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Award winning Spanish writer Antonio Muñoz Molina's novel, Un andar solitario entre... la gente, recently translated into English as, To Walk Alone in the Crowd, is an absorbing part memoir, part novel and part chronicle of urban wandering. Deeply rooted in nostalgia of the mundane yet extraordinary, Molina's narrative is a skillful take on contemporary life and the profundity of the digital and concrete jungles around us. His other novels include In the Night of Time, Sepharad, and Like a Fading Shadow. In conversation with academic and author Maneesha Taneja, Molina gives us a peek into his writing style and the ecological and aesthetic inspirations behind his most recent work.

Spanish academic and writer María Dueñas' latest novel, Sira, a sequel to... her award winning book and adaptation, The Time in Between, is an ode to powerful and charismatic women and the sacrifices they made during the decades of the Second World War. In conversation with Òscar Pujol, Dueñas discusses her writing journey and inspirations.

Celebrated and award winning Spanish writer and physicist Agustín Fernández Mallo weaves... together interconnections, reinterpretation and appropriations across the span of human existence. His novel Trilogía de la guerra translated into English as The Things We’ve Seen, panoramically examines the scale of human existence in the 21st century. In conversation with poet Subhro Bandopadhyay, Mallo discusses the nuances of his vibrant narrative style and shares perspectives on the evolving nature of Spanish literature across its many worlds.

The world in the last decade has acquainted itself to the gems... of north eastern literature. Whilst for the uninitiated it is a new culture to explore, for those who have been avid readers of this literary tradition, its popularity in the mainstream comes as no surprise. However, how does one define North-eastern Literature, the sub-cultures that it is made up of and its boundaries? An illustrious panel evaluates the representation of language, dialect, and socio-political narratives of the eight states and explores the place of their authors within larger literary traditions.

Malayalam fiction has now found a home the world over through its... books and cinema. Stories that are at times intrinsically local have also found audiences in different pockets of the world due to their universal appeal, reiterating the notion of a ‘glocal’ world. Whilst Malayalam classics have had a long tradition of being translated, now contemporary Malayalam fiction is not only getting translated into English but other regional languages. In this ever growing space where do Malayalam authors see this literary tradition going? Are they now writing for a more diverse audience, and is that reflecting upon their latest works? In conversation with writer Keerthik Sasidharan, a panel that explores the role of language within the written word and attempts to decipher what is lost and found in translations.
 

Swiss-German writer Jonas Lüscher’s work, Kraft, is a social satire on our... technological and consumption obsessed age and the roots of neoliberal fantasies.Translated into English by celebrated writer Tess Lewis, the novel explores a German Professor's attempts at winning a competition to be held at Silicon Valley. In a session evaluating world-weary European skepticism and irrational American optimism, the writer and translator give us a glimpse into the process of translating this text and the paradox of ideas and inquiry in a world dominated by the market.In conversation with writer and publisher Urvashi Butalia.

Writer and academic Usha Priyamwada's iconic book, Pachpan Khambe, Laal Deewaarein, originally... published in 1961, follows the journey of a young female professor and her role as the sole provider for her family. Translated into English as Fifty-Five Pillars, Red Walls, by writer and translator Daisy Rockwell, the tale poignantly unfurls the physical, mental and social paradigms within which women lock themselves. Together with actor Mita Vashisht and Indian Novels Collective’s co-founder Shinjini Kumar, Rockwell discusses this quietly intense and pathbreaking Hindi novel and the process of bringing it together in the 21st century.

The late Bangladeshi writer Akhtaruzzaman Elias’ novel, Khwabnama, weaves a tapestry of... magical realism blending dreams and memory, legend and history with the struggle of marginalised people and the stories of their ancestors. Translated from Bangla to English by Arunava Sinha, the narrative is set in the time of the Tebhaga Movement within Bengal in the 1940s and explores the hopes and aspirations of a farmer as he cultivates his land. In conversation with historian, author and translator Rakhshanda Jalil, Arunava Sinha discusses the nuances of translating a text so heavily steeped in history and the essence of land as a harbinger of hope and the future.

The late Vishram Bedekar’s novel, Ranaangan, published in English as Battlefield, is... a searing investigation on nationalism and the redemptive power of love. Translated from the original Marathi by Jerry Pinto, the tale follows the love story between a Maharashtrian man and a Jewish girl as the world unravels within the chaos of World War 2. In conversation with publisher Ravi Singh, Jerry Pinto discusses this translation and its many layers of race, identity and a search for home.

