PEN News: April 8, 2011‏

PEN News: April 8, 2011‏

WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO HOW TO HELP WORLD VOICES ADVOCACY PRESS OPPORTUNITIES Last Call for Festival Volunteers PEN is now accepting volunteers for the 2011 World Voices Festival. Help work front-of-house and back-of-house at events and other functions (hospitality suite, receptions, etc.). [E-mail us if interested] COMING UP April 13: Who Killed Natasha? Who Killed Natasha explores the murder of journalist and Memorial human rights defender Natalia Estemirova. The American movie premiere at the IFC Center will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. [More details] May 24-26: BookExpo America BookExpo America is North America's biggest publishing event. It's the ideal place to connect with the hottest titles, newest authors, biggest ideas, and latest technology. It's where content creators, buyers, sellers, and influencers convene to gain perspectives, join the conversation on key topics, and network with old and new connections. [More details] FIND PEN ONLINE SEVENTH ANNUAL PEN WORLD VOICES FESTIVAL Full Festival Program Now Online The 2011 PEN World Voices Festival takes place from April 25 to May 1. Among the exciting additions to this year's program are a one-of-a-kind international documentary series and brand new Festival locations around New York. Follow the Festival online: at our new Festival Facebook page on Twitter with the #pwv11 hashtag with PEN's YouTube channel [Full Festival program] ADVOCACY NEWS Afghan Writer Malalai Joya Granted U.S. Visa Two days after PEN joined the ACLU and the American Association of University Professors to protest the denial of a visa to Malalai Joya, a renowned women's rights activist and former member of the Afghan Parliament, the U.S. State Department issued a visa that will allow Ms. Joya to tour the U.S. for her celebrated memoir A Woman Among Warlords. [More] Chinese Writer Liu Xianbin Sentenced to 10 Years Writer and PEN Member Liu Xianbin was given a 10-year prison sentence based on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" for writings which appeared on overseas online journals and news web sites. It is the longest sentence given on the charge after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo's 11-year term. [More] U.N. Accord Ends Push to Ban Blasphemy The U.N. Human Rights Council ended efforts to restrict speech considered offensive to religions with a unanimous vote on a religious tolerance resolution. PEN and a number of other human rights organizations have previously warned that such efforts would significantly erode crucial international and national protections for freedom of expression. [More] Suit Against NSA Surveillance Can Proceed An appeals court ruled that PEN and its co-plaintiffs have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act, the 2008 legislation that granted the executive branch the power to carry out and expand the illegal eavesdropping activities it has engaged in secretly since 2001. [More] NEW AT PEN PEN in Translation The 2011 PEN Translation Feature highlights PEN's continuing mission to foster international fellowship through literature, showcasing work from PEN Translation Fund recipients and Literary Awards winners, as well as PEN Translation Committee members and World Voices Festival participants. [More] PEN Reads: James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce Join the discussion of James M. Cain's modern masterpiece Mildred Pierce. Screenwriter Jon Raymond takes us behind the scenes of the adapted HBO mini-series, while crime writer Laura Lippman examines Cain's characterization of women in the novel. Tin House Editor and PEN Reads Chair Rob Spillman chimes in next. [More] PEN Talks: A Reading & Conversation Series PEN Talks, a new weekly reading and conversation series, kicks off with Lisa Dierbeck, a 2011 PEN World Voices Festival participant and author of The Autobiography of Jenny X. Coming up are two other Festival authors: Susan Rosenberg (An American Radical) and Roxana Robinson (Cost). [More]

History of The PEN All India Center, West Bengal: A glimpse

History of The PEN All India Center, West Bengal: A glimpse

The history of the The PEN All India Center of International PEN, a world organisation of poets, playwrights, editors, essayists and novelists, is truly rare since it is non available in a book form. The Indian PEN centre has it’s office in Mumbai. Perhaps, the history of that Indian centre may somehow be framed by collecting the old documents. But the PEN’s west Bengal branch has no such written documents; the reason behind this is the fact that this branch had never its office in the true sense of the term till now; though the branch came into being in 1934 and a long period of 77 years have since elapsed. Another reason was Mumbai had maintained an office, so, the West Bengal branch had never felt this so strong to maintain an office.It thought Mumbai maintains all. The works were carried out by the subscription of volunteers or voluntary members. The secretaries have, so far worked from their respective residences. It has led to discontinuity in works and records, since whenever a secretary has either retired or died the necessary records and documents could not be maintained and preserved at a place.

