Fri May 02 23:45:00 UTC 2025: ## Modi’s Kerala Speech Marred by Translator’s Gaffe
**Thiruvananthapuram, May 3, 2025** – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Vizhinjam port inauguration in Kerala on Friday was interrupted by a significant translation error. His translator, Pallipuram Jayakumar, failed to accurately convey Modi’s sarcastic remarks about the “India Bloc,” a political alliance.
While Modi’s speech included a jab at the India Bloc, noting the presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Shashi Tharoor, Jayakumar instead translated the section as a comment about airline issues. This led to laughter from the audience and those on stage.
Modi acknowledged the error, stating that while the translation was incorrect, the intended message had still reached its target. Union Minister George Kurian reportedly explained the situation to Chief Minister Vijayan.
Jayakumar, a teacher with nine years of experience translating Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” radio address, attributed the mistake to an audio issue on stage that hindered his ability to hear the Prime Minister clearly. This isn’t the first such incident; a similar translation error occurred in 2015 involving a BJP leader. Despite receiving the prepared text in advance, the translator struggled whenever Modi deviated from his script.
First Piper 