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Max Mueller Bhavan | India Pune

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11:30 AM-1:30 PM, IST

Naqsh: The Trace | Poetics of Displacement

Reading | Scenic Reading, music and conversations|Reading | Scenic Reading, music and conversations

  • Gemischt
  • Free Entry

Naqsh: The Trace | Poetik der Entwurzelung - Book titles Book covers

Rootlessness is not merely the absence of home; it is the quiet tremor of belonging that refuses to settle. To inherit a culture while standing outside its geography is to live between worlds — translating the past into a new tongue, learning to grow roots in uncertain soil. Memory becomes a compass, guiding one through the in-between spaces of identity, while forgetting offers the strange mercy of freedom. Out of dislocation arises creation: a weaving together of what was left behind and what is found anew. In this continual act of translation, longing turns to strength, and the heart learns that home is not a place, but a rhythm that survives within.
The Goethe-Institut has designed this multi-layered experience to trace this rootless drifting between worlds, carrying memories that no longer have an address.

The Goethe Institut Pune and Mumbai join hands to present this event - It is an interactive exploration of expression presented through the glimpses of various media: Literature, translation, theatre and music: translated novels, scenic reading interspersed with film excerpts and music pieces, a soundscape of melodies – join us in this interactive exploration with artists, translators, readers, musicians and cultural practitioners.

Books in Focus:
  • Herkunft (Deutsch) by Saša Stanišić, 2019, Luchterhand Literaturverlag, München | पाळंमुळं(Marathi) translated Jayashree Hari Joshi, 2024, Rohan Prakashan, Pune
  • Die Sommer by Ronya Othmann, 2020, Carl Hanser Verlag, München | मधसूर्यछाया (Marathi) translated by Dr. Rajendra Dengle, 2025, Papyrus Publications 
  • Daheim (Deutsch) by Judith Hermann, 2021, S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main | घर (Marathi) translated by  Dr. Sunanda Mahajan, 2025, Walden Publication, Sangal
Performers & the Musician
  • Deeksha Ketkar – Actor (Theatre, Film & Television): Award-winning performer fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi. Trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, New York. Her work spans Off-Broadway productions, independent cinema, and international commercial projects.
  • Pranav Bapat – German Language Educator, Poet & Short-Story Writer: A multilingual literary voice whose Marathi poetry and stories explore interpersonal and cultural themes. He also works across playwriting and translation.
  • Shivam Sharma – Theatre Actor, Performance Poet & Writer, Creator of The Mansarovar Project and performer of 100+ stage shows. His poetry and storytelling have been featured widely in national media. His first poetry collection, Dil, Desh aur Duniya, is forthcoming.
  • Manas Gosavi – Mohanveena Artist & Classical Musician: A-graded All India Radio artist with over 12 years of performance experience. He specialises in Mohanveena and collaborates across Indian classical, fusion, and dance productions.

Literary Respondents

  • Ganesh Raghunath Visputay
    Poet, Translator, Editor, Critic & Artist

    A multifaceted Marathi literary figure with acclaimed works in poetry, translation, editing, and literary criticism. His portfolio includes award-winning poetry collections, Marathi translations of major world literature, and significant editorial contributions to Marathi publishing.

  • Pradeep Vaiddya – Theatre Director, Light Designer, Writer, Poet & Composer

    A prominent theatre practitioner with over twenty years of experience. Recipient of multiple META awards, Zee Gaurav honours, and the Tanveer Natyadharmi Puraskar. He heads the Expression Lab and manages the renowned performance space, The Box Hub in Pune.

  • Sneha Avsarikar
    Editor, Writer & Literary Curator

    Former Editor-in-Chief at Manovikas Publications and editor for multiple Marathi literary magazines. Her work spans fiction, biography, anthologies, and contributions to radio and TV programmes under Akashvani and Doordarshan. She is also the chief editor of the Akshardhara Diwali Special Issue.

Respondents

  • Dr. Rajendra Dengle – Professor of German Studies (JNU) , Sculptor, Theatre Artist & Literary Scholar

    A distinguished academic from JNU with in-depth, intensive and extensiv contributions to German literature, literary theory, and cultural studies. Former Secretary of the Goethe Society of India, he has translated extensively between German, English, Marathi and Hindi.

  • Sunanda Mahajan – Former Professor of Comparative Literature (SPPU), Translator, Editor

    Former faculty member and Professor (2006–2019) at the University of Pune. A specialist in women’s literature and a key editor of a multilingual translation journal. She has translated extensively across global literatures and has received several national and international awards.

  • Jayashree Hari Joshi – Multilingual Translator, Poet, essayist, Information & Library Head, Goethe-Institut Mumbai
    has an academic bent of mind, with expertise in German studies, comparative dramaturgy, and multilingual translation. She has served the Goethe-Institut since 1996 in the intercultural field and currently heads its Library in Mumbai.