, film thanapat, esther supreeleela...). there are many local vietnamese networks who provide their own streaming services like tv360, fptplay... so they would often go to these film/tv series festivals to "shop" for thai series, allowing them to provide them exclusively in viet nam on both tv or their streaming site.

but to go back to the main subject of your question which is thai pop culture/tpop interviews, i would say that it's very much the result of 2-3 dedicated fansubbers with an equally dedicated audience who are willing to engage/interact with the content put out by the fansubbers. i've also come across a number of former kpop fans converted into tpop fandoms, so i could also see where the dedication-ness is coming from in trying to sub actor-related content.

but that also means that not very actors/ships will get dedicated fansubbers though. i think it mostly depends on how lucky a ship/an actor is to have a long time lakorn/thai series watcher/subber take an interest in them and they'll start basically subbing everything related to a series/ship/actor/group basically. it really does help that a majority of thai lakorn/series watchers have been watching thai series for so long, they're more likely to pick up the language along the way -> it's easier for you to see vietnamese translations for these kinds of content from thai actors/singers.

i know there are a lot of assumptions and generalised statements in my answer and it may not be the case for all the vietnamese fansubbers out there so please just take this with a grain of salt as it's mostly my perspective, after talking to a few fansubbers here and there. ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

but i was really happy to get this question in my inbox though. i'm always over the moon to be sharing perspective of a vietnamese lakorn/thai series/tpop enthusiast.

[connor-mylove]

Well, lately I've been wanting to write Ratonhnhaké:ton fanfics and include words from their language (kanien'kéha). And I was lucky enough to come across several pages to write about their culture and language.

The first one is a dictionary. It not only has the translation from English to Kanien'kéha, but also has audios to help you with the pronunciation.

The second is a page where they talk about the Kanien'kehá:ka culture (Also, there is more information about the language).

[lisanindia]

Essential Scenarios for Utilizing Document Translation Services

In a world where globalization is the norm, businesses, organizations, and individuals often find themselves needing to communicate across language barriers. This necessity has led to the emergence of document translation services, offering a lifeline for effective communication in diverse settings. Whether you're a multinational corporation, a budding entrepreneur, or a governmental organization, leveraging document translation services can be crucial in various scenarios. Let's explore some of these essential scenarios where the expertise of language translation services becomes indispensable.

Expanding into New Markets: For businesses eyeing expansion into foreign markets, accurate translation of documents is paramount. Whether it's marketing materials, legal contracts, product descriptions, or user manuals, ensuring that your content resonates with the target audience linguistically and culturally is essential. A proficient document translation service can adeptly handle these translations, helping your business penetrate new markets seamlessly.

Legal Compliance: In an increasingly interconnected world, legal documents often need to be translated to comply with regulations across different jurisdictions. From contracts and agreements to patents and certificates, precise translation is crucial to ensure legal validity and clarity. Engaging a reliable document translation service in India guarantees accurate interpretation of legal terminology and nuances, mitigating any risks associated with miscommunication or misunderstanding.

International Collaboration: Collaborating with international partners, suppliers, or clients necessitates effective communication. Documents such as emails, reports, proposals, and presentations often need to be translated to foster clear understanding and collaboration across language barriers. Partnering with a reputable language translation service ensures smooth communication, enhancing productivity and fostering strong international relationships.

Educational Purposes: Educational institutions, research organizations, and academic publishers frequently require document translation services. Whether it's translating research papers, academic transcripts, or educational materials, maintaining accuracy and fidelity to the original content is imperative. Professional translators with subject matter expertise ensure that educational documents retain their integrity and are accessible to a wider audience.

Medical and Healthcare: In the healthcare sector, accurate translation of medical records, prescriptions, and patient information is critical for providing quality care to diverse populations. Misinterpretation due to language barriers can have severe consequences. Document translation services specializing in medical translations ensure that healthcare documents are accurately translated, facilitating effective communication between healthcare providers and patients.

Governmental and Legal Entities: Government agencies, embassies, and legal entities often deal with documents requiring translation for administrative, regulatory, or diplomatic purposes. From immigration documents and visas to treaties and official correspondence, precision and confidentiality are paramount. Indian translation agencies proficient in handling governmental and legal translations ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and confidentiality protocols.

