Dear Jeyamohan,
The idea of South Bound magazine is a great endeavour. I believe it is an important initiative at this particular moment because English is increasingly becoming the language through which the younger generation encounters the world.
Our children are growing up thinking and expressing themselves in English. Many of them may not have the same direct relationship with Tamil literature that our generation had, but that does not mean that they should be cut off from our literary and cultural heritage. We have to find a way to bring our literature to them through the language in which they are comfortable thinking and communicating. English can become a bridge between our rich literary tradition and the younger generation.
At the same time, we should not think of English merely as a language into which our literature is translated. It should also become a language in which our own younger writers can create. They should feel that they have the freedom to write about South India, its people, its history, its landscapes, its ideas and its contemporary life directly in English. If they do so, our literature can enter a much wider Indian and international conversation.
This is why I feel that South Bound has significance beyond that of an ordinary literary magazine. It can become a space where the intellectual and creative life of South India is presented to the world in English. It can introduce our writers to readers who may never otherwise encounter them, while also encouraging a new generation of writers to express themselves confidently in English.
We need such an effort today. Our creativity should not remain confined within linguistic boundaries. We should carry our experiences, ideas and literary traditions into the larger world, without losing their distinctiveness.
I wish South Bound every success. I hope it becomes a vibrant platform for both established writers and young voices, and a meaningful bridge between our literature and the wider world.
With warm regards,
Selvakumar