The West Bengal branch came into existence in 1933 almost at the same time when the Indian centre of the Pen international was opened in Mumbai. There are no distinct documents as to who all actually ran the branch for long 77 years . Deb Kumar basu was the pivotal figure of the branch since 1992. Right from his tenure or perhaps from even before its connections with Indian center in Mumbai got severed.( somehow unintentionally, here, a point to be remembered that Mumbai is the western side, and Kolkata is eastern side of Indian map. A long distance in between the two states, about 2000 km. all communication used to make through postal service, a snail pace, somehow it was disconnected). Under such a condition we are venturing to frame the history of the PEN West Bengal Branch. Unintentional omissions may therefore occur. We request our readers/members to bear and also to let us know any genuine information for updating the history. There has been no mention of the PEN West Bengal branch in any literary works of anybody in our memory, so we are to rely on the literary works of Annadashankar Roy.

From the writing of Annadashankar Roy we come to know that immediately after opening the the Indian centre of PEN International in Mumbai, some renowned persons like Dr. Kalidas Nag, Manindrala Basu, Priyaranjan Sen had opened the West Bengal chapter of the Indian PEN centre, this chapter was termed as ‘Bengal Chapter’.

The International PEN for the first time had invited India in 1930 for deputing delegates.this we can know from the archive of American Center. This was the time when B. P. Wadia, Sophia Wadia were regularly visiting Europe for the sake of theosophy society or United Lodge of Theosophy.

In 1930 B. P. Wadia published a journal "The Aryan Path" for theosophy. In 1928 he married Sophia Camacho (Born September 13th 1901, was educated in paris and columbia university, The U S A, is an international lecturer and writer.)

Between January and the end of April 1929, Mr. Wadia lectured for the London ULT at the Victoria Hall, Bloomsbury, to packed audiences ( 2,300 +) The London Lodge was then housed in rented premises in a building a couple of blocks from Marble Arch. In March 1929, Mr. and Mrs. Wadia were in London, they also were visited by many students from the European continent. They, in turn, visited a number of the ULT Lodges there before beginning their trip to India.

Mr. Wadia was of the opinion that the future of Theosophy in its presentation to the world would be, in one way, through the work of the future writers and poets of the world. Accordingly he and Sophia Wadia had earlier became members of the International P.E.N. Club.

In England, they came to know the writers of PEN. Their aim was to spread the message of theosophy among writers of PEN.

They started a center with the permission of PEN in 1933 in Mumbai. Rabindranath Tagore was on then 72 years old. The transport and communication system of India was at that time is easily imaginable. Barring some rich and influential people, it was very difficult to have connection in the national and international sphere. Thus writes Annada Shankar Roy:

“Madam Sophia Wadia with the permission of the International PEN set all India PEN centre. Rabindranath Tagore was the President. Dr. Kalidas Nag, Manindralal Basu, Priya Ranjan Sen obtained permission of opening a branch in Kolkata.”

“ As per the international convention the meetings of PEN used to be held in some hotel and restaurant, and lunch and dinning was a part and parcel of such meetings, Extra expenditure was borne by the members were present. During that period it was rupees two or and half or Rupees three would cost per head. The responsibility of collection of contribution or ordering meals was borne by Mani da. The progress and prosperity of the PEN Bengal; chapter was certain when such an enthusiasts secretary was in the helm. So far work was concerned ,the chapter was center and center was chapter, because members is Bengal was so active and more in number. But right to depute a delegate to the international congress of the PEN rested only with the Indian centre in Mumbai. And not with the chapter.”