In conclusion, document translation services play a pivotal role in bridging linguistic divides across various industries and scenarios. Whether it's for business expansion, legal compliance, international collaboration, educational purposes, healthcare, or governmental needs, partnering with a reliable language translation service such as Lisan India can significantly enhance communication effectiveness and facilitate global interactions. With expertise in document translation services, Lisan India stands as a trusted partner in facilitating seamless communication across languages, ensuring your message is conveyed accurately and comprehensively.

For all your document translation needs, trust Lisan India – Your Gateway to Global Communication. 

[bhashabharatia]

As so many people are already using the internet, it makes sense for an entrepreneur to make sure that the online portals of their brand and the promotional collateral that is being generated to promote its offerings are being backed by a revered translation agency.

[translationwala]

Help people all over the world communicate by providing accurate Indian language translation services. These services will help people understand each other and connect without any problems.

[random-xpressions]

Context: the picture below was taken in pure frivolity to tell my ex that I'm busy in my own headspace. In other words, a DO NOT DISTURB pic.

DEEPER DIVE INTO INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

The first picture is actually the statue of Adiyogi Shiva situated in Bangalore - one week left for its first anniversary.

Now our land has been steeped in polytheism but unfortunately foreign interpretations of the ancient scripts have been utterly biased and had actually missed the very central theme and divine message.

Now I'm in no way for or against any of the belief systems around the world and purely honours whatever an individual chooses to believe. This post is now purely intended to dive into the esoteric aspects of the Indian mythology.

The core teaching of this land has been that they don't limit God to a certain time or place but they believe in the appearance and the reappearance of the divine in all forms, in all places, in all times.

This is the reason that they see the spiritual masters at a step greater than the station of their own biological parents because while one is the cause of your entry into earthly existence the other is the bridge for you to transcend into higher heavenly realms.

So the core of Indian system of belief begins from the sacred institution of Guru/Shishya otherwise translated feebly as Master/Disciple relationship.

Now somehow there is a wide misinterpretation from the ignoramuses as well in worshipping everything they get hold of, being deluded to think that a physical manifestation is actually the Divine whereas at its best could only be a segmental representation, an earthly descent popularly known in Sanskrit language as "Avatãra" - a transcendental form open for human experience.

The purpose of every ancient scripture has been very clear - to unlock the human potential and to have the pinnacle of divine experiences while still within the garb of human flesh, blood and bone. Such an unlocking is either attained or gifted or a combination of both. Meditation, prayer, efforts in service to humanity - there are a thousand ways to kneel.

Don't be surprised, ancient scripts have an entire branch of SCIENCE in finding salvation through the practise of sex which is seen as the pinnacle of dance between two humans. So the whole idea of religion is not just limited to the rites or rituals but to the actual liberation of humanity through the most mundane of daily activities.

To conclude, this is in no way even an exposition or promotion in its slightest the religion of Hinduism as is existent in its present day because to understand even the basic precept of this land and its tradition will require much deeper dive than what's available to the common masses.

Random Xpressions

[sarishim]

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒 .

full name. gabriel nicknames / aliases. gabe, piskon / itmon / sigron, gabriel rakesh height. 6′2" / 192cm. age. as old as the universe zodiac. saggitarius (that's what i think at least) spoken languages. all.

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒 .

hair colour. black eye colour. very dark brown / almost black skin tone. tawny brown. body type. gangly, slim-fit. dominant hand. ambidextrous. posture. straight, slouches a little at home. scars. some from the vessel, some from him himself fighting; not sure exact locations / injuries yet. tattoos. medieval hindu protective / symbolic tattoos from his vessel, but none he himself has gotten. birthmarks. none. most noticeable features. his hair & beard, the bridge of his nose; his gangliness.

𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐃.

place of birth. somewhere in the universe. siblings. all angels and archangels. parents. g-d

𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 . occupation. talk show host, translator. vigilante justice. often masquerades as an interpol officer in @sunomaly's spn verse, as her guardian angel. current residence(s). north side of london. close friends. castiel, sam & dean winchester, jami (@goldshadows), khalid (@ofthenile), aly (@venatcres), sunny (@snnynatural), etc etc relationship status. verse dependent. criminal record. i'm sure he has some, somewhere. one i know for sure he'd have is colonial indian (protesting) arrest record. vices. wrath, pride.

