Poetry translation workshop with author Anant Kumar

This event has ended.

This in-person workshop will include a discussion about a selection of Anant Kumar’s German-language poetry by the author, and an opportunity for participants to translate and share their contributions for discussion.

The event will begin with an introduction from the author about his poetry, including a discussion about the challenges and difficulties faced, as well as questions of intentions and perceptions.

The poems come from different walks of life, reflecting on German daily routine, including accurate observations of everyday life situations and philosophical thought.

During the second half of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to speak to the author, and translations will be shared for discussion and analysis, in how far such translations are at the same time always interpretations. Participants are welcome to translate the poems into English or another language.

This event is the first of two with Anant Kumar. The second and last event with the author will take on Thursday 23 March.

Biography
Anant Kumar (born September 28, 1969, in Katihar/Bihar), is a German author, translator and literary critic of Indian descent. He spent his childhood in Motihari, where his father Rajendra Prasad was Professor at M. S. College, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University. He resides in Kassel, Germany.

The son of an Indian teacher from Bihar, Kumar went to college from 1991 to 1998 at the GHK (Gesamthochschule/University Kassel), where he received a master's degree in German literature, writing his thesis on Alfred Döblin’s epic novel Manas.

In his literary works, Kumar connects the experiences of a foreigner in German society with Indian culture. His first work, Fremde Frau, fremder Mann (Foreign Woman, Foreign Man), is characterized by its pithy insights and expressive perceptiveness. The aspects of observational satire and finely ironic comment are constant elements throughout Kumar’s work. In his work Zeru—A Seven Day Story Kumar alludes to the literary form of the epos and brilliantly depicts the colorful array of daily life for an African boy amid wild and ancient myths of the dark continent.

Anant Kumar is a member of the Association of German Authors and the Literary Society of Hesse.

A list of Anant Kumar’s work is available.

Event format
The event will take in person and will not be recorded for publication after the event.

Simultaneous Translation
The event will be delivered in the medium of English. You are welcome to ask questions in the medium of Welsh during the Q&A session. If you intend to do this, please contact mlang-events@cardiff.ac.uk by Wednesday 1 March to request simultaneous translation. Please note that 10% or more of those planning to attend will need to request this provision in order for it to be sourced and will be subject to resource availability.

Registration
Please register to attend this event by clicking on the 'Book places' button on the left-hand side of this page.

Data protection notice
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