Bapsi Sidhwa, Pakistan’s acclaimed English-language novelist, will launch Junglewalla, the Urdu translation of her best-selling book The Crow Eaters, at the Lahore Literary Festival being held later this month at the Alhamra Arts Complex.
Sidhwa, 74, who grew up in Lahore, and graduated from Kinnaird College, is flying in from Houston, Texas – where she lives – especially for the debut LLF, whose organisers say she will be one of the major draws at the event. “We’re thrilled that Bapsi will be at this year’s festival,” said Razi Ahmed, LLF founder. “There’s great excitement from people keen to hear and meet her and pick up Junglewalla.” Along with Tariq Ali, Sidhwa was one of the first Pakistanis English writers to win an international award. Sidhwa authored five books, including Cracking India, which was made into a film, Earth, by Deepak Mehta. Her books have been translated into several languages, including French and Italian. The author, essayist, and playwright had been an advisor to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on women’s development, and taught at Columbia University, Mount Holyoke, Rice University, Brandeis, and the University of Houston. Sidhwa is the sister of the late MP Bhandara, who ran Murree Brewery and was a member of the Parliament. “Bapsi is of Pakistani origin,” said LLF’s Ahmed. “She was one of the first Pakistani authors to break through to the world audience.”
The LLF is being supported by the Punjab government and the city administration and will kick off on February 23. The open-to-public event would feature some 50 authors over two days at the Alhamra Arts Center.