𝐒𝐄𝐗 & 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 .

sexual orientation. pansexual. preferred sexual role. switch with a slight preference for dominant, but he's also eager and content with being bottom. libido. medium-low. turn-ons. size difference, hair pulling, dirty talk. turn-offs. degradation / humiliation. love language. words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time. relationship tendencies. tends to fall hard and quickly at first & has problems not seeing red flags and such until they become bigger. communication is key for him.

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒.

hobbies to pass time. translating, reading, spending time with friends, likes drawing little doodles. mental illnesses. adhd (as far as i know tbh)  self-confidence level. high.

tagged: stolen from @sunomaly tagging: @loyaltylanced , @clusterchucks (for any of the muses you want to fill this out for!) & you, steal it from me <3

[antis-hero]

When an Anti-Suffragette was Elected to Congress

The first woman elected to Congress was suffragist and feminist Jeannette Pickering Rankin of Montana, but the second woman elected to Congress was anti-suffragist and anti-feminist Alice Mary Robertson of Oklahoma.

Robertson began her career as a clerk for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1873, when she was only 19 years old. For her, this position might have come easy, considering her family had worked to assist displaced Native Americans and translated works into the Creek language. She had also grown up in Creek Nation, Arkansas. After her time at the Bureau, she went home to work as a teacher, later moving around the country to teach at Indian boarding schools. Later, she was appointed by the Bureau as the first government supervisor of Creek schools and then was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as the postmaster of Muskogee, Oklahoma, making her the first woman postmaster of a class A post office. Roosevelt called her “one of the great women of America.” In 1916, she was nominated by the GOP to run for county superintendent of public instruction, though she lost.

While Oklahoma was never a state that had a strong anti-suffrage presence, as it had voted firmly against woman suffrage in the past, the push for a national suffrage amendment spurred antis into action. In 1918, the Oklahoma Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was formed, with Robertson as their Vice President. After their loss in 1920, Robertson ran to be a Representative of the 2nd District of Oklahoma and won (though by a narrow margin). She was a Republican.

Today it looks hypocritical for a woman like Robertson to take part in government when she was against women having the vote, but, according to her, she argued that she had been “drafted” into her position. Quite simply, anti-suffrage women were going to be forced to vote. If they didn’t, then the women who did vote, suffragists and feminists, would be speaking for them and a number of other unwanted motions would be forced on them as well. This also applied to representation in government: there had to be women who went to state and federal governments to accurately represent these conservative women. Antis struggled to find representation, as the majority of women like them were too busy with other affairs, like child rearing, social work, and charitable affairs, to devote themselves to government. Robertson was able to do this, however, and so she did. She was not going to let feminists and suffragists speak for her.

She became known for her anti-feminist stance while in Congress. She opposed the Sheppard-Towner Maternity Bill, which feminists supported, saying “Let the women look to their own selves if they want to change conditions. I don’t believe much for the home can be done by national legislation.” She also stood against feminist organizations, like the League of Woman Voters, and other organizations like this “that will be used as a club against men”, as she put it. The rest of her voting record is rather conservative: tough on immigration and for small government, while pushing for federal appropriations to reimburse the Cherokee who had been removed from their original home to Oklahoma in the 19th century. She was the lone woman politician in Congress at the time.

Unfortunately for her, she would not be re-elected in 1922. She had only won by a little over 200 votes in 1920, so her chances were slim in the first place. She went back to running her cafe, “Sawokla”, after her time in Congress, though she was ousted by the WWI veterans of her community for her lack of support for the Bonus Bill, which would have provided them early payment on their military service pensions. She would pass away in 1931.

[rhianna]

FOREWORD

The death of Jeremiah Curtin robbed America of one of her two or three foremost scholars. Mr. Curtin, who was by birth a native of Wisconsin, at one time was in the diplomatic service of the Government; but his chief work was in literature. The extraordinary facility with which he learned any language, his gift of style in his own language, his industry, his restless activity and desire to see strange nations and out of the way peoples, and his great gift of imagination which enabled him to appreciate the epic sweep of vital historical events, all combined to render his work of peculiar value. His extraordinary translations of the Polish novels of Sienkiewicz, especially of those dealing with medieval Poland and her struggles with the Tartar, the Swede and the German, would in themselves have been enough to establish a first class reputation for any man. In addition he did remarkable work in connection with Indian, Celtic and other folk tales. But nothing that he did was more important than his studies of the rise of the mighty Mongol Empire and its decadence. In this particular field no other American or English scholar has ever approached him.