Excerpts from ‘Dekha shuna’ by Annada Shankar Roy, published by M/s Mitra and Ghosh Pvt. Ltd. 10, Shyama Charan Dey Street. Kolkata 73.

Manindralal Basu was a barrister and a successful writer as well as an influential man. During those days only dignitaries of the society were the members of the PEN. We learn further from the writings of Annada Shankar Roy that the presidents of Indian P E N center were in the order of Rabindranath Tagore, Sorojini Naidu, Dr.sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Masti Venkatesh Ayenger and Umashankar Joshi, after that Annadashankar Roy was promotioned from vice president and he remained president till his death.

In 1936, The International PEN congress was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Kalidas Nag from the Bengal chapter started as deligate to join the congress. Since the power of deputing a delegate rested only with the main center , Mumbai ( by then Bombay) Madam Wadia could not acknowledge the decision of the Bengal chapter for deputing Dr. Kalidas Nag as a delegate. This ultimately causes a bitterness between centre and chapter, A meeting in the matter was held in Grand hotel, Kolkata, in the presence of Sarojini Naidu. The Bengal chapter was dissolved then in the charge of breach of discipline. But it was continued with the members who were the members of Mumbai center in low profile.

After Independence of India, Madam Wadia wrote to Annada shankar Roy. The regular members of the Bengal chapter might at their will assemble and meet together informally. Such meetings were than arranged in the ‘Friends’ center’ of Wood Street. Leela Mazumdar was as secretary for sometime who was succeeded by Naren Deb and Radharani Debi. It was their endeavour that small groups of Bengal chapter turned into West Bengal Branch of the PEN all India centre. After this, Sudhir sarkar, who himself was a writer, editor of Mouchak’ a juvenile monthly journal and a publisher took the charge of running West Bengal branch . He was a member of the PEN as well as a publisher too. After sudhir sarkar it was perhaps Santosh Adhikari to have succeeded. Since 1992 Debkumar Basu was the secretary till his death in 2007.

Dr. Jagannath Ghosh then took over in 2007. But unfortunately, he also died after a couple of years. At present, since 2009, Ranjan Gupta is secretary of the west Bengal branch of the PEN.

The pen west Bengal has the honour of having Rabindranath Tagore as its president. Prominent Judge and writer Annada Shankar Roy was the president for a long years and at present , since the death of Annada Shankar Roy the chair is ornamented by Prominent writer and poet Sunil Gangopadhyay. He is also the president of Sahitya Academy (National Academy of Letters ,) Govt of India.

In the beginning years, vice presidents were Dr. Kalidas Nag, Ashapurna Debi, Nabyendu Ghosh, andSat present Surajit Das Gupta holds the position of Vice chairman of west Bengal.

The present executive body of the PEN West Bengal is comprised of the following

Chairman – Sunil Gangopadhyay

Vice chairnman— Surojit Das Gupta

Secretary -- Ranjan Gupta.

Jt.secretary-- Shyamal Mukhopadhyay

Communication executive – Albert Ashok

Members :

Ananda Ghosh Hazra

Nishith Roy Choudhury

Jayati Gangopadhyay

Kamal Mukhopadhyay

Deepika Bhattacharya

Roma Sen

Chandra Mazumdar

Basant Rungta

Nathmal Kedia

-------------------------o--------------------------

For People in Bengal can read it in Bengali language

আন্তর্জাতিক পি, ই, এনের ভারতবর্ষ কেন্দ্রের ইতিহাস খুবই দুর্লভ, পূস্তকাকারে পাওয়া যায়না। মুম্বাইতে এর অফিস আছে, নথিপত্র ঘেঁটে তার ইতিহাস সন্ধান পাওয়া যেতে পারে। কিন্তু পশ্চিমবঙ্গের শাখার কোন ইতিহাস নেই। কারন, ভারতীয় পি ই এন কেন্দ্রের শাখা পশ্চিমবঙ্গের কোন অফিস আজ অবধি নেই।১৯৩৪ সাল থেকে ২০১১,৭৭ বছর পেরিয়ে গেল। শাখার সম্পাদকগন নিজেদের দায়িত্বে অফিস ও কাজ নিজের বাড়িতেই করে থাকেন। ফলতঃ একজন সম্পাদকের প্রস্থানের সাথে সাথে ইতিহাস ও কাজের ধারাবাহিকতার বিঘ্ন ঘটে। ইতিহাস ও নথিপত্র সংরক্ষণ করা যায়না।

