Dear Jeyamohan,
I can understand the larger mission behind what you are trying to do through South Bound Review. You are attempting to create a unifying vision of South Indian literature by bringing together its finest voices and presenting the best aspects of our literary traditions to a wider, international readership. I feel that this is an important and necessary undertaking.
It is certainly not an easy task. South Indian literature is immensely rich and diverse, but much of it remains inaccessible beyond the boundaries of its respective languages. We have very few translators who are capable of carrying the depth, nuances, cultural references, and literary qualities of these works into English. At the same time, there are still relatively few writers from the South who write directly in English and can speak to an international audience without the mediation of translation.
This creates a difficult situation. We possess a great literary heritage, but we do not yet have the institutional structures, translation networks, or sustained platforms necessary to present it effectively to the world. Even so, I believe we should make the attempt. If we wait for all the necessary resources and institutional support to appear, we may never begin.
Perhaps the most important thing at this stage is to build a serious readership and a community of writers, translators, editors, and young readers who believe in this project. If we can gradually bring together good writing, good translations, critical discussions, and younger voices, the magazine itself can become an important space for South Indian literature.
I also understand that we may not receive much institutional support for such an effort. We should therefore proceed with whatever resources we have, relying on the commitment of writers, translators, readers, and friends who share this vision. A literary movement does not always begin with institutions; sometimes institutions come much later, after a body of serious work has already been created.
I believe your effort is valuable precisely because it is trying to overcome this fragmentation and present South Indian literature as a larger literary landscape, without erasing the individuality of its different languages and traditions.
It will certainly take time, patience, and sustained effort. There will be difficulties, and perhaps there will be disappointments along the way. But I think the attempt itself is worthwhile. We should continue to build it step by step and try to create something that can remain useful to future generations of writers and readers.
My very best wishes to you and to everyone involved in this important effort. I sincerely hope South Bound Review will grow into a strong platform through which the richness of South Indian literature can reach readers across India and the world.
With warm regards and best wishes,
Saravanakumar
