Saurabh Prashar

English<>Hindi & Punjabi Translator and Interpreter

“Expression is as important as food and water. Language access is fundamental for someone to express their thoughts and should be a fundamental right.”

Saurabh works with US MNC based in Singapore, where he lives with his wife and one-year-old daughter. He manages AI products which help reduce payment fraud. Saurabh comes from a rural part of Northern India, where his parents live and manage a small farm. From 2013 - 2018, Saurabh lived in 5 different cities in three different countries!

Saurabh says, "Selfless service by the team is who we are at Respond. The positive approach and need for action help build purpose behind the effort. Be it verbal or written translation, Respond allows me to peep into difficult times fellow brethren are undergoing. Along with translating documents for them, I pray for their well-being and safety. Working with Respond Crisis translation has given me a lot of gratitude. I am more thankful to God for his blessings.”

Saurabh also shares, “Once I translated an audio call from Pakistan, spoken in Punjabi. It is close to my heart for several reasons; we are from different nations, and our language connects us. It was not a very happy call. Hopefully, my work helped the person.”

We asked Saurabh to share something about the language(s) he translate that people wouldn’t necessarily know, and he said, “Punjabi is spoken in both Indian and Pakistani punjab. I have translated documents and audio files for Punjabis in both nations.”

Saurabh said if he had the chance to talk to politicians about why language access is so important, he would say, “Expression is as important as food and water. Language access is fundamental for someone to express their thoughts and should be a fundamental right.”

He shares that to care for his mental healht while doing this work he, meditates as much as possible, and says, “The words I hear or read are not always pleasurable so it is important to no let them affect me.”

Here are Saurabh’s answers to some rapid fire questions:

Who inspires you?

My  mom and wife inspire me.

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose and why?

Robin Williams or Bob Ross. Both taught being kind supersedes any skill or talent.

What is your favorite place to travel to? Do you travel to places where you don’t speak the language?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a translator?

It is not a task; it is a journey. Translate with your heart, and you will get the right words.

What’s one thing you’ve learned in the last year?

This too shall pass, aka, Covid.

Are there any other “causes” close to your heart?

Kids education.

Favorite word in any language? Why?

Nia, meaning purpose in Swahili and also my daughter's name.