Indeed, it is extraordinary to see how ignorant even [x]the best scholars of America and England are of the tremendous importance in world history of the nation-shattering Mongol invasions. A noted Englishman of letters not many years ago wrote a charming essay on the Thirteenth Century—an essay showing his wide learning, his grasp of historical events, and the length of time that he had devoted to the study of the century. Yet the essayist not only never mentioned but was evidently ignorant of the most stupendous fact of the century—the rise of Genghis Khan and the spread of the Mongol power from the Yellow Sea to the Adriatic and the Persian Gulf. Ignorance like this is partly due to the natural tendency among men whose culture is that of Western Europe to think of history as only European history and of European history as only the history of Latin and Teutonic Europe. But this does not entirely excuse ignorance of such an event as the Mongol-Tartar invasion, which affected half of Europe far more profoundly than the Crusades. It is this ignorance, of course accentuated among those who are not scholars, which accounts for the possibility of such comically absurd remarks as the one not infrequently made at the time of the Japanese-Russian war, that for the first time since Salamis Asia had conquered Europe. As a matter of fact the recent military supremacy of the white or European races is a matter of only some three centuries. For the four preceding centuries, that is, from the beginning of the thirteenth to the seventeenth, the Mongol and Turkish armies generally had the upper hand in any contest with European foes, appearing in Europe always as invaders and often as conquerors; while no ruler of Europe of their days had to his credit such [xi]mighty feats of arms, such wide conquests, as Genghis Khan, as Timour the Limper, as Bajazet, Selim and Amurath, as Baber and Akbar.

The rise of the Mongol power under Genghis Khan was unheralded and unforeseen, and it took the world as completely by surprise as the rise of the Arab power six centuries before. When the thirteenth century opened Genghis Khan was merely one among a number of other obscure Mongol chiefs and neither he nor his tribe had any reputation whatever outside of the barren plains of Central Asia, where they and their fellow-barbarians lived on horseback among their flocks and herds. Neither in civilized nor semi-civilized Europe, nor in civilized nor semi-civilized Asia, was he known or feared, any more, for instance, than the civilized world of to-day knows or fears the Senoussi, or any obscure black mahdi in the region south of the Sahara. At the moment, Europe had lost fear of aggression from either Asia or Africa. In Spain the power of the Moors had just been reduced to insignificance. The crusading spirit, it is true, had been thoroughly discredited by the wicked Fourth Crusade, when the Franks and Venetians took Constantinople and destroyed the old bulwark of Europe against the Infidel. But in the crusade in which he himself lost his life the Emperor Barbarossa had completely broken the power of the Seljouk Turks in Asia Minor, and tho Jerusalem had been lost it was about to be regained by that strange and brilliant man, the Emperor Frederick II, “the wonder of the world.” The Slavs of Russia were organized into a kind of loose confederacy, and were slowly extending themselves eastward, making settlements like Moscow in the midst of various Finnish [xii]peoples. Hungary and Poland were great warrior kingdoms, tho a couple of centuries were to pass before Poland would come to her full power. The Caliphs still ruled at Bagdad. In India Mohammedan warred with Rajput; and the Chinese Empire was probably superior in civilization and in military strength to any nation of Europe.

[t-and-her-books]

Harvest by Manjula Padmanabhan

“I’ll die knowing that you, who only live to win, will have lost to a poor, weak and helpless woman.”

Rating: 5/10 Summary: Harvest is a futuristic dystopian play by Manjula Padmanabhan about organ-selling in India. It was first published in 1997 by Kali for Women. The play takes place in a future Bombay in 2010. Om Prakash, a jobless Indian, agrees to sell unspecified organs through InterPlanta Services, Inc. to a rich person in a exchange of small fortune.

Thoughts:

Harvest was honestly an interesting read. I find myself not necessarily enjoying written versions of play a lot of the times because they are mostly dialogue. Making it quite dull to read in comparison to seeing the actual play in person. Harvest has an almost opposite problem though, the story moves fast with vulgar language. It's disorienting and confusing but at the same time everything happens just as I thought it would realistically but not what I thought would actually happen.

I'll talk more about this in the character analysis. But when it comes to the storylines, it is so realistically raw that I can't help but feel shocked when things happen just as I thought it would. A lot of the times I keep thinking to myself, "Okay this is what I think will happen, but there's no way she'll write that? Right? Because to write that is to destroy the character, to make them stop being likeable."

