Rockwell Discusses Literary Translation in Sharjah
The International Booker Prize-winning translator spoke at a panel during the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Books
Daisy Rockwell, who won the International Booker Prize in 2022 alongside Geetanjali Shree, spoke on a panel at the Sharjah International Book Fair. The discussion, titled 'Across Languages: Daisy Rockwell on the Art of Literary Translation,' was held with Anamika.
Why it matters
Rockwell's work brought Hindi literature to a wider international audience, as Tomb of Sand was the first book translated from Hindi to be shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Her prize-winning recognition has also led to more translation project requests, reflecting growing global interest in South Asian literature.
Rockwell has translated Bhisham Sahni's Tamas, Khadija Mastur's 'The Women's Courtyard,' and Krishna Sobti's 'A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There.' Her 2022 International Booker Prize win placed a Hindi-language novel in the top tier of international fiction recognition.
The players
Daisy Rockwell
A translator of South Asian literature who won the 2022 International Booker Prize alongside Geetanjali Shree for Tomb of Sand, and who has translated works including Bhisham Sahni's Tamas.
Sharjah International Book Fair
An annual literary event held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, that brings together publishers, authors, and readers from around the world.
The details
The panel was held at Forum 3 of the Sharjah International Book Fair on Saturday evening. Rockwell, who wrote her PhD thesis on Indian novelist Upendranath Ashk, discussed how her interest in translation grew from her academic work in South Asian languages.
Timeline
2022: Rockwell wins the International Booker Prize with Geetanjali Shree.
Saturday evening, November 7, 2026: Panel discussion held at Forum 3 of the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Industry Dynamics
Rockwell's 2022 International Booker Prize win, shared with Geetanjali Shree for Tomb of Sand, marked the first time a Hindi-translated book was shortlisted for the award, opening a path for other South Asian works in translation. The Sharjah panel continues that momentum by placing translators at the center of the conversation about how international literature reaches new readers.
Readers interested in Hindi and South Asian literature can find Rockwell's translations of Tamas, The Women's Courtyard, and A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There in bookstores and libraries. The panel's recording or follow-up coverage may be available through the Sharjah International Book Fair's official channels.
The takeaway
Translation shapes which stories reach global audiences, and recognition for translators like Rockwell helps bring those voices forward. Readers who seek out translated works gain access to literary traditions otherwise hard to find.
Further reading
For more on translated fiction and the publishing trends behind it, explore the Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Gulf Today.
