The European Union Back as Jaipur Literature Festival Partner

Highlights

· EU in focus at the Festival with over 15 European authors participating at the JLF

· European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) Laureate Gabriela Ruivo, H.E. Hervé Delphin, European Union Ambassador to India, to be the speakers at the Festival

· EU to co-host the opening reception

Jaipur, 29 January 2025: The European Union (EU) is set to partner again with the Jaipur Literature Festival for the upcoming edition from 30 January to 3 February in the Pink City. This partnership celebrates the vibrant cultural and literary ties between the EU and India, showcasing the rich diversity of European literature and its unique cultural and linguistic heritage at the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’. Bringing together leading voices from literature, politics, science, and the arts, the festival is a forum for meaningful exchange.

The festival will feature an impressive cohort of over 15 EU authors, including Gabriela Ruivo, the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) 2024 nominee. Cheyenne Olivier, Philippe Claudel and Ira Mukhoty from France; Cauvery Madhavan, Jessica Traynor and Jane Ohlmeyer from Ireland; David Hernández de la Fuente, Santiago Íñiguez de Onzoño, Francesc Miralles and Santiago Roncagliolo from Spain; Bruno Maçães from Portugal; Daniil Tolstoy from Sweden; Yaroslav Trofimov and Livia Manera Sambuy from Italy; Kader Abdolah from the Netherlands; Tonio Schachinger from Austria; Zygmunt Miłoszewski from Poland; and Mark Mobius, Jenny Erpenbeck and Michael Hofmann from Germany will participate in a variety of sessions bringing stories and experiences that reflect Europe’s diversity and creativity. In addition, EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin and Irish Ambassador Kevin Kelly will also join as panellists.

As part of the partnership, the EU Delegation to India will also co-host the festival’s inaugural reception, spotlighting the rich confluence of European and Indian literary traditions. This collaboration further strengthens the EU’s longstanding relationship with India, emphasizing the importance of literary and cultural connections in fostering global partnerships.

At the Festival, H.E. Hervé Delphin, European Union Ambassador to India, will join the EU authors in engaging audiences through thought-provoking discussions for the session “Books, Ideas, and Digital Ecosystem” on 30th January, along with Brian Murray, CEO of HarperCollins, and academic and writer Mukulika Banerjee, moderated by Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts.

Talking about the long-standing partnership with the Jaipur Literature Festival, Ambassador Delphin said, “For the EU, partnering with the Jaipur Literature Festival is not only about celebrating a shared love of literature with India – it’s about sparking conversations that impact society, fostering creativity, and strengthening our cultural ties. By bringing together Indian and European voices, we’re creating a unique moment that showcases the richness of our combined storytelling traditions.” He added, “Our strong EU-India bilateral strategic partnership needs to be nurtured by people-to-people interaction. Culture is part of that canvas and literature is a powerful medium for building understanding and affinities. Over 15 European authors will be in Jaipur to share fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and stories that connect. This year, as we look forward to elevating our partnership with India, we’re also taking our partnership with the Festival to new heights.”

Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, said: “We are delighted to partner with the European Union at the 18th Jaipur Literature Festival. With over 35 writers coming from across Europe, this collaboration is about discovering Europe through the lens of literature. It’s an honour to host the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL) and feature their 2024 nominee, Gabriela Ruivo, as part of this literary celebration.”

EUPL Nominee 2024 Gabriela Ruivo is an acclaimed Portuguese writer, and the winner of several literary awards. Celebrated for her exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and the human experience, Gabriela’s works have resonated with readers worldwide. She will discuss her journey across genres and borders at the Festival at the session, ‘The Portrait of Life’ along with Tonio Schachinger and Swati Chopra. Expressing her thoughts, she said: “I am excited to participate in the Jaipur Literature Festival, a space where the world comes together through literature. I look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations with fellow authors and readers, publishers and translators, exploring how literature can inspire creativity and change.”

The Jaipur Literature Festival, held annually in the vibrant city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, will take place from 30 January to 3 February 2025. Drawing thousands of literary enthusiasts, authors, and cultural leaders from across the globe, the Festival is a hub for global conversations on literature, arts, and culture.

For more information:

EUPL: The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, is an annual initiative to recognise the best emerging fiction writers in Europe. The Prize aims to put the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and to encourage greater interest in non-national literary works. It also encourages the transnational circulation of cultural and artistic output and fosters intercultural dialogue.

About the European Union (EU): The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world’s largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its ‘Member States’) are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro) which has been adopted by 20 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability.

EU-India relations: For over 60 years, the European Union and India have collaborated to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, protect human rights, expand trade, and promote joint research in areas such as energy, health, agriculture, and many other fields of mutual interest. More information at: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india