As The Asian Review Sinhala prepares to enter this new phase on 1st June 2025, it stands as a testament to the enduring value of literature and the importance of community-driven cultural initiatives. In choosing independence and forging international partnerships, the publication is not merely ensuring its own sustainability but is actively contributing to the enrichment of Sri Lanka’s literary landscape.
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ emerges as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary African literature, establishing herself through work that interrogates Nigerian society whilst maintaining unflinching commitment to authentic storytelling. Her nuanced exploration of marriage, family dynamics, and societal expectations creates literature that resonates both locally and globally.
When you are fighting for livelihood and life, the language and idioms acceptable are those used by power structures and governments.
Manu Dash is a bilingual poet, editor, translator, publisher and director of the Odisha Art & Literature Festival. An author of almost thirty books, Dash joined the Anam Writers Movement—an anti-establishment movement in Odia literature—shortly before the imposition of Emergency in India in 1975. He is the founder of Dhauli Books, which won the prestigious Publishing Next Industry Award for the Best Printed Book of the Year (Indian Languages) in 2018.
Addonia’s emphasis on the body as the primary site of both oppression and liberation distinguishes his approach. Unlike the cool intellectual distance that characterizes much postcolonial critique, Addonia insists on the primacy of physical experience.
In Delhi, there lived a critic- his name was Venkat Swaminathan. I was in touch with him from the time I first moved to Delhi in 1978 until 1982. In 1979, he sublet a room in his house to me. Generally, I don’t ask anyone the usual ‘Indian’ questions, such as, where they work, if they are married, how many kids they have, or whether they own or rent their house.
Dominique Lapierre’s City of Joy transforms statistical poverty into visceral human experience through meticulous research and compelling storytelling. Yet this powerful narrative of Calcutta’s slums raises uncomfortable questions about Western perspectives on Eastern suffering, embodying both the possibilities and profound limitations of cross-cultural understanding in contemporary literature.
” In an era when gadgets and media are conspiring to shorten the attention spans of readers, turning human beings into cyborgs, or even worse- living, breathing AI models, I see the act of sitting in your favorite spot with your favorite beverage and sinking into your book as an act of silent rebellion. “
Shirani Rajapakse’s Offerings to the Blue God takes its reader along the least taken paths in the Isla’s life. The stories are characterised by a dynamic writing and presentation style, a unique voice that Rajapakshe’s stories often carry, and an unparalleled level of integrity that shines through in each story.
An aspiring writer who used to address complex issues strategically and confidently through my work, Olvens Louissaint is mainly committed to standing for the well-being of humanity and awarded with many international accolades. Some of his poems appeared in many international Anthologies and Magazines and his short stories and essays are also published in several journals
Rohan Monteiro’s Shadows Rising brings to life an unlikely hero-irreverent, witty and foul-mouthed-who seems to not have a care in the world. Until someone crosses a line. it is an exciting, fresh and unique take on timeless Indian myths told from the POV of a protagonist who might just be a lot more involved in the epics than he cares to admit.
But nowadays we are more aware of racism and other forms of bigotry, which fed all kinds of oppression and subjugation of peoples in the past.
This is a very great liberation for the suffering, struggling person, who always thinks that he is alone. This is why art is important.
It is a romanced attempt by a twenty-first-century Western European to read into the mind of a 16th-century Indian monarch
Themed on “Peace”, the short-story contest received a total of 72 entries from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Kingdom of Eswatini, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Poland, Malawi, The Gambia, Sri Lanka, USA, Botswana and Tanzania. The jurors include Dr. Paula O. M. Otukile (Botswana), Camilla Bauer (Sweden), Henry Akubuiro (Nigeria), Rupasinghe D. Pramudith (Sri Lanka), and Alexander Nderitu (Kenya).
The Asian Group of Literature has immense pleasure in announcing that the secound edition of The Asian Prize for Short Story is now open for submissions. The Asian Prize for Short Story is introduced in order to create a global platform of appreciation for outstanding work of short stories written by writers around the world.
Besides the nominations by the affiliated bookclubs of The Asian Group, the Prize is now open for submissions by the publishers. The submissions will be accepted till 15th February 2025.
The novel traces the remarkable life of Geumbok, a woman who rises from abject poverty to become a powerful entrepreneur in a remote coastal village. Her journey spans decades of Korean history, from the Japanese occupation through the Korean War and into the nation’s rapid industrialisation period.
The Asian Group plans to launch the translations of the books selected for the super shortlist in the year 2025 itself, while the rest of the books made to the shortlist will come to Sihala in early 2026.
The highlight of November was the eagerly awaited announcement of the Super Shortlist for The Asian Prize of Fiction, delivered by The Asian Committee on November 13, 2024. Out of six outstanding works of seamlessly woven prose that delve into unexplored themes and relevant social issues, three authors made it to the final list: Indian author Arefa Tehsin, Nepali-Indian author Smriti Ravindra, and American fiction writer V.V. Ganeshananthan.
The Asian Review 