PARIBhasha Team

large_01-In-2023--PARIBhasha--a-peoples-archive-in-peoples-languages-updated.jpg

medium_01-In-2023--PARIBhasha--a-peoples-archive-in-peoples-languages-updated.jpg

small_01-In-2023--PARIBhasha--a-peoples-archive-in-peoples-languages-updated.jpg

thumbnail_01-In-2023--PARIBhasha--a-peoples-archive-in-peoples-languages-updated.jpg

01-In-2023--PARIBhasha--a-peoples-archive-in-peoples-languages-updated.jpg

On December 7, 2023, Refaat Alareer, our fellow translator, poet, writer, academic, columnist and activist from Palestine was killed in a targeted bombing in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. But the day his voice was silenced, a poem he wrote resounded in more than a dozen languages across the world. It is this world and in this period in time that we look back on our work and role in the universe of languages in PARI! And we begin by bringing to mind Refaat’s words:Language is all we have to voice our struggle and to fight back. The words are our most valuable treasure that we ought to utilise in order to educate ourselves and educate others. And these words ought to be conveyed in as many languages as possible. I believe in a language that touches the hearts and minds of as many people as possible…Translation is the best thing that happened to humanity. Translation breaks barriers and builds bridges and creates understanding. But “bad” translations could also create misunderstandings.It is this belief in translation’s ability to bring people together, to build new understanding that is at the heart of PARIBhasha’s work. And 2023 has been a significant year for us.We added two new languages – Chhattisgarhi and Bhojpuri – bringing the number to 14 Indian languages in which PARI is published.This year is also special because we got our name, PARIBhasha, highlighting our role beyond translation of English content to covering everything that we do make PARI a truly multilingual platform of rural journalism.We have continued to explore the role of tongues and languages in the lives of everyday people of our country. Through <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/migrant-labourers-speaking-in-borrowed-tongues/">stories</a> and <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/in-the-beginning-was-the-word-a-story-in-translation/">conversations</a> around translation and languages, we position PARI’s work in this space.

PARIBhasha_2023_InfoGraphic_001.jpg

With better systems and coordination between different teams in PARI, we could make the stories in our languages as correct and accurate as possible, and keep pace with the increased work – publishing more stories than ever in Indian languages every week! Audio files for non-English words, pdfs with photos for making captions accurate – were necessary steps, adding new dimensions to our translations and usage of language. Our aim has always been to minimise the gaps as we bring an article alive in a new language, sitting at our desks, thrice removed from action and the source of origin.  PARIBhsha also supports with accurate English translation of people’s words in their voices. Reviewing subtitles of a film or quotes used in the story and local words/references in Indian languages has lent authenticity to people’s voices in English by retaining their distinct flavour and correct idiom. Good and timely translations, priority to the location language and the increase in readership of digital content available in languages other than English, have given traction to our translated stories and have made material impact on the ground.The Bangla version of Women beedi workers’ health: up in smoke by Smita Khator <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/%E0%A6%94%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%81%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF/">ঔদাসীন্যের ধোঁয়াশায় মহিলা বিড়ি শ্রমিকদের স্বাস্থ্য</a> was circulated widely, eventually resulting in an increase in wages for the workers. Similarly, In Jaisalmer: gone with the windmills by Priti David with an accompanying video by Urja and its Hindi translation <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/in-jaisalmer-gone-with-the-windmills-hi/">जैसलमेर: पवनचक्कियों की बलि चढ़ते ओरण</a>, by Prabhat Milind was used at the protest by locals and led to the state returning ‘wasteland’ to the commons (oran) in Degray. These are just a few examples.

PARIBhasha_2023_InfoGraphic_002.jpg

Many PARI translations have been republished by regional rural portals and print spaces such as Bhumika, Matruka, Ganashakti, Desh Hitaishi, PrajaVani. Miloon Saryajani, a Marathi monthly, dedicated to women’s questions, published an introductory piece on PARI in January 2023 and will be carrying Marathi translations of PARI stories focusing on women’s issues in the coming years. PARIBhasha has been able to carve a niche for itself in the translation field because of its sustained and sensitive approach to work. It has offered insights and support to various organisations and institutions in creating multilingual spaces using different Indian languages.

From ‘PARI translations’ to ‘PARIBhasha’This year we have started commissioning and sourcing original content in Indian languages and doing primary edit in the original language before the final edit in English. We aim to build our capacities so that stories reported in Indian languages are edited in the source language and the final version is translated into English. And many strides were taken in this direction as well with some of the bilingual language editors working in two languages simultaneously. Many reporters worked with PARIBhasha to bring their stories/creative pieces or films on PARI: Jitendra Vasava, Jitendra Maid, Umesh Solanki, Umesh Ray, Vajesinh Pargi, Keshav Waghmare, Jaysing Chavan, Tarpan Sarkar, Himadri Mukherjee, Sayan Sarkar, Labani Jangi, Rahul Singh, Shishir Agarwal, Prakash Ransing, Savika Abbas, Wahidur Rahman, Arshdeep Arshi.PARI Education team, in collaboration with PARIBhasha, have been <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/stories/categories/pari-for-schools/">publishing</a> original student stories in Indian languages. Young reporters from non-English backgrounds are writing in their choice of language, assured of learning the skills of reporting and documentation with PARI. Translations of these stories take them to wider audiences. The Odiya team of PARIBhasha played a significant role in translation of the unique archive of paintings by <a href="https://beta.ruralindiaonline.org/childrens-paintings/1">Adivasi children</a> on PARI. The project was reported in Odiya language. PARI has gained solid ground in curating and showcasing repositories such as <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/gsp-masterpage/">Grindmill Songs</a> from Maharashtra and <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/songs-of-the-rann-archive-of-kutchi-folk-songs/">Kutchi songs</a> from Gujarat. Many groups including news portals and NGOs have approached PARI for contributions and collaborations in regional languages. PARIBhasha commits itself to make PARI a people’s archive in people’s languages. And the coming years will see more efforts towards this goal.

