Exploring the needs, challenges and benefits of accessing more translated literature from Indian languages.

This event is part of a series of events at the Free Word Centre on Saturday 15 October. To view all events on this day and purchase an all day ticket (£12), click here. 

For many years, UK readers have been treated to reams of fine Indian literature. Typically, though, this has all been work originally written in English. Think of Salman Rushdie, Amit Chaudhuri, Arundhati Roy and Anita Desai, to name a few. But there’s also a large and growing world of writing in other Indian languages – so why don’t UK readers have access to it? In spite of publishers’ interest in Indian writing, almost nothing is translated into English.

Of course, the role of translators in bridging this gap is vital; not only are they the people who can produce the English texts but they can also as guides to the wealth of literature that is available and that might work well in English translation. Translators Rohini Chowdhury and Arunava Sinha (who joins us especially from India), discuss the processes and challenges in translating from Indian languages into English with The Independent’s Literary Editor, Boyd Tonkin.

This event is in partnership with the British Centre for Literary Translation.

www.bclt.org.uk