From AMARTYA SEN to VIKRAM SETH and CHETAN BHAGAT, it’s Indian authors galore at this year’s LONDON BOOK FAIR.

 

THE London Book Fair that kicked off yesterday will explore everything from Indian writing abroad to complex issues around translation and the state of fiction in India. As Nobel Prize winning writer, economist and philosopher Amartya Sen, who shall address the audience on ‘Are Indians reading right’, says “I feel very privileged to be involved in it. The Book Fair is a marvelous way of getting people together.

 

Sen finds the event very interesting. “Especially, the conversation with David Miliband and later in the day with Vikram Seth, Nandan Nilekani and Ramchandra Guha. You know, I am greatly looking forward to learning about things I do not know and things I do know but do not quite understand,” he says.

 

One of the biggest publishing events in the world, it will focus on India in a series of seminars and cultural events, aimed at highlighting the richness and diversity of contemporary Indian literature. Indian writers representing 15 major Indian languages will participate in 40 literary events in London and several other UK destinations.

 

“It’s my first experience here and I have to say it’s really heartening to see so many Indian writers, especially regional language authors,” says novelist Chetan Bhagat. “I met Nandan Nilekani and told him I admired his book. He just said, Well, I’m still selling less books than you, and I said that’s because there’s no sauce in your books!” he laughs.

 

Susie Nicklin, Director Literature, British Council, says it’s a great opportunity for all. “Many people in the UK feel they know India and her writers, which is not surprising given their justified success in this country; many readers in India feel they are au fait with British contemporary literature. In fact all of us will benefit hugely from discovering more about each other’s literary cultures and societies.”

 

Others who are expected to attend the series of readings and seminars include Javed Akhtar, Amit Chaudhari and Anita Nair, amongst others.