But that was the true essence of the characters in the play. Not a single one of them is purely likeable. All of them have a reason to be hated, some more than others. Barely any of them, except Jeetu at the very end gets a 'good' ending. This is what makes this book so interesting.

The first thing that drew me in was the sci-fi almost cyberpunk nature of the themes. But unlike most cyberpunk-esque stories that focus more on adventure, action, and the theatrics of it all. Harvest focused on the humanity and realistic aspect of it. Which I will touch more when I talk about Ma's character.

This is what makes Harvest interesting but also quite difficult for me to read. I came in rather expecting something grotesque and cyberpunk-y but came out with more confusion and disoriented feelings than anything.

The characters all feel so natural to the point where they are unlikeable. The story at parts feel rushed but at some parts feel almost too 'loud' which most likely is due to the format it is presented in. It's difficult to translate plays into writing and make it read like a book without taking some creative liberties (and vice versa), so dialogue, actions, and character arcs can feel forced/difficult/disorienting to follow.

Though one big part of it that I absolutely loved was the fact that the book ended midway and then the same thing is duplicated but the genders are all switched. It's interesting to see how my own perception of these characters changed by the slight change of their gender. (Which will be touched more on in the character analysis)

Overall, Harvest was an interesting read and kept me on my toes but I would definitely not read it again. I can recommend it to people who want to see the rawness of ethics discussion in a dystopian future.

~

Character analysis

Om Prakash

At the start of the story, Om can be seen as a somewhat normal poor Indian man who is just trying everything he can do to keep peace in his home and provide for his wife and mother. Though as the story progresses, he can be seen as both a brave figure and a cowardly figure.

Brave in the face of defending his decisions, such as the first time he was defending why he needed to join InterPlanta to Jaya. But cowardly in the face of his mother who wouldn't stop pestering Jaya over and over again on how she isn't a good match for Om.

Though Om feels real in the way that fictional characters feel real, he doesn't truly become authentic until the second-half of the book when InterPlanta comes to take him and afterwards takes Jeetu instead.

In this moment, where Om turns from someone who strongly believes in his decision into someone who is scared and begging to be spared, he truly becomes real.

Fictional characters are likeable because they represent a much more exaggerated version of us. Horror main characters call out for their mom any time they hear a loud clanging downstairs, when in reality any sane and normal person would've frozen or tried their best to ignore it. Same with the mc in a YA novel who believes the stranger who tells them, they are the chosen one and then fights for the freedom of an oppressed nation, when in reality if you were to be jumped in the middle of the street and be called the chosen one..... You'd probably put on your earphones and start running.

Om, at the start, shows an exaggerated version of human nature. He's likeable in that way because he's relatable in the sense that he wants to support his family no matter what, but in a way that's not gross or disgusting. Though the moment he starts crying and begging for his life, but then turn to actually wishes he was the one to be taken away, we finally see the true humanity of him.

We see the cracks in his character that can't be solved or given a redemption arc because his end is that of a gruesome one. It's something all too real in our daily lives. This theme is present in all (except Jaya and Ginni/Vergil) of the characters in Harvest.

They start of as your typical well-written likeable/unlikeable characters but then flesh out to these all too real humans. It's disturbing and punches you in the face. But it's something interesting and different.

With Om this comes more as a surprise, especially when he regrets looking much more sickly than Jeetu which ends up saving his own life but sacrificing Jeetu's. In this moment, he regrets his life. He wants to be taken by Ginni, it's disturbing and feels out of character, but in that part of the story, everyone except Jaya has gone mad.

(Quick rant)

(Which, to be completely honest, as a Theatre student myself, is something SO common in these out of the box plays. It's almost annoying. It's like everyone wants to think out of the box and talk about the human nature and the worst parts of it when like, every classical theatre practitioner has done that. Why can't you create something ACTUALLY out of the ordinary in Theatre and create something fun and jolly. Not everything has to cause internal crisis and intellectual discussions. What happened to mindless fun entertainment?????)

(Rant end, continuing with character analysis)

Jaya

Jaya's character is interesting in more ways than one to me. Firstly, she's not a good person.

Like previously mentioned, no one in this story is a good person. There is objectively no good guy in this story. Only who can be the worse person/villain. Despite that, she is still the protagonist, which makes Vergil/Ginni the antagonist.

