India-Wales literary ties to be deepened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Wales Arts International will continue to deepen relationships between Wales and India through exchanges of words and ideas, highlighting the powerful role the arts can play in creating genuine links between people across the world. An ‘India - Wales Writers’ Chain 2010-12’ has been developed by British Council and Wales Arts International, in partnership with Wales Literature Exchange, and is supported by Welsh Government, Hay Festivals and Literature Across Frontiers, Wales.Through an intensive workshop organised by Wales Literature Exchange in Thiruvananthapuram recently, eight poets from Wales had the opportunity to exchange ideas and understand the cultural roots and inspiration of each other’s work. Welsh poet Robert Minhinnick said that it is wonderful to be part of this ambitious project and to meet a host of both new and established writers. ‘’This is further evidence of how important it is to develop the scope of our arts. In Kerala, we exchanged ideas and learnt about life in a multilingual society and we are looking forward to exploring the creative possibilities and opportunities emerging when languages meet and play. ‘’Through an intensive workshop organised by Wales Literature Exchange, the eight poets had the opportunity to exchange ideas and understand the cultural roots and inspiration of each other’s work,’’ he said. Led by Sioned Puw Rowlands, Director of Wales Literature Exchange, the group aimed at creating a body of work suitable for publication in poetry anthologies in Welsh and English as well as in Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam.Rowlands said that the Writers’ Chain will help both emerging and established Welsh writers get their works translated into the languages of one of the fastest growing publishing markets in the world.Louise Wright, Senior Adviser, Arts, Creative Industries and New Media, British Council, said that the activities in Kerala highlighted the close cultural connections that have been forged between writers in Wales and India. These relationships have been sustained by a dynamic and vibrant set of partners, supported by British Council initiatives since 2009.