পশ্চিমবংগ শাখা শুরু হয় ভারতীয় কেন্দ্র মুম্বাইয়ে শুরু হওয়ার প্রায় সাথেসাথেই, ১৯৩৩ সালে। সুতরাং গত ৭৭ বৎসরের কারা কারা কতদিন ধরে এই পি ই এনের শাখা অফিস চালিয়েছেন তার কোন প্রামাণ্য নথি নেই। দেব কুমার বসু বাংলা পি ই এনের প্রান পুরুষ ছিলেন, তিনি পি ই এন চালান ১৯৯২ সাল থেকে, তার সময়ের থেকে, বোধ করি তারও আগে থেকে মুম্বাইয়ের কেন্দ্রের সাথে বাংলা শাখা সম্পূর্ণ সম্পর্ক বিচ্ছিন্ন। এরকম একটা অবস্থায় আমরা পশ্চিমবঙ্গ পি ই এন এর ইতিহাস রচনা করতে বসেছি, ক্রটি বিচ্যুতি থাকা স্বাভাবিক। পাঠক গনের কাছে আমাদের আশা তারা যদি কোন সঠিকতথ্য জেনে থাকেন তারা দয়া করে আমাদের জানিয়ে দেবেন। বর্তমানে আমরা তেমন কোন প্রকাশিত পুস্তক পাইনি যা থেকে আমরা এ ব্যাপারে উৎসাহিত হতে পারি। শ্রদ্ধেয় সাহিত্যিক অন্নদাশঙ্কর রায়ের লেখা ছাড়া বাংলা সাহিত্যে পি ই এন এর কথা বিশেষ দেখা যায়না। অন্নদাশংকরের লেখা থেকে আমরা জানতে পারি, ড: কালিদাস নাগ, মণীন্দ্রলাল বসু, প্রিয়রঞ্জন সেন প্রমুখগন মুম্বাই ভারতীয় কেন্দ্র স্থাপিত হওয়ার পর পশ্চিমবঙ্গে শাখা পি ই এন প্রচলন করেন। প্রতিষ্ঠাতা সবাই বাঙালি হওয়ার দরুন এটাকে ‘বেঙ্গল চাপ্টার’ আখ্যা দেওয়া হয়।

আন্তর্জাতিক পি ই এন ১৯৩০ সালে ভারত থেকে প্রতিনিধি পাঠানোর আমন্ত্রন পাঠায়। তখন অধ্যাত্মবাদে বিশ্বাসী বি পি ওয়াদিয়া ও সোফিয়া ওয়াদিয়া তাদের নিজেদের থিওজফি সোসাইটির প্রচারের স্বার্থে ইঊরোপ যাতায়াত করতেন। তারা তাদের অধ্যাত্মবাদ প্রচারের স্বার্থে ইংল্যান্ডে পি ই এন এর লেখকদের সাথে পরিচিত হন এবং সদস্যপদ গ্রহন করেন। ভারতে তারা অধুনা মুম্বাইতে ১৯৩৩ সালে পি ই এন এর কেন্দ্র ও অফিস চালু করেন। রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুরের বয়স তখন ৭২ বছর (১৮৬১-১৯৪১)। ভারত বর্ষের যোগাযোগ ব্যবস্থা তখন কেমন ছিল কল্পনা করুন। একমাত্র বিত্তশালী ও প্রভাবশালী ব্যক্তি বাদে জাতীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক স্তরে সম্পর্ক রাখা অসম্ভব ছিল।

