Anita Gopalan gained 2016 PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants
Miscellaneous
India
Translator and artist Anita Gopalan on 25 July 2016 was awarded the 2016 PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants for her English translation of Hindi novel Simsim by Geet Chaturvedi.
Gopalan is the second Indian translator to be selected for the grant.
Simsim, the lyrical, award-winning novella was first published in 2008. It is recognized for its groundbreaking contribution to contemporary Hindi fiction.
Simsim focuses on four central characters and a decaying library sitting on prime Mumbai real estate. The book narrates the clash between two Indias, i.e. one old and traditional, and the other driven by consumerism and corporate greed.
Who is Anita Gopalan?
• Anita Gopalan is a translator and artist.
• She graduated in Computer Science and Mathematics from BITS Pilani.
• She worked in Banking Technology sector for over 14 years in India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Middle East.
• She has translated prose and poetry by contemporary Hindi author Geet Chaturvedi.
About PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants
• The PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants were established in 2003 by PEN American Center.
• It was established following a gift of 730000 US dollar by Michael Henry Heim, a noted literary translator.
• Previously known as the PEN Translation Fund Grants, the awards were renamed in honour of Heim.
• The Grants' purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.
• Grants are awarded each year to a select number of literary translators based on quality of translation as well as the originality and importance of the original work.
