Jayanthi Sankar
| Jayanthi Sankar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born
Birth Place Nationality Occupation |
April 28, 1964
Madurai, Tamil Nadu Singapore Singaporean author, Interpreter |
Jayanthi Sankar (born April 28, 1964) is an Indian-born Singaporean author, interpreter, and literary figure. Known for her contributions to postmodern, historical, and experimental fiction, Sankar has authored multiple books and played a significant role in building international literary communities.
Early life and education
Sankar was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, as the eldest of four siblings. Her father, R. Nagasamy, was a CPWD Engineer, and her mother, N. Kalyani, was a homemaker. Growing up, her family lived in various states across the Indian sub-continent, which contributed to her multicultural perspective.
In 1990, Sankar migrated to Singapore with her family, where her younger son was born.
Sankar graduated with a BSc in Physics from Seethalakshmi Ramasamy College, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, affiliated with Bharathidasan University in 1985.
Career
Since mid-2023, Sankar has been working as a full-time interpreter proficient in English, Tamil, and Hindi with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore. Prior to this, she freelanced as an interpreter and translator and worked for three years in full-time journalism.
Sankar's literary career spans multiple books, exploring themes of postmodern, historical, and experimental fiction. Her works are known for analyzing socio-psychology through well-crafted characters.
In addition to writing, Sankar co-hosts the podcast "L.O.L - Love Of Literature," which provides a platform for various literary professionals to share insights. She has also participated in international panels at literary and writing festivals, including the APWT 2018 at Gold Coast, Singapore Writers Festival, Seemanchal International Literary Festival, and Asean-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Writers Festival.
Notable works
- When Will You Die?
- Tabula Rasa
- Misplaced Heads
- Dangling Gandhi
- An Iron Fist In A Velvet Glove
- Dancing Gold Flecks
Awards and recognition
Sankar has received numerous accolades for her literary contributions, including:
- Winner of 2020 International Book Award - American Book Fest
- 'The Distinguished Favourite' in 2022 NYC Big Book Award
- 'Honourable Mention' in the San Francisco Book Fest Award 2022
- Finalist in Eyelands Book Awards 2020
- Literary Titan Award
- Recognized among the Top 50 Most Influential Authors in 2021 by Delhiwire