অন্নদাশংকর লিখেছেন, ‘মাদাম সোফিয়া ওয়াদিয়া আন্তর্জাতিক পি ই এন এর অনুমতি নিয়ে বোম্বাইতে অল ইন্ডিয়া পি ই এন কেন্দ্র স্থাপন করেন। তার সভাপতি হন রবীন্দ্রনাথ।কলকাতায় তার একটি চ্যাপ্টার খোলার অনুমতি পান ডক্টর কালিদাস নাগ, মণীন্দ্রলাল বসু, প্রিয় রঞ্জন সেন প্রমুখ।’

“আন্তর্জাতিক প্রথা অনুযায়ী পি ই এনের বৈঠক বসত কোন হোটেলে বা রেস্টুরেন্টে, লাঞ্চ কিংবা ডিনার ছিল তার অঙ্গ। বাড়তি চাঁদা উপস্থিত সদস্যরা বহন করতেন। তখনকার দিনে মাথাপিছু আড়াইটাকা বা তিনটাকা লাগত। চাঁদা আদায় বা খানা অর্ডার ইত্যাদি ভার নিতেন মণিদা।এমন উৎসাহী সেক্রেটারি থাকতে পি ই এনের কলকাতার চ্যাপ্টারের শ্রীবৃদ্ধি অনিবার্য। কাজকর্মের বিচারে চ্যাপ্টারই কেন্দ্র, কেন্দ্রই চ্যাপ্টার। আন্তর্জাতিক কংগ্রেসে ডেলিগেট পাঠানোর ক্ষমতা ছিল কেন্দ্রের, চ্যাপ্টারের নয়।”

( উল্লেখ্য অন্নদাশংকর রায়ের লেখা ‘দেখাশোনা’ – প্রকাশকঃ মিত্র ও ঘোষ পাবলিশার্স প্রাঃ লিঃ ১০, শ্যামাচরণ দে স্ট্রিট, কলকাতা- ৭৩)

মণীন্দ্রলাল বসু ছিলেন ব্যারিস্টার ও একজন সুসাহিত্যিক প্রভাবশালী ব্যক্তি।তখনকারদিনে পি ই এন এ সামাজিক উচ্চ মর্য্যাদাসম্পন্ন ব্যক্তিরাই ছিলেন।

অন্নদা শংকরের লেখা থেকে আমরা আরো জানতে পারি ভারতে পি ই এন এর সভাপতি ক্রমানুযায়ী প্রথম রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর, সরোজিনী নাইডু, পরে ডক্টর সর্বোপল্লী রাধাকৃষ্ণন, মস্তি বেংকটেশ আয়েঙ্গার, উমাশংকর যোশী। এরপর সহ সভাপতির পদ থেকে উন্নীত হয়ে অন্নদাশংকর রায় নিজেও সভাপতির দায়িত্বে ছিলেন আমৃত্যুকাল।

১৯৩৬ সালে ডেলিগেট আর্জেন্টিনার বুয়েন্স এয়ার্সে আন্তর্জাতিক পি ই এন এর কংগ্রেস বসে, তাতে ডেলিগেট হিসাবে ডক্টর কালিদাস নাগ ও যান, ডেলিগেট পাঠানোর ক্ষমতা কেন্দ্রের ও কর্ণধার সোফিয়া ওয়াদিয়ার।

ডক্টর কালিদাস চ্যাপ্টারের হয়ে ডেলিগেট হিসাবে রওনা হন বুয়েন্স এয়ার্সে। জাহাজে শ্রীমতি সোফিয়া ওয়াদিয়া আবিষ্কার করেন তার সহযাত্রী বেঙ্গলি চ্যাপ্টারের ডেলিগেট ডক্টর কালিদাস নাগ। এটা শ্রীমতি ওয়াদিয়া মেনে নিতে পারলেননা। চ্যাপ্টারের ডেলিগেট পাঠানোর ক্ষমতা নেই।

এই নিয়ে তিক্ততা হল শুরু কেন্দ্র বনাম চ্যাপ্টার। সরোজিনি নাইডু র উপস্থিতিতে কলকাতায় গ্র্যান্ডহোটেলে বিচার বসে।শৃংখলা ভংগের দায়ে চ্যাপ্টার খারিজ হয়ে যায়।

