A new chapter in India’s literary journey begins on 9th September 2025. Hyphen arrives with vision and conviction to carry the voices of India’s many languages across borders, to reveal their brilliance, and to connect them with readers everywhere.
About Hyphen
Bridging linguistic borders through literature
At its heart, Hyphen is a constellation of three landmark ventures. Together, these initiatives form a living ecosystem—one that nurtures translators, supports writers, and opens new possibilities for publishing.
“Hyphen is not merely a project but a cultural movement, dedicated to carrying India’s multilingual heritage to the world stage.”
At its heart, Hyphen is a constellation of three landmark ventures.
Hyphen: Connecting Literatures, a literary journal in English, in print and digital formats, scheduled for launch in 2026, will present the finest translations, revealing the depth, diversity, and genius of writing in Indian languages.
Hyphen Publications, a dedicated publishing house, will bring landmark works from Indian languages into English, produced to international standards.
Hyphen Digital Platform will serve as a vibrant hub for conversations on literary traditions, translation resources, a curated bookshop, fellowships, seminars, book clubs, publisher forums, and mentorship programmes.
India’s literatures are vast, varied, and dazzling, yet so much of this wealth remains unseen beyond linguistic borders. Only a few voices have found their way into English, and the decline in translations between Indian languages has narrowed the exchange even within the country. Hyphen, based in Bangalore and an initiative of Bahuvachana Trust, sets out to bridge these gaps with the support of writers and translators across Indian languages.
Activities: Fostering literary dialogue and cultural exchange
Translation Workshops
Intensive workshops for emerging and established translators, focusing on techniques and cultural nuances in literary translation.
Literary Seminars
Regular seminars featuring renowned authors, translators, and scholars discussing the art and craft of translation across Indian languages.
Book Clubs
Curated reading groups exploring translated works, fostering discussions about literature, culture, and the translation process.
Fellowship Programmes
Supporting translators through fellowship opportunities that provide time, resources, and mentorship for significant translation projects.
Publisher Forums
Bringing together publishers to discuss challenges and opportunities in publishing translated literature from Indian languages.
Events
Literary meets, readings, and cultural events celebrating the richness of India’s multilingual literary landscape.
Speaking about the vision, Vivek Shanbhag, author, translator and founding trustee of Bahuvachana Trust, says: “This ambitious project envisions an ecosystem that brings the brilliance of India’s literatures to readers across the world. Translation, beyond a deep understanding of Indian languages and cultures, also demands time and strong editorial support. Hyphen distinguishes itself by addressing these needs.”
Namita Gokhale, celebrated author and festival director, calls Hyphen “a triumph for Indian literary diversity, connecting readers to voices that have long awaited translation.”
Perumal Murugan, renowned Tamil scholar and author, observes: India’s true essence, reflected in its varied landscapes and languages, finds its voice in the literatures of its people. The time has come to share these voices with the world. Hyphen has taken up this task with vision, and I believe this pioneering work will bear lasting fruit.
Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, adds: “A project that will not only broaden the reach of important writers but will invigorate world literature itself. This is exactly what readers need.”
Hyphen is supported by an eminent council of advisors from India and abroad, including Geetanjali Shree, Perumal Murugan, Namita Gokhale, K. R. Meera, Christopher Merrill, Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, and Sudhir Sitapati, among others.
About Bahuvachana
India’s literatures are vast, varied, and dazzling, yet so much of this wealth remains unseen beyond linguistic borders. Only a few voices have found their way into English, and the decline in translations between Indian languages has narrowed the exchange even within the country. Hyphen, based in Bangalore and an initiative of Bahuvachana Trust, sets out to bridge these gaps with the support of writers and translators across Indian languages.
Support: Join to bridge literary worlds
Hyphen is an initiative of the Bahuvachana Trust, a non-profit charitable organization working in the fields of literature and culture. Apart from literary events and fellowships, the Trust publishes Bahuvachana Sahitya Vimarshe, a Kannada literary magazine dedicated to book reviews. It also runs a publishing house focused on translating works from Indian languages into Kannada.
Hyphen is Bahuvachana’s most ambitious project – an effort to build an ecosystem for translating literature from Indian languages into English, opening it up to readers across the world.
Hyphen is made possible with the generous support of philanthropists including Aroon Raman Family, Brigade Foundation, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and others.
Discover more, including exciting career opportunities at www.the-hyphen.in
