Australian writers to light up Jaipur Literature Festival

Celebrated author Christos Tsiolkas will join a compelling line-up of Australian writers taking part in the 2015 Jaipur Literature Festival this week.

One of Australia's leading contemporary writers, Tsiolkas has won several literary prizes, including the Commonwealth Writers Award and the New South Wales Premier's Award.

Award-winning poet Ali Cobby Eckerman, Melbourne illustrator Mandy Ord and indigenous writer Lionel Fogarty will also take part in the festival.

Australia's High Commissioner to India, Mr Patrick Suckling, welcomed the talented and exciting contingent of Australian writers at Jaipur in 2015.

"Tsiolkas is a renowned author who paints a vivid portrait of contemporary Australia," Mr Suckling said.

"The Jaipur Literature Festival is recognised as one of the world's leading festivals of books and ideas, and I'm very glad that Australian voices will have pride of place."

"Literature is a wonderful medium for building understanding between two cultures, and helps audiences gain a deeper appreciation of Australia today - including our joys, our anxieties, and our ambitions for the future"

Tsiolkas will also travel to Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai.

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of greater engagement between Australian and Indian writers. A delegation of leading Australian publishers sponsored by the Australia Council for the Arts is also taking part in the Jaipur Bookmark publishing forum.

Tsiolkas is being sponsored by the Australia India Council, Cobby Eckerman and Fogarty by the Australia Council, and Ord by the Australia Council and the Word Alliance.