A spiritual Ishmaelite

Looking back, Umer realized that if he had been granted the visa, he would have likely followed a more traditional academic path.

Umer had always been passionate about studying the complexities of translation and how it shapes the world we live in. So when he was accepted into a graduate program in Translation Studies at a prestigious university in the United States, he was thrilled. He worked hard to prepare for his move, completing all the necessary paperwork and getting his visa application in order.

But when he arrived at the US embassy for his visa interview, he was shocked to be told that his application had been denied. The officer had claimed that there was not enough evidence to show that he would return to his home country after completing his studies.

Umer was devastated. He had worked so hard to get into this program, and now it seemed like his dreams were slipping away. But he refused to give up. He decided to stay in his home country and find another way to pursue his passion for Translation Studies.

At first, Umer struggled to find a way to continue his studies. He reached out to professors at local universities, but they told him that there were no graduate programs in Translation Studies in his country. He felt like he was hitting a dead end, until he stumbled upon a group of translation practitioners who were working to decolonize knowledge.

Through his conversations with the practitioners, Umer realized that his Western academic training had given him a narrow view of what constituted “legitimate” knowledge. He began to see the ways in which Western academia had marginalized translation practices that were not based on Eurocentric norms.

Inspired by what he had learned, Umer began to work with the practitioners to document their knowledge and practices. He learned how to use oral history techniques and other non-Western research methods, and began to produce a body of work that challenged the dominant narrative in his field.

Over time, Umer’s work began to gain recognition both within his own country and internationally. He was invited to speak at conferences and publish his work in prestigious journals. Through his advocacy and activism, Umer became a leading voice in the movement to decolonize knowledge and center non-Western translation practices.

Looking back, Umer realized that if he had been granted the visa, he would have likely followed a more traditional academic path. But being denied the visa forced him to rethink his approach to knowledge production and dissemination. It led him to discover a new way of working that was more inclusive, equitable, and respectful of non-Western translation practices.

Umer’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest obstacles we face can lead us down unexpected and transformative paths. It also shows us the importance of being open to alternative ways of knowing and being, and the need to challenge dominant narratives and power structures in our pursuit of knowledge.