Writer and former diplomat M. Mukundan’s acclaimed book, Delhi: A Soliloquy, is... an evocative and unflinching look into the lives of Malayali migrants in post partition New Delhi, grappling with the questions of identity, poverty and nostalgia. Co-translated from Malayalam to English by Fathima E.V. and Nandakumar K., the book is an ode to Delhi and its deeply imbibed spirit of survival in times of war and peace. Mukundan worked in Delhi for forty years as a Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy. His award-winning books include On the Banks of the Mayyazhi and Kesavan’s Lamentations. Award-winning writer and translator E.V. Fathima has translated Subhash Chandran’s Manushyanu Oru Amukham as A Preface to Man. She was the translator-editor of the Indian Ink Mag. This book is Editor and Translator Nandakumar K’s first published translation from Malayalam. In a conversation with AJ Thomas, they explore the roots of this Malayalam classic and the process of its translation.

Writer, political commentator and activist Sara Joseph's acclaimed book, Budhini, traces the... uprooted life of the Santali girl who was famously ostracised by her community for greeting Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with a garland and tikka, seen as a symbolic matrimonial ritual, during the inauguration of a dam in 1959. Translated from the original Malayalam to English by her daughter Sangeetha Sreenivasan, the book is an enduring tribute to the female voice and to lives and stories that should not disappear within the folds of time. In conversation with writer Anita Nair, she delves into the process of translating this evocative tale and the wider bio-politics it uncovers.

The Sahitya Akademi award-winning Manipuri author Binodini's book was recently translated into... English as The Princess and the Political Agent by her son L. Somi Roy. A moving and evocative novel, it is based on the love story of her aunt Princess Sanatombi and Lt. Col. Henry P. Maxwell, the British representative in the subjugated Tibeto-Burman kingdom of Manipur. Woven together with a deep sense of sorrow, empathy and wit, the tale follows a forbidden love story in the midst of the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891 and unfolds Manipur's complex relationship with India and the British Raj. In conversation with editor and literary agent Preeti Gill, Roy unfurls a tragic account of love, war and pride while exploring the many nuances of the translation.

The language of music transcends all other languages. Yatindra Mishra’s book, Akhtari:... The Life and Music of Begum Akhtar, has been sourced both from the original English and translations from Hindi. Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, or Begum Akhtar as she was better known, was among the greatest Indian singers of the last century. An anthology steeped in essays on her life and music, as well as remembrances by those who knew her well including icons such as Bismillah Khan, Kunal Ray, Lata Mangeshkar, Rita Ganguly, Saleem Kidwai, Shanti Hiranand, Sheila Dhar, Shubha Mudgal, Yogesh Praveen, Yunus Khan and others along with interviews with the legend herself. Mishra and Maneesha Taneja have woven together an ultimate tribute to this doyan of ghazals. In conversation with celebrated author and screenwriter Anu Singh Choudhary, they take us on an evocative journey through the life and times of an extraordinary woman.

A vivid and loving homage to a legendary institution. By the late author... and Padma Shri awardee, Shivani, Amader Shantiniketan, originally written in Hindi, is a moving tribute to the spirit of Shantiniketan. Translated into English by her daughter Ira Pande, the memoir provides rare insights into the Ashram, its students and the eminent personalities associated with it, including Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray and Pandit Hajari Prasad Dwivedi. Gaura Pant 'Shivani' was among the foremost Hindi writers of her generation. Her literary output spans some 40 works and bears the deep imprint of both Kumaon and Bengal. In a powerful session of nostalgia and remembrance, her daughters Ira and Mrinal Pande speak to author Devapriya Roy about the warmth and deep roots of Shantiniketan and its powerful impact on generations of writers, intellectuals and poets.

Assam is the melting pot of cultures with a rich and diverse... literary heritage. The famed Assamese writer Dhrubajyoti Borah talks about his recent Elegy for the East: A Story of Blood and Broken Dreams and his other books and writings. Rooted in contemporaneous histories and the experiences of the people, the narrative is a quest for peace in the midst of ceaseless physical and psychological warfare in conflict-torn Assam. In conversation with publisher Trisha De Niyogi, Borah talks about his books and translations and the process of self translation. He is joined by Atreyee Gohain as she shares her experience of co-translating Elegy for the East and Shantana Saikia as she shares her journey of translating this icon of Assamese literature.

