Taipei: Taiwanese novelist Yang Shuang-zi is set to embark on a speaking tour across India in November, delivering three talks under the theme “Taiwan-India Literary Dialogue: The Indian Journey of Taiwanese Literature,” as announced by the Ministry of Culture (MOC).
According to Focus Taiwan, Yang, alongside translator Lin King, won the U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature with Yang’s novel “Taiwan Travelogue” in November 2024. This achievement marked Yang as the first Taiwanese national to receive this prestigious award. In Delhi, Yang will join Indian architect and cultural critic Moulshri Joshi and translator Arunava Sinha to discuss topics such as food culture, national identity, and literary translation, as stated by MOC in a press release.
The speaking tour will commence with a discussion featuring Moulshri Joshi, a member of MOC’s Southeast Asia Advisory Committee, at the Kathika Cultural Centre and Museum on November 5. This event will also feature Taiwanese snacks, providing participants with a cultural experience. Yang’s conversation with Arunava Sinha is scheduled to take place at the Bookshop Inc on November 6.
Sinha, one of South Asia’s most prominent literary translators, has translated over 80 works between Bengali and English, bridging significant literary traditions. Yang is also set to speak at the Mumbai LitFest on November 9 with celebrated Indian novelist Shubhangi Swarup under the theme “When a Woman Writes.”
During the Mumbai LitFest event, Yang will explore how a young girl’s coming-of-age experiences influence her reading, writing, and research. The festival’s website highlights that the conversation will delve into how Yang questions dominant ideas of history and relationships and traces her creative journey from her real name, Yang Ruo-ci, to her nom de plume, Yang Shuang-zi.
Yang’s literary works, which blend historical memory, female narratives, and imaginative storytelling, exhibit the multifaceted charm of Taiwanese literature. Her appearances in India represent a significant milestone for Taiwanese literature’s presence in South Asia, according to MOC.
The Mumbai LitFest is renowned for its intellectual depth and social engagement, and it stands as one of the most prestigious literary festivals in South Asia. This event is co-organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India’s Cultural Division.