স্বাধীনতার পর, আবার শ্রীমতি ওয়াদিয়া অন্নদাশংকরকে লেখেন যাদের সভ্যপদ বজায় আছে তারা যেন আবার মিলিত হন ঘরোয়াভাবে বা ছোট দল হিসাবে তখন উডস্ত্রিটের ফ্রেন্ডস সেন্টারে পি ই এন এর সভা বসত। সম্পাদক হিসাবে লীলা মজুমদার কিছুদিন চালান, তারপর নরেন দেব ও রাধারানী দেবী। তাদের উদ্যোগে এই ছোট দল ‘পশ্চিমবংগ শাখা’ য় পরিণত হয়। এরপর দায়িত্বভার নেন লেখক, মৌচাক কিশোর পত্রিকার সম্পাদক ও প্রকাশক সূধীর সরকার। তিনি একজন সৎপ্রকাশক ও সজ্জন ব্যক্তি পি ই এন এর সদস্য ছিলেন।সুধীর সরকারের পর সম্ভবতঃ সন্তোষ অধিকারী। ১৯৯২ সাল থেকে আমৃত্যুকাল সম্পাদক ছিলেন দেবকুমার বসু।২০০৭ সালে দেবকুমার বসুর মৃত্যুর পর ডক্টর জগন্নাথ বসু হন। তিনি কিছুকাল সম্পাদক থাকার পর মারা যান। বর্তমানে কলকাতাস্ত পি ই এন এর সম্পাদক ২০০৯ সাল থেকে রঞ্জন গুপ্ত।

শুরুর দিক থেকে সহসভাপতি ছিলেন, ডক্টর কালিদাস নাগ, আশাপূর্ণা দেবী, নব্যেন্দু ঘোষ ও বর্তমানে সুরজিৎ দাসগুপ্ত।

[English PEN] Free The Word! Festival 2011 opens today

Dear Friends,

Tonight sees the opening of PEN’s Free the Word! festival 2011: Translating Power.

Over the next five days, 6-10 April, some of the most fascinating authors from Britain and around the world will be at the Free Word Centre in London to debate the impact of writing on politics.

To book please click here: http://www.freewordonline.com/events/?event_id=228.

At a time when political structures are crumbling in the Middle East and North Africa we are delighted that the wonderful British Libyan novelist Hisham Matar will be joining the Turkish writer Elif Shafak and the Colombian Juan Gabriel Vasquez to talk about the ways in which novelists can make and unmake history (‘Authorising History’: Friday 8 April, 6.30pm).

As literary festivals spring up in the most surprising places, Gillian Slovo, Romesh Gunesekera, John Ralston Saul and Rachel Holmes ask whether writers are unwittingly promoting corrupt regimes along with their latest paperback (‘Terms of Engagement’, Sunday 10 April, 7pm).

Crime novelists Margie Orford (South Africa), Dominique Manotti (France) and Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Ghana/UK) ask whether crime writing changes society, or just entertains it (‘Criminal Justice’, Friday 8 April, 6.30pm).

The Northern Irish writer Danny Morrison, former director of publicity for Sinn Fein, the Chechen Russian novelist German Sadulaev and the Nagalese author Easterine Kire Iralu talk about the pressures of being a writer in politically insecure and violent landscapes (‘Homeland Insecurity’, Saturday 9 April, 2pm).

And Gabriel Josopovici, Geoff Dyer and the Croatian writer and intellectual Dubravka Ugresic ask whether the novel can continue to grapple creatively with this changing world (‘The Shock of the New’, Saturday 9 April, 4pm).

Many of these authors will come together for an informal session of readings on Sunday lunchtime, when they will be joined by emerging writers from London’s new communities, whose work English PEN has nurtured over the last couple of years (‘Lunchtime Bites’, Sunday 10 April, 1pm).

And this very special festival begins TONIGHT, when poets Stephen Watts, Sasha Dugdale, Martina Thompson, Chris Beckett and Michael Foley will examine the complex relationship between ‘Poetry and the State’ (Wednesday 6 April, 6.30pm).

