Asians to break western literary stranglehold

Indonesian author Vira Safitri is only 18, but already has two novels under her belt.

In a world where awareness of eastern culture often stops at Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi, a new breed of Asian writer is aiming to turn pages with writing inspired by distinctly Asian issues: such as the repression of women, the politics of the hijab, political dissidence and eastern mythology.

Asked how long it took to write her first novel, "Secret Admirer", a giggling Safitri said: "Four days and three nights." "And in another week's time I had a publisher," she added.

Her two books, which touch on issues such as romance and child abuse from a teenage perspective, have jointly sold 9,000 copies and she is hoping they will be translated from her native Indonesian to English to get wider coverage.

Safitri is one a growing breed of Asian authors writing in a uniquely eastern idiom who were at a writers' festival in the Balinese resort town of Ubud seeking to make themselves heard above the western literary clamour.

"Around two-third of the world's population lives in Asia while 90 percent of the world's culture is western. That's a huge anomaly and anomalies have a habit of correcting themselves," Hong Kong-based writer Nury Vittachi told Reuters.

Shaven-headed author

"It's already happening. There are literary festivals in Hong Hong, Ubud and Shanghai. Publishers are coming here. At one time there were no literary agents here, but now it's opening up," said the shaven-headed author who has written more than 20 books, including a successful series about a Feng Shui detective, C.F Wong. With literary agents and publishers heading there, not surprisingly the Asian equivalent of the Booker prize is going to be launched this year.

Healing wounds

Until now, many Asian language writers were rarely read outside their countries. But some carved a niche in the global literary world because their books were translated into English.

The mysterious world of China before the Great Revolution, for instance, was unlocked following the translation of Chinese author Su Tong's three-novella collection "Raise the Red Lantern", which was made into an Oscar-nominated film. Outside readers have also got a peep into Japanese society through translations of Haruki Murakami, an international bestselling label. But such names are few and far between.

The Ubud festival was launched three years ago after the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 220 people, mostly foreigners.

"Literature is a way of healing wounds," said Janet De Neefe, the organizer of the Ubud festival.

"Last year we had a session on terrorism. This year we have one on Islam. It's such a misunderstood faith. We're addressing all the issues with grey areas." For the authors, it was a chance to discuss the trials and tribulations of writing from an Asian perspective and thereby shatter some of the misconceptions about their cultures, religion and history.

Malaysian writer Dina Zaman, who writes a column about Muslim life in Malaysia called "I am Muslim," said she wanted to write from the perspective of a modern Malay woman.

"Being a modern Malay woman could mean anything. I don't wear a hijab, I expose my legs, but I pray five times a day," said the glamorous young writer, sitting in a huge Balinese style gazebo perched at the edge of a hill overlooking lush paddy fields.

Sri Lankan writer

Some like Sri Lanka's Elmo Jayawardena use personal stories to etch out accounts of political conflict. Jayawardena's book "Sam's Story" is the story of Sri Lanka in 2001, war torn for many years, narrated by an illiterate houseboy whose tends the gardens and dogs in the home of an upper-middle class family.

"The fact that Asians bring an exotic flavour is part of the magic," said Vittachi, who also edits the "Asia Literary Review", formerly known as "Dim Sum".

"Asia is trying to reclaim its literary heritage."

REUTERS