Lok Sabha Question No. 3346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Promotion of Indian Literature
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## 3346.  SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to promote Indian Literature in foreign countries through Sahitya Academy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the countries likely to be included under this programme;
- (d) the details of the funds likely to be sanctioned for this; and
- (e) the details of the target likely to be set for this?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (a),(b)&(c) Government of India, through Sahitya Akademi, is already promoting Indian literature in foreign  countries  through  various  measures.  Sahitya  Akademi  has  been  translating  Indian literary  masterpieces  into  foreign  languages  under  Ministry  of  Culture's  project,  Indian Literature Abroad (ILA). Prior to ILA and over the years, Sahitya Akademi promoted several Indian  classics  and  popular  Indian  works  into  foreign  languages.  Under  the  scheme  to promote Indian literature in foreign languages, Sahitya Akademi has published following:

|   Sl.No. | Title                                | Language Translated Into and Publisher      |
|----------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Herbert by Nabarun Bhattacharya      | German (Publisher - Draupadi Verlag)        |
|        2 | Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh | Swedish (Publisher-Aranan Publishing House) |
|        3 | Kaattil Oru Maan by Ambai            | French (Publisher - Zulma)                  |

Apart from the above, the Akademi has published the following books under Cultural Exchange Programme:

|   Sl. No. | Title Language of Publication                        |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Bhartala Da Natya Shastra by Kapila Vatsayan Russian |
|         2 | Indian Short Stories by E.V. Ramakrishnan Russian    |
|         3 | Kabita Slovenian                                     |
|         4 | The Dual of the Heart English                        |

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3346 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## PROMOTION OF INDIAN LITERATURE

## Other Initiatives

Over the years, the Sahitya Akademi promoted several Indian classics and popular Indian works into foreign languages such as the Ayodhya Canto of the Ramayana as told by Kamban from  Tamil  into  English,  Chemmeen  from  Malayalam  into  English  and  several  Eastern European, Kavitavali by Tulsidas into English, Godaan by Premchand into English, Garambica Bapu  by  S.N.  Pendse  into  English,  Pather  Panchali  by  Bibhutibhushan  Bandyopadhyay  into French.

For  the  promotion  of  Indian  Literature  in  foreign  countries  the  Sahitya  Akademi,  under  its Cultural Exchange Programme with different countries had sent the following Indian Writers' delegation to different countries:

Indian  writers'  delegation  to  participate  in  Hay  Festival,  Segovia,  Spain  (22-25  September 2016):  Expenditure: Rs. 3,63,304/-

Indian writers' delegation to London to participate in London Book Fair (14-16 March 2017): Expenditure: Rs. 16,07007/-

Indian writers' delegation to Brazil to participate in Festival of India in Brazil (04-10 September 2017): Expenditure: Rs. 13,349/-

Indian writers'  delegation to Thailand to participate in a Seminar on Influence of Sanskrit & Pali on South East Asian Languages under the Festival of India in Thailand (23-27 September 2017); Expenditure: Rs. 2,03,488/-

Indian writers' delegation to Spain to participate in a Sanskrit Round Table as part of India's 70th independence anniversary celebrations (17-21 October 2017): Expenditure: Rs. 2,77,440/-

Indian  writers'  delegation  to  Israel  to  participate  in  a  Festival  of  India  to  celebrate  70th Anniversary of India's Independence (05-10 November 2017): Expenditure: Rs. 7,90,544/-

Sahitya  Akademi's  participation  in  Vishwa  Hindi  Sammelan,  Mauritius  (18-20  August  2018): Expenditure: Rs. 1,29,946/-

Sahitya Akademi's participation in Sharjah International Book Fair  (31 October - 09 November 2018): Expenditure: Rs. 3,80,132/-.

Indian  writers'  delegation  to  Nepal  to  participate  in  Festival  of  India  in  Nepal  (19-21  March 2019): Expenditure: Rs. 2,47,643/-.

(d)&(e):  Sahitya  Akademi  has  been  publishing  these  translations  out  of  fund  allotted  to  it  by  the Government of India.

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