H.E. Mr. Ali Murat Ersoy, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to India, hosted an elegant literary reception at his residence on 14 January 2026, bringing together the vibrant worlds of Indian and Turkish literature in celebration of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026. The exclusive evening marked a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy between the two nations, honouring their shared reverence for the written word and centuries-old storytelling traditions.
The intimate gathering welcomed 60 distinguished guests, including leading publishers, acclaimed authors, literary critics, and cultural luminaries. Prominent Turkish publishing houses participating in the Book Fair—such as Nobel Publications, Nar Publications, Epsilon Publications, Metamorfoz Publications, Literatür Publications, FOM Publications, A7 Publications, Kelime Publications, and Yumurcak Publications—were present, creating opportunities to expand readership and forge new business partnerships. Interest in Turkish literature continues to grow globally, including in India, where readership has seen a notable rise.
H.E. Mr. Ali Murat Ersoy and Mrs. Fazilet Ersoy personally welcomed guests, setting a warm and gracious tone that reflected the deep cultural affinity between Türkiye and India. In his welcome address, Ambassador Ersoy highlighted literature as a powerful bridge between civilisations, languages, and societies.
“Literature has always been a profound bridge between civilisations, transcending borders and fostering understanding between people. As we gather to celebrate the literary traditions of India and Türkiye, we honour not just the written word, but the shared values, ancient wisdom, and rich storytelling heritage that unite our two great nations,” he said.
Representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye delivered a special presentation on the TEDA literary translation funding programme, showcasing ongoing collaborations and translation initiatives strengthening ties between Turkish and Indian languages. Since its launch in 2005, the TEDA programme has supported 1,076 publishers and 4,599 works across 99 countries in 66 languages. In India alone, the programme has funded 41 publishing houses, enabling 191 translations of works by 89 authors in eight languages, including Bengali, Hindi, English, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu.
The evening also featured a presentation by Biswadip Chakraborty, Director of Antonym Publications, highlighting their translation projects, including the recently launched “Bearing Witness to the Age”, a selection of poems by Behçet Necatigil, translated by Neil P. Doherty and Gökçenur Ç., and illustrated by Sarbani Dasgupta.
Recognised as one of the cornerstones of modern Turkish poetry, Behçet Necatigil produced an extensive body of work across poetry, essays, letters, radio plays, dictionaries, reviews, and anthologies over four decades. His multifaceted literary legacy continues to influence generations of poets and writers, shaping the evolution of the Turkish language and its poetic expression.
Guests were also treated to an exquisite spread of authentic Turkish and Indian cuisine, further enriching the evening’s cultural narrative by showcasing the shared artistry of both nations beyond literature.
The literary reception stood as a powerful testament to the enduring friendship between India and Türkiye, united by their commitment to knowledge, artistic expression, and the transformative power of literature. The evening reaffirmed the vital role of cultural exchange in deepening bilateral understanding and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two ancient civilisations.
