Program Objectives

The word sangam in Sanskrit literally means "going together." In most Indian languages, sangam has come to mean such confluences as the flowing together of rivers and coincidence. The intention of Sangam House is to bring together writers from around the world to live and work in a safe, peaceful setting. The world we live in makes a space such as this necessary on many levels.

Assembling writers from various cultural backgrounds broadens the scope of each individualÕs work. Exposure to regional and national trends in literature, to multiple political and economic obstacles and varied social and cultural milieus enhances each writerÕs understanding of his/her work, as well as his/her own notions of identity and home.

The Winter 2008 Sangam House Residency Program is the inaugural undertaking of what will become an on-going annual program in arts and letters. Sangam House will support this gathering annually at the Adishakti property in the heart of Pondicherry, India. Further, we envision contributing to a global network of residency programs that allow for similar gatherings in all corners of the world. Not only do these programs enrich their participants and the texture of international literature, they have the potential to infuse local communities with inspirations and new ideas. Partnering with local organizations and individuals on each continent, we will secure diverse and peaceful havens for writers to work and meet. Each participating writer can deepen his or her understanding of the diverse emotional and social climates in which literature is conceived and received.

Most importantly, our residency programs are designed for writers who have published to some acclaim but not yet enjoyed substantial commercial success. Sangam House seeks to give writers (and we include here translators, poets, playwrights and those involved in creating fiction and non-fiction works) a chance to build a substantial and influential network of personal and professional relationships that can deepen their own work, in effect, expanding and diversifying literature. We understand that literature can and should evolve, allowing it to remain a thriving force of illumination for our times. We are proud to partner with the following organizations in this effort:

Danish Council for the Arts

Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI)

Random House India

freeDimensional

Neemrana Hotels

Lavanya Sankaran

The Centre for Communication and Development Studies

Sahitya Akademi (The Indian National Academy for Letters)

The Business Standard

Penguin India

InKo Centre, Chennai