The much loved writer Mannu Bhandari's inspired body of work forges a... significant link in the evolution of modern Hindi fiction. Her novels and short stories are a testament to a time and a moment and to the nature of humans, of men and women and their complex relationships. Vidya Pradhan's translations, presented as The Best of Mannu Bhandari: The Wise Woman and Other Stories, introduces us to unshackled women, some flawed and self centered in the eyes of a patriarchal society and yet worthy of agency and respect. Taking forward Bhandari’s unflinching gaze, the stories in this collection are a testament to the inner lives of women, their strength and their fragility , and the odds they battle against, then and now. In conversation with writer and translator Poonam Saxena, Pradhan is joined by Bhandari’s daughter Rachana Yadav as they explore the profound spirit and inimitable style at the root of these transformative tales.

The first of a trilogy, Manoranjan... Byapari's latest book, The Runaway Boy, follows Jibon and his spirit of survival through a refugee camp in East Pakistan to his escape to Calcutta. Translated from Bangla to English by V. Ramaswamy, the evocative and imagery-rich book is a gut wrenching account of caste, politics and poverty. Byapari's extraordinary literary career is the stuff of legends and he has recently been elected an MLA in the Bengal elections. His writings include Chhera Chhera Jibon, Ittibrite Chandal Jibon, Amanushik, Anya Bhubon and Motua Ek Mukti Senar Naam. In conversation with translator Arunava Sinha, he discusses this piercing narrative of human determination and the process of its translation.

Political scientist, academic and author Ali... Khan Mahmudabad's translation of Khan Mahboob Tarzi's Aghaaz-e-Sahr or The Break of Dawn, is a tribute to a time when Indians of across class, caste and creed came together to protect their homeland. Translated into English from the original Urdu, this thriller-romance fiction is based around the events of 1857. Ali Khan Mahmudabad's translation of this evocative text provides deep insight into our past and helps us context our present. Khan Mahboob Tarzi (1910- 1960) was a prolific author who wrote over a hundred novels on history, politics, science-fiction, romance and erotica. Mahmudabad teaches history and political science at Ashoka University and writes a fortnightly column for the Urdu national daily Inqilab. In conversation with author, commentator and lawyer Saif Mahmood, he discusses the process of translating this important work which brings alive the true spirit of nationalism and the essence of belonging.

Jenny Bhatt’s evocative translations of the twentieth-century Gujarati short story pioneer, Dhumketu, brings... his poignant tales to life. In an engrossing session with writer and journalist Salil Tripathi, Jenny speaks of the range of Dhumketu’s varied oeuvre across more than 600 stories, 36 novels as well as plays and travelogues. Together, they place the ‘Gujarati Chekhov’ in the context of his times, as they read from and discuss his work on Jaipur Literature Festival WORDS ARE BRIDGES on Thursday, January 28, at 7pm IST.

Bhawana Somaaya is a multifaceted film critic, writer and translator. Her interest... in the grit and glamour of Bollywood is matched with an abiding love for her mother tongue, Gujarati. With her 17th book, she presents ‘Letters to Mother’, originally published in Gujarati in 2014 as ‘Saakshi Bhaav’ by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. For Somaaya, translating ‘Letters to Mother’ was an intense and exacting exercise. In conversation with acclaimed actor Tisca Chopa on Jaipur Literature Festival WORDS ARE BRIDGES on January 21st, Thursday, at 7 pm IST, she examines her journey as a film journalist and critic and her parallel commitment to translation. Bringing the text to life, this session will include an evocative reading from the original Gujarati by acclaimed theatre and film actor, Pratik Gandhi.

Writer and poet Anita Agnihotri, who retired as Secretary, Social Justice Department,... Government of India, has written over 35 books and has been translated into major Indian and international languages. Her books have woven themes of the struggles, exploitation and deprivation of the marginalised with a range of human emotions. Her recent books include the novels Mahanadi and Kaste and translated short stories - A Day in the Life of Mangal Taram. In conversation with celebrated translator Arunava Sinha, she speaks of her journey through the literary world.

The 12th-century Georgian epic ‘Knight in the Panther's Skin’ by medieval poet... Shota Rustavelli follows the adventures of a young Hindostani Prince, Tariel, as he searches for his beloved and was written originally by the poet to impress his queen. Translated into Hindi by Bhupinder Aziz Parihar, it is a tribute to the centuries-old friendship shared between Georgia and India. Watch Parihar and Georgian author Natasha Lomouri, Director of The Writer's House in Tbilisi, discuss the recent Hindi translation and the 'fictional homecoming' for the protagonist of the classic with publisher Neeta Gupta.

