From 16–18 January I had the privilege of attending the fourth Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF) as one of the international publishing fellows invited from over 100 countries.
Capital of the prosperous southern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai represents India's fourth-largest urban agglomeration with a population around 9 million. The city is a hub for a host of manufacturing and creative industries, with a proud cultural tradition.
The Tamil Nadu state government is throwing its weight behind books and culture at a time when many governments in other places are turning away from support for the arts, reading and free debate.
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| Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (front left) gave time to meet with Peter along with other publishers in the CIBF Rights Hub |
That enlightened approach – summarised in this year's theme 'A Conversation Between Civilisations' – has led to the CIBF fast becoming a vibrant hub for rights and cultural exchange in just four years.
At this year's instalment I was able to meet with publishers, agents, writers, translators and consultants from across Tamil Nadu, other parts of India, and around the world.
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| At the opening ceremony on 16 January with the outstanding Colombian publisher John Naranjo, and meeting with colleagues Fatou Sy from Senegal and Nguyen Huu Quynh Huong from Vietnam |
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| Maria Leonardi, interviewed by CIBF for her impressions of the fair |
Together we had several dozen formal meetings over three days, interspersed by the many networking opportunities that a fellowship affords.
Of special import was advancing our edition of the classic Tamil work The Thirukkural, in a Māori translation by University of Waikato lecturer Ngairo Eruera edited by New Zealand-based editor and community organiser Peniel Prabhakaran.
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| With Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, the outstanding American translator of The Thirukkural |
Most valuable also the reconnection with Dr Sankara Saravanan and Peer Mohamed Azees of the Tamil Nadu Texbook and Educational Services Corporation, which has licensed the publication of this modern translation of the sixth-century work by Thiruvalluvar.
Te Tirukurare / The Thirukkural will publish under Oratia's Five Oceans imprint mid-2026 in close collaboration with Chennai-based Kelir Books and the Tamil community of Aotearoa.
It was most encouraging to see the response to work by Oratia authors from science and history writer Matthew Wright to Kiwi-Indian children's author Renisa Maki.
There is impressive growth in book output from Tamil Nadu, and it was good to meet publishers from Tamil Nadu and beyond to see what they're proposing.
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| A pleasure to catch up with Ival Bharathi of Nam Publications, Chennai, together with her family |
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| Sharing good books with Chennai-based literary agent Vishali Janarthanan and colleagues |
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| And sharing books about social inclusion with Maharasthra publisher Prashant Tambe |
Memorable performances, panels and cultural presentations punctuated meetings at the Rights Hub, along with the superb cuisine on offer.
Now begins the work of sharing information and reading copies as we work to sell rights and reach new readers in India and beyond.
Maria and I extend our sincere thanks to the fair organisers and all those in Chennai for their hospitality, generosity and commitment to bringing Tamil to the world and the world to Tamil.
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| The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin at the closing ceremony with Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and other dignitaries |
With further commitments to literary funding announced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the fair's closing ceremony, the future looks bright for the CIBF and the reading culture of southern India.
Peter Dowling, Publisher
