'Danish readers want more Indian classics to be translated'

Danish author Astrid Saalbach said Monday contemporary Indian humour is immensely popular in her homeland, but there is a dearth of translations of classics.

The playwright and novelist said readers look forward to translations of Indian classics, a testimony to the increasing cultural exchange between the two countries.

"Indian literature is widely read in Denmark... humour is really popular. We can really connect with the funny side. Authors like Kiran Desai and Arundhati Roy are well known," Saalbach told IANS on the sidelines of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2014 here.

Saalbach said Noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore's translated works are not easily available.

"The problem is only a small portion of Indian classic literature is translated into our language. Most are not familiar with much of Tagore's works, only one of them is available in Danish. We know of the writer but we get to read very little of him," she said.

She said there is a huge demand for translated Indian classics and online sites help to a certain extent.

"We need more translations of classics to get the real feeling of India. There are translations available online but we want them on the shelves in Denmark... especially for the kids."

According to Saalbach, Europeans have gradually become more open to cross-cultural exchanges in literature and art and this has generated an interest in Indian classics.