Chawla cuurently leads Indian Languages Services a translation firm in California / Image - Supplied

Born and raised in New Delhi, Dr. Gurdeep Chawla spent six years as an interpreter in the Indian Parliament before moving to the United States, where her husband, renowned entrepreneur Suri Chawla, was posted. 

Initially anticipating a short stay, she explored opportunities in the local court system, providing interpretation for individuals from diverse nationalities and linguistic backgrounds. In a short span, Chawla's work garnered recognition from colleagues, prompting her to consider roles aligned with her extensive government and diplomatic background.

Despite the opportunity being in Washington DC and residing in the San Francisco Bay area herself, she took the required test, successfully passed it, and gradually climbed through various levels of interpretation, eventually reaching the diplomatic level. 

The ace diplomatic interpreter who has nearly spent 34 years in this industry is one of the most revered names in her field today, has facilitated communication for some of the most influential world leaders at various high-profile forums, including the G-20, G-7, ASEAN, the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), Nuclear Security Summit, and numerous bilateral talks worldwide.

She has provided interpretation services for distinguished industry leaders such as Indira Nooyi, the former CEO of the Pepsi group, and Ajay Banga, the CEO of the World Bank.  Looking at such an illustrious professional background, it's natural for one to wonder what it takes to be in her shoes?

Chawla invests hours and hours meticulously preparing for each upcoming diplomatic meeting. According to her, "The job demands you to be linguistically rich. You need to be aware of what's happening worldwide, and having a sound knowledge of international relations is crucial. Such preparation doesn't begin just days before or on the event day. That's why I am always reading and keeping abreast of world affairs. For instance, if I am to interpret dialogues between Indian and American leaders, I would spend a lot of time watching videos, closely observing the terminology used by leaders, their expressions, the strain of thought."

 Chawla defines interpretation as balancing a tightrope suspended 10 feet above. She calls her job extremely demanding, discerning, and one with a huge responsibility. "When I am interpreting, I am not Gurdeep Chawla. I am the voice of 'The Leader' (the President or the Prime Minister)," she clears the air.

Essentially, she is their alter ego. That is why Chawla emphasizes that there's immense pressure to ensure accuracy in every word and expression, avoiding misinterpretation and conveying the leader's emotions precisely as they are. So much that when people listen, they feel and understand a leader's emotions, whether they be enthusiasm, passion, or the lack thereof.

Chawla has had the rare honor of interpreting for 7 Indian PMs, 4 US Presidents and 2 Canadian PMs. Being the voice behind such powerful global leaders sounds fascinating. Isn’t it? But, as charming and attractive as it may sound to those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the job, interpretation can sometimes feel like a solitary endeavor.

"We are like the fly on the wall," notes Chawla, who has interpreted for some of the most influential leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, President Obama, President Trump, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Our job is to be the leader's voice and be invisible. We are not supposed to be the important person in the room." Nevertheless, she concedes that if you excel in your job, it seldom goes unnoticed. 

Similar to any other field, the field of interpretation has undergone significant evolution. Decades ago, when Chawla began her career with the Indian Parliament, she had never imagined that something that requires a visual connection with the speaker could be done remotely.

“It seemed impossible! But COVID-19 changed everything. The pandemic taught us how to work remotely. Then, platforms like Zoom emerged alongside other interpretation portals and hubs. These innovations enabled interpreters to work from individual booths while observing speakers on large screens, effectively bridging the physical gap,” she explains. Adapting to new systems is not really difficult for someone who has mastered the ropes of her job and knows her turf well.

Surprisingly, Chawla's introduction to interpretation was completely unplanned. "I had no clue what interpretation was like!" she quips. 21-year-old at that time, Chawla was studying at St. Stephens, Delhi University, preparing to become a civil servant when she stumbled upon a newspaper ad for the position of translator in the Indian Parliament. She applied and passed the test, fully aware that she was not too inclined to pursue it. Following her father's advice, she decided to try the job for a few weeks with one foot out the door.

But when Chawla eventually expressed her intent to resign, she was encouraged to take a break instead, recognizing her excellent performance in the role. Giving it some thought, she decided to stay. Then, one day, she saw someone speaking while wearing headphones. Curious to know what it was – she dug deeper and was explained the intricate process of interpretation.

"Speaking, listening to the next sentence, analyzing, delivering, and then interpreting all in one go. This multifaceted nature of the job struck me as magical. The first time I heard someone interpreting in the booth, I was amazed by the skill and coordination it required. This drew me into it."
 

Gurdeep Chawla with PM Modi and Canadian PM Stephen Harper at Canadian Parliament, Ottawa during Modi’s state visit in Canada / Supplied

Chawla was trained at the Parliament for a year and a half. After this, she took a series of tests, cleared them all, and was assigned the role of a parliament interpreter. She reminisces about how she learned the tricks of the trade all by herself since there were no specific training schools in India at that time.

"I used to observe my seniors, particularly where to pause correctly, listen effectively, and find the right words when needed." But the scenario is a bit different today. The field has become highly competitive with several prestigious institutions offering full degree courses. And, there are plenty of training schools that one can enroll into informs Chawla. 

She further emphasizes that a love for languages is essential to excel in this field as it's not something that one may acquire over time. The aspirants should work on their vocabulary and voice modulation and keep their eyes peeled on global affairs. "A single error can lead to significant diplomatic misunderstandings, and in extreme cases, could even escalate to a world conflict. Therefore, an interpreter must not only be linguistically skilled but also culturally aware, essentially acting as a linguistic and cultural ambassador,” she adds. 

Currently, Chawla spearheads Indian Languages Services from California, a venture she founded with the vision of delivering premier interpretation and translation services in Indian languages to and from English.