Mani Rao
Encyclopedia
Mani Rao is an India
n poet
and translator, writing in English .
as a poem, Rao has had poems published in literary journals including Fulcrum, Wasafiri, Meanjin, Washington Square, West Coast Line, Tinfish, and in anthologies including Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond (W.W. Norton, 2008) and The Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Indian Poets. (Bloodaxe Books
, 2008).
She was a Visiting Fellow at the Iowa International Writing Program
in 2005 and 2009, and held the 2006 University of Iowa
International Programs writer-in-residence fellowship. She is co-founder of OutLoud, a regular poetry-reading gathering, in Hong Kong
, and contributed a poetry segment to RTHK Radio 4.
Translations
of Rao’s poems have been published in Latin, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, French and German. She has performed at literary festivals in Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne, Vancouver, Chicago, and at the 2006 New York PEN World Voices
.
Rao worked in advertising and television from 1985 to 2004, and was the Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Star (TV) Group Ltd., based in Hong Kong. She was born in India
and moved to Hong Kong in 1993. She has an MFA from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and translator, writing in English .
Biography
Author of eight poetry collections, and a translation of the Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
as a poem, Rao has had poems published in literary journals including Fulcrum, Wasafiri, Meanjin, Washington Square, West Coast Line, Tinfish, and in anthologies including Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond (W.W. Norton, 2008) and The Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Indian Poets. (Bloodaxe Books
Bloodaxe Books
Bloodaxe Books is a British publishing house specialising in poetry.-History:It was founded in 1978 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Neil Astley, who is still editor and managing director. Joined in 1982 by chairman Simon Thirsk, Astley was later awarded an honorary D.Litt by Newcastle University in 1995...
, 2008).
She was a Visiting Fellow at the Iowa International Writing Program
International Writing Program
The International Writing Program is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100 emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and journalists from more than 120 countries...
in 2005 and 2009, and held the 2006 University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
International Programs writer-in-residence fellowship. She is co-founder of OutLoud, a regular poetry-reading gathering, in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and contributed a poetry segment to RTHK Radio 4.
Translations
Translations
Translations is a three-act play by Irish playwright Brian Friel written in 1980. It is set in Baile Beag , a small village at the heart of 19th century agricultural Ireland...
of Rao’s poems have been published in Latin, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, French and German. She has performed at literary festivals in Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne, Vancouver, Chicago, and at the 2006 New York PEN World Voices
PEN World Voices
PEN World Voices: The New York Festival of International Literature was launched in 2005. PEN World Voices is a week-long literary festival in New York City. The Festival was founded by Esther Allen and Michael Roberts under then PEN President Salman Rushdie. The Festival was composed of programs,...
.
Rao worked in advertising and television from 1985 to 2004, and was the Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Corporate Communications at Star (TV) Group Ltd., based in Hong Kong. She was born in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and moved to Hong Kong in 1993. She has an MFA from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
External links
- Audio: Author’s Website > Hear Mani
- Author’s Website
- Poem: WebdelSol > In Posse Review > Which Way Does the River Flow by Mani Rao
- Poems: Cha: An Asian Literary Journal (Issue#1) > Mani Rao: Four Poems
- Review: Quarterly Literary Review Singapore > Vol. 3, No. 4, Jul 2004 > A Review by Cyril Wong of Echolocation by Mani Rao
- Review: The Asian Review of Books > A Review by Dino Mahoney of Echolocation by Mani Rao > August 19, 2003
- Poets & Writers > Directory of Writers > Mani Rao
- Gita Translation Excerpts: eXchanges Winter 2009
- Interview: South China Morning Post > 30 May 2010 > "My Life" Interview by Mark Footer
- Author's Page on Facebook