Women, Dreaming, a beautiful novel by writer and activist Salma, translated exquisitely... from Tamil by Meena Kandasamy, captures the lives of women in a tiny Muslim village in Tamil Nadu. Salma's storytelling enters this interior world of women, held together by love, demarcated by religion, comforted by the courage in dreaming of better futures. Writer and activist Salma is also the author of acclaimed novel The Hour Past Midnight. Author, poet, translator and activist Meena Kandasamy's latest novel Exquisite Cadavers has won critical accolades around the world. Manasi Subramaniam is Executive Editor and Head of Literary Rights at Penguin Random House India.

Originally published in Malayalam as Meesha, S. Hareesh’s Moustache is a novel... of epic dimensions and a contemporary classic mixing magic, myth and metaphor. Here, the Hareesh and his award-winning translator Jayasree Kalathil speak with the renowned poet K. Satchidanandan about the work's deep roots in the history, geography, politics and folklore of the Kuttanad region, and how the fabulous is sometimes the truest way to depict real lived experience.

Academic and author Michael Cooperson’s ‘Impostures’ is an English translation of Arab... poet and scholar Al-Harīrī’s ‘Maqāmāt’, which follows the roguish Abū Zayd al-Sarūjī in his adventures around the medieval Middle East. Cooperson matches the Arabic wordplay with an English narrative of his own influenced by Chaucer, Mark Twain and others. Along with literary critic, poet, translator and academic Kevin Blankinship, he evaluates the picaresque adventures and linguistic acrobatics of ‘Impostures’.

Writer and independent filmmaker Uday Prakash has been described as ‘one of... India’s most original and audacious writers’. A major voice in contemporary Hindi literature, his themes focus on the human and political contradictions of modern India. Academic Robert Hueckstedt has translated Prakash's short stories into English as 'Rage Revelry and Romance' and 'Short Shorts Long Shots'. Writer and translator Jason Grunebaum has translated much of Prakash’s work into English, including 'The Girl with the Golden Parasol' and 'The Walls of Delhi'.

Writer and independent filmmaker Uday Prakash has been described as ‘one of... India’s most original and audacious writers’. A major voice in contemporary Hindi literature, his themes focus on the human and political contradictions of modern India. Academic Robert Hueckstedt has translated Prakash's short stories into English as 'Rage Revelry and Romance' and 'Short Shorts Long Shots'. Writer and translator Jason Grunebaum has translated much of Prakash’s work into English, including 'The Girl with the Golden Parasol' and 'The Walls of Delhi'.

Author and screenwriter Leesa Gazi’s intriguing novel Hellfire has been rendered into... English from the original Bangla by translator Shabnam Nadia. A tale presented in taut prose, it revolves around the caged life of two sisters and introduces us to a carefully constructed web of secrets and deceit. Gazi is also the joint artistic director of a London-based arts company Komola Collective and has directed, performed and co-written critically acclaimed theatre productions. Nadia's work includes the award-winning translated manuscript of Bangladeshi writer Mashiul Alam’s story, Milk. In a conversation with Malashri Lal, they discuss the joys and challenges of translating HellFire and together unravel the heart of the narrative.

KR Meera’s Sooryane Aninja Oru Sthree, pulsating with themes of Biblical allusions,... myth and martyrdom, brings alive the tale of Jezebel. The novel scrutinises the micro politics of contemporary Kerala and confronts the hypocrisy of patriarchal interpretation of myth and history. Editor and translator Abhirami Girija Sriram and her co-translator K.S. Bijukumar’s English rendition of this profound text is to be released next year. In a conversation with TT Sreekumar, they discuss their process of writing and translating this crucial and transformative work which brings alive the female voice muted through generations.

Saaeda Bano's Off the Beaten Track: The Story of My Unconventional Life... is translated from Urdu into English by her granddaughter Shahana Raza. It opens a window into the life and undying spirit of a doyenne of Urdu broadcasting and India’s first woman radio newsreader. In a conversation with writer and publisher Urvashi Butalia, Raza gives us a glimpse of Saeeda’s determination, independence and courage which provides a unique and crucial disruption in India’s understanding of the past.

“Because moving from one language to another is challenging, it requires not... just translating words but an entire culture.” 

Distinguished writer, editor and translator Poonam Saxena has always had a way of weaving magic with her words and is widely known for launching Hindustan Times’ Sunday magazine, BRUNCH. Her illustrious career includes translations of works such as Dharamvir Bharati’s Gunahon Ka Devta and Rahi Masoom Raza’s Hindi novel Scene 75 to English. Her latest book The Greatest Hindi Stories Ever Told features legendary Hindi writers, from stalwarts like Bhisham Sahni, Kamleshwar and Rajendra Yadav to other formidable writers such as Mohan Rakesh and Krishna Sobti. In a conversation with publisher and Managing Trustee of the Vani Foundation, Aditi Maheshwari Goyal, Saxena speaks of the process and practice of translation along with the discipline and aesthetics of voice and interpretation.