I hope very much that you can join us for these very special few days.

Venue: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road , London EC1R 3GA

Hosted by English PEN, PEN International and Free Word, Free the Word! 2011 celebrates the power of literature. As part of a worldwide community of festivals, with hubs in Austria , Turkey , and Galicia , Free the Word! 2011 draws British writers and readers into a global conversation.

For more details see our website: http://www.englishpen.org/events/.

To book please click here: http://www.freewordonline.com/events/?event_id=228.

Press tickets are available.

Jonathan Heawood

Director, English PEN

Announcing the Full Program for the Seventh Annual PEN World Voices Festival‏

Announcing the Full Program for the Seventh Annual PEN World Voices Festival‏

WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO HOW TO HELP WORLD VOICES ADVOCACY PRESS More than 100 Writers from 40 countries Featuring Gioconda Belli, Harold Bloom, Ernesto Cardenal, Deborah Eisenberg, Jonathan Franzen, Malcolm Gladwell, Hanif Kureishi, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Andrea Levy, Amélie Nothomb, Cynthia Ozick, Salman Rushdie, Elif Shafak, Wallace Shawn, Vladimir Sorokin, Wole Soyinka, Irvine Welsh, and Edmund White, among many others. PEN American Center is proud to announce the Seventh Annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. This year more than 100 writers from 40 nations will convene to New York City to celebrate the power of the writer's voice as a bold and vital element of public discourse. Dare to view the world from a fresh perspective at stages across the city, including the Festival's new hubs--The Standard, New York and the High Line. The program will feature panel discussions, one-on-one conversations, readings, performances, and much more. For a full schedule of Festival events and a complete list of participating authors, please visit www.pen.org/festival Be sure to also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (using the #pwv11 hashtag) for the latest updates. Many events are free but some events require paid tickets and/or reservations and are likely to sell out, including the highlighted events below. Get your tickets early! Note: If you plan to travel to New York to attend the Festival, please check out our accommodation page Monday Opening Night: Written on Water Get a glimpse of the week-long celebration of world literature at Chelsea Piers' stunning Lighthouse with a stellar lineup of authors: Gioconda Belli, Iva Bittová, Mircea Cărtărescu, Deborah Eisenberg, Evan Fallenberg, Malcolm Gladwell, Hanif Kureishi, Andrea Levy, Agi Mishol, Amélie Nothomb, Salman Rushdie, Wallace Shawn, Vladimir Sorokin, and Liao Yiwu. [Event details] Wednesday Revolutionaries in the Arab World Hear from experts and on-the-ground bloggers how social media and citizen journalism galvanize the revolution. In the borderless world of the Internet, where revolutionary ideas spread at lightning speed, will other despotic regimes collapse? With former Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salamé, Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal (author of Miral), and Dutch writer Abdelkader Benali. [Event details] Thursday China in Two Acts Born in Beijing and educated in the United States, New Yorker contributor Zha Jianying delivers unique insight into the rapidly changing world inside China. A panel of journalists and writers--including Ian Buruma, Yan Lianke, Linda Polman, David Rieff, and Liao Yiwu--join her to discuss the political and cultural forces shaping the world's most populous nation, as well as the plight of the Nobel Peace Prize-winner and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo. [Event details] WikiLeaks Join us for one of the most anticipated (and controversial) events of the Festival with a panel of experts--the Human Rights Project's Tom Keenan, media theorist Geert Lovink, Henry R. Luce Professor of Democracy Ian Buruma, and policy analyst David Rieff--contemplating the legal and moral ramifications of making classified information accessible to the public. [Event details] Friday Poetry: The Second Skin Experimental performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson curates a multimedia extravaganza exploring the porous borders between poetry and music. With John Burnside, Ernesto Cardenal, David-Dephy Gogibedashvili, Hasina Gul, Yusef Komunyakaa, Juan Carlos Mestre, Joachim Sartorius, Andrzej Sosnowski, Pia Tafdrup, and surprise guests. [Event details] [See full schedule of Festival events]