Jaipur Literature Festival 2027: Jaipur Bookmark to focus on Gujarati literature

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South Asian B2B publishing platform Jaipur BookMark (JBM) will return for its 14th edition from January 14 to 18 in 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur, alongside the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The 2027 edition will bring together publishers, editors, literary agents, authors, translators, booksellers, illustrators, designers, rights managers and publishing professionals from India and across the world, with a focus on Gujarati literature, translation, emerging forms of storytelling, publishing innovation, and the evolving impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the book industry.

India-UK Publishing Fellowship

A key initiative of Jaipur BookMark 2027 will be the continuation of the India-UK Publishing Fellowship, a joint initiative with the British Council that supports professional exchange and international collaboration between independent publishers in India and the UK. It will create opportunities for publishing professionals to connect across markets and build lasting relationships within the international publishing ecosystem.

Through an open-call process, two independent publishers – one from India and one from the UK, will be selected to participate in a curated programme at Jaipur BookMark 2027 and the London Book Fair 2027. The selected Fellows will attend Jaipur BookMark from January 14 to 18, followed by the London Book Fair from March 16 to 18 in 2027.

The programme will provide opportunities for professional development, industry engagement and exposure to publishing communities across both markets. The India-UK Publishing Fellowship will be open to independent publishers from India and the UK who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements. Fellows will be selected by a panel comprising representatives from Jaipur BookMark and the British Council. Selection will consider the relevance and strength of the applicant’s publishing list, demonstrated interest in India-UK collaboration and translation, commitment to publishing new work in translation, capacity to benefit professionally from the Fellowship and alignment with the aims of the programme. Preference will be given to publishers who have not previously participated in similar international opportunities.

Focus on Gujarati literature

The 2027 edition will also place a special focus on Gujarati literature, bringing its writers, publishers, translators and literary traditions into conversation with the wider publishing ecosystem in India and internationally. The programme will explore the richness of Gujarati publishing while examining the role of translation in enabling literature to travel across languages and markets.

Manisha Chaudhry, who is the festival director of Jaipur BookMark, said, “The India – UK Publishing Fellowship builds bridges and bonds between publishing professionals in India and the UK. It creates a valuable space for independent publishers to meet, exchange ideas and grow their networks, while opening up new possibilities for rights, translation and genuine cultural exchange. We are delighted to continue this initiative with the British Council and to bring these conversations to Jaipur BookMark and the London Book Fair.”

Namita Gokhale, co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival and festival director, Jaipur BookMark, said, “Jaipur BookMark has always been a meeting ground for the many voices, languages and ideas that shape the world of publishing. The India- UK Publishing Fellowship strengthens these connectivities by bringing independent publishers together across continents , creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and the exchange of ideas and narratives. As we look towards our 14th edition, we are particularly happy to continue this partnership with the British Council and to support the journeys of new voices and literature in translation between India and the UK.”

Sanjoy K Roy, managing director, Teamwork Arts Pvt Ltd, said, “Jaipur BookMark has grown into an important meeting point for the publishing community, creating opportunities for ideas, books and businesses to travel across languages and borders. The India–UK Publishing Fellowship strengthens this exchange by giving independent publishers a platform to build lasting relationships, explore new markets and open up conversations around rights and translation. As we look towards the 14th edition, we are delighted to continue building these connections and bringing the many voices of Indian publishing into the global conversation.”

Hema Singh Rance, director Arts India, British Council: “At the heart of this endeavour are people who believe in the power of stories and work to bring them to readers. As we continue our partnership with Jaipur BookMark on the India–UK Publishing Fellowship, we at the British Council are proud to support independent publishers from both India and the UK as they share ideas, explore opportunities in translation and rights, and build relationships that can help diverse voices travel further. For us, this is what cultural exchange is about – creating space for talent and ideas to grow, while bringing people and cultures closer through the stories we share.”
 
Since its inception in 2014, Jaipur BookMark has been taking place over the years, and has seen publishing professionals and participants from approximately 37 countries, including Australia, the USA, Canada, France, the UK, Egypt, Ireland and Norway. Over 13 years, it has developed into a platform for professional exchange, rights and translation conversations, networking and international collaboration, connecting the Indian publishing industry with publishing communities around the world.

With its focus on Indian-language publishing and international exchange, the 14th edition will build on its role as a bridge between India’s diverse literary traditions and the global publishing community.

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