The first complete translation of the Ramayana into English was done by Ralph T. H. Griffith, published in 1889. Griffith, an English scholar and translator, dedicated himself to making this epic accessible to a Western audience.
His translation was notable not just for its attempts to stay true to the original text, but also for its poetic form, which aimed to preserve the essence of the original Sanskrit verses. Griffith’s work played a significant role in introducing the themes and narratives of the Ramayana to readers who were not familiar with Indian culture and literature.
It’s important to note that earlier portions of the Ramayana had been translated into English before Griffith’s complete translation, but his was the first comprehensive version, capturing the entirety of the text.