“No two persons ever read the same book.”

Renowned for its melancholic nature... and dark humour, the cult Bengali novel Herbert written by Nabarun Bhattacharya has, in recent years, been translated thrice into English by Jyoti Panjwani, Arunava Sinha and  Sunandini Banerjee in their separate writings. In a fascinating conversation, Banerjee and Sinha discuss this classic from the 90s and give us insight on the forms of interpretation and translations of regional literature and how it has evolved through the decades. They also discuss Bhattacharya’s voice and syntax, the need to translate Herbert multiple times and the experience and challenges of translating his work.

Deeply embedded in a certain kind of feminism, iconic Hindi poet Anamika’s... work weaves together themes of politics, society and domesticity. Anamika’s first comprehensive collection of Hindi poems in English translation, My Typewriter is My Piano: Selected Poems has been edited and co-translated by internationally acclaimed poet Sudeep Sen. Anamika has also translated Sen’s My Body is the Stepson of my Soul: Selected Poems into Hindi as Sudeep Sen: Mera Sharir Meri Atma Ka Sautela Beta. Sen’s poetry is known for his formal construct, innovation, lyricism and intelligence. In conversation with Malashri Lal, they read from their work and speak of the sources, inspirations, contexts, philosophy and multilinguality of the poetic imagination.

Anukrti Upadhyay – critically-acclaimed author of 'Daura', 'Bhaunri' and 'Japani Sarai' –... is that rarest of writers, working with equal ease across languages, including Hindi and English. She speaks with celebrated author and screenwriter Anu Singh Choudhary, who too writes widely in Hindi and English, about what it means to work, imagine, and create through different languages and mediums. They also discuss Anukrti's new English novel 'Kintsugi', set between Jaipur and Japan as well as the mega-successful web series 'Aarya' co-written by Anu Singh Choudhary.

Originally published in Malayalam as Meesha, S. Hareesh’s Moustache is a novel... of epic dimensions and a contemporary classic mixing magic, myth and metaphor. Here, the Hareesh and his award-winning translator Jayasree Kalathil speak with the renowned poet K. Satchidanandan about the work's deep roots in the history, geography, politics and folklore of the Kuttanad region, and how the fabulous is sometimes the truest way to depict real lived experience.

Renowned for bringing the marvellous to the ordinary, Vinod Kumar Shukla has... long been recognised as one of India’s foremost writers with his unique stories that deal with 'smaller-than-life people'. Satti Khanna, who has translated a number of Vinod-ji's works into English, speaks with writer and translator Mohini Gupta about his remarkable-yet-mundane world, the startling originality of his voice and syntax, and the experience and challenge of translating him. Watch this engrossing session on Jaipur Literature Festival WORDS ARE BRIDGES on Thursday, August 6, 7 pm IST.

Ranjit Desai's Shriman Yogi, about the foundations of the Maratha empire and... the life of its charismatic founder, the great warrior Shivaji, is a beloved classic of Marathi literature. In conversation with author and translator Rita Kothari, the prolific translator Vikrant Pande speaks about giving Ranjit Desai a new voice in English and about the continuing relevance of Shivaji.

Arupa Patangia Kalita's fiction is a chronicle of the disturbing and searing... history of decades-long aggression and hate that plagued Assam. In conversation with her translator Ranjita Biswas alongside author Aruni Kashyap, she speaks about the surreally beautiful landscape of Assam, the conflict that scarred it and the role of a writer in fraught times.

On 13 April 1919, 22-year-old Nanak Singh joined the mass of peaceful... protestors agitating against the Rowlatt Act at Jallianwala Bagh. It was a life-changing experience for him: he survived the massacre, unnoticed among the hundreds of corpses, and his poem about the traumatic event, Khooni Vaisakhi, was banned soon after its publication in May 1920. Navdeep Suri, Nanak Singh's grandson, in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy.

Joy Goswami is one of the most powerful poets of Bengal and... among the best in the post-Jibanananda Das era of Bengali poetry. In conversation with his translator, the poet and fiction writer Sampurna Chattarji, and poet, art critic and cultural theorist Ranjit Hoskote, Goswami discusses the source of his inventive, enigmatic and visionary verse.