But Jaya is interesting in a different way than Om because first and foremost she's a hypocrite that somehow defies everyone's expectations of her. At first, we as the readers were given the impression that she is a victim under poverty and the unfair treatment by her mother in law. Only to find out later not long in the story that the unfair treatment, though Ma doesn't know it, was definitely warranted, as Jaya has been cheating on Om with Jeetu.

This is the first time we see her change the audience's perception of her. Her love for Jeetu is actually interesting because it is her love for him that was supposed to be for Om that ends up costing Jeetu his life.

Instead of caring for Om after he despairs over the reality that he will soon die, she decides to care for a dying Jeetu. In the end, Jeetu is healthier than Om causing the Interplanta guards to think Jeetu is who they were looking for. Had Jaya paid attention to anyone other than herself and Jeetu, she could've saved his life.

That's another interesting thing, Jaya throughout the story seems to be the sanest person there. Her acts shows her care towards almost everyone in the family. But in my opinion, I think her actions are selfish, she cares only for herself and Jeetu. Had she cared for anyone else or she had been less selfish, she would've cared for Om instead of Jeetu. Or the two of them.

Though it is through her that we, the audience, still gets a proper ending.

Jeetu

I know I called Jaya a hypocrite but I don't think anyone's more of a hypocrite than Jeetu. Which is unfortunate because I thought he'd be the symbol of hope and freedom in a post-apocalyptic world. But Manjula Padmanabhan's choice of his end just shows even the most idealistic and rebellious of people when pushed to his utmost limit will do what he first stands against to do.

This way I think Manjula Padmanabhan is trying to show people's own hypocritical ideals. People tend to preach their beliefs and go against the flow up until they taste a whiff of death. The moment they know death is coming they rush back to where they find comfort in. It's not a bad thing. I think it just makes them all too human.

We all want to live. Dying doesn't change anything for us and somewhere in our subconscious we know that. Jeetu is supposed to symbolise that. But Jeetu is what happens on the other side of it. He wants to live in the end, though not only live, he wants to thrive. He's had a taste of what death feels like and to him nothing is worth that. Instead of fighting even harder, working even harder, and making sure he never gets there. He's gives up and decides he wants to thrive the easy way.

In the story he is selfish, he refuses to come home until he's on his deathbed and after that he takes his brother's place. But in the greater scheme of things, if there were people like Jeetu in the real life, I wouldn't fault them. It's not our decision to force people like Jeetu to continue fighting, though I would call them cowardice for giving up after putting such a valiant effort in fighting for what they deem was right.

Vergil/Ginny

I don't have much thoughts about Vergil/Ginny, I just think they're a necessary evil in the story. Unlike Jeetu or Jaya or Om, they feel the most unrealistic and dramatised. Which in theatre, is very much needed, though I think if Manjula Padmanabhan bit the bullet and fully made all her characters as realistically terrible as Jeetu or Jaya or Om, Harvest would be much more popular.

I think that's why Vergil/Ginny feels almost out of place in the story. They and Ma feels too comic to be in such a raw and realistic piece of theatre. Despite that, the character of Vergil/Ginny is very much needed in this story. If it was just a story about the family I don't think the message would come across as strongly as it did.

Yet, I can't help but wonder if Vergil/Ginny didn't exist, would Jaya still have her protagonist moment at the end of the story? Because that end does feel as dramatised as their character.

Anyways, one thing that I think is interesting to think about is whether or not Vergil/Ginny thinks their actions was right or not. I'm not quite sure if that part is clear in the play, because they seem to understand what they are doing but not the degree of the effects of their actions.

Ma

I don't have much to say about Ma I'm not going to lie. She's almost a comedic relief in the story. Interesting but only for a little while, unlike Jeetu and Om, her descent to madness was clearer and predictable.

It was less interesting and climactic too. Which I think was necessary in the Manjula's eyes. Though I can't help but feel she's a wasted character. Her only job in the story feels like to irritate Jaya and to show the destruction of technology on the human psyche. But if that was the case I don't think it was explored very well.

Manjula Padmanabhan's writing feels like it's trying to focus on too many aspects in such a short and absurdist play that it pulls attention away from the main issue which is corporations practically enslaving the those in poverty. I feel like it should've either been explored further or left out completely.

It makes the issue feel funny/comedic instead of the seriousness it should be treated with.