Cover design: Rickin SanklechaIf the work we do interests you and you would like to contribute to PARI, please write to us at <a href="mailto:contact@ruralindiaonline.org">contact@ruralindiaonline.org</a>. We welcome freelance and independent writers, reporters, photographers, film makers, translators, editors, illustrators and researchers to work with us.PARI is a not-for-profit and we rely on donations from people who appreciate our multilingual online journal and archive. If you would like to contribute to PARI please click on <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/pages/donate/">DONATE</a>.

In 2023: PARIBhasha builds a people’s archive in peoples’ languages

سال ۲۰۲۳ میں پاری بھاشا: عوام کی زبان میں عوام کا آرکائیو

2023: PARIభాష – ప్రజల భాషల్లో ప్రజల అర్కైవ్

2023: பாரிபாஷை - மக்களின் மொழிகளில் மக்களுக்கான பெட்டகம்

2023: ਪਾਰੀਭਾਸ਼ਾ - ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਰਕਾਈਵ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ

୨୦୨୩ ‘ପରୀ’ଭାଷା – ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଭାଷାରେ ଲୋକଙ୍କର ଏକ ଅଭିଲେଖାଗାର

२०२३: पारीभाषा – लोकांचा संग्रह लोकांच्या भाषेत

2023 പാരിഭാഷ – ജനങ്ങളുടെ ഭാഷയിൽ ജനങ്ങളുടെ ഒരു ശേഖരം

2023: ಪರಿಭಾಷಾ - ಜನರ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರ ಆರ್ಕೈವ್

साल 2023 में पारीभाषा: अवाम की भाषा में अवाम का आर्काइव

2023: લોકોની આર્કાઇવ લોકોની ભાષામાં લોકો સુધી પહોંચાડતી પારીની પરીભાષાની સફર

2023: पारी-भाषा – लोगन के भाखा मं लोगन के खजाना

2023: पारीभाषा - जनता के भाषा में, जनता के संग्रह

সালতামামি ২০২৩: জনতার ভাষায় জনতার বারোমাস্যার আকর পারিভাষা

২০২৩ : পাৰিভাষা - সৰ্বসাধাৰণৰ ভাষাৰে সৰ্বসাধাৰণজনৰ আৰ্কাইভ

At present, we can only accept donations in Indian rupees by Indian citizens. All donations made to the CounterMedia Trust are eligible for exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Here is a copy of our exemption certificate.


India is bigger than New Delhi. And people need to know more about the rest of this vast nation.


Younger, media-saturated generations are growing up knowing little about their country, but a lot about the elites of a few metros and towns. For a narrowly-owned, commercially-driven media, the dumbing down of a nation is part of standard operating procedure. The last available data of the Centre for Media Studies (CMS, Delhi) show us that reports from New Delhi account for 66 per cent of news on the front pages of major dailies. The CMS data also found that just about 0.24 per cent of front page news came out of rural India. The TV channels are not much better.PARI exists to change that.We are a non-profit organisation. We publish under creative commons, and do not charge readers a subscription fee or put-up advertisements. Nothing is behind a paywall and we are completely free-to-access by anyone. We guard our independence and receive no direct grants from governments and corporations, nor any funding that could dictate our content. So, we are dependent on volunteer labour, donations from individuals, foundations and institutions that see value in independent and free media.PARI is changing the way Indian journalism reports and documents the rural.India is more than the elite of a few metros and towns. We report on rural lives and livelihoods, languages, communities, migrants and more. We need your help to pull off this most ambitious of Indian journalistic endeavours. The scale of this effort costs money. Donate generously - and spread the word about PARI.&nbsp;

Donate FAQs


Let’s get you acquainted

Welcome to PARI

All our content is, and will forever be free to consume. If you enjoy our work, you can support us by becoming a volunteer or by donating to help fund our work.

Want to republish this article? Please write to <a href="mailto:zahra@ruralindiaonline.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">zahra@ruralindiaonline.org</a> with a cc to <a href="mailto:namita@ruralindiaonline.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">namita@ruralindiaonline.org</a>

In 2023: PARIBhasha builds a people’s archive in peoples’ languages

The 14 Indian languages that PARI stories are published in – often simultaneously – is evidence of the website’s unique space as a multilingual platform of journalism. But that’s only part of the story…read on to find out more on PARIBhasha

Related stories

A rain-scented walk in Sivagangai

Living on ravaged land

Biswas and the bamboos on his bike

Recycling energy, Godda style

Bhadels of Goa

Pookadai: still throbbing with morning life

Koli Kadlas

Malnourishment high among children of migrants: study

Wheels of the rural Indian West

Living Under a Red Cloud in Bellary

Vedla – earrings of the Maher community

Dreaming of water, drowning in debt

Kali: the dancer and his dreams

Farmer's diet worse than a convict's

In Yavatmal, life goes on

Suicides are about the living, not the dead

Death of a carpenter

Hoisa Shigmo!

Women farmers: weaving a life in Anantapur

Defiant in Dhinkia

Spice and all that's nice

Kerala's Green Army

The ‘jugaad’ not-a-mobile

Health as someone else's wealth

Calibrating in a Kudumbashree assembly unit