New Books in Literary Studies Eva De Clercq, Heleen De Jonckheere, and Simon Winant eds., "Literary Transcreation as a Jain Practice" (Ergon-Verlag, 2025)
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Jun 21, 2025 
Join Eva De Clercq, an expert on Jain literature, Heleen De Jonckheere, who specializes in Jain religion, and Simon Winant, a PhD candidate examining Jain adaptations of the Mahabharata. They dive into the rich practice of literary transcreation in Jain communities, showing how this process reshapes classic narratives to reflect cultural and ideological nuances. Discover how adaptations of Indian epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata reveal alternative perspectives on myth, morality, and social hierarchies, enriching South Asian literary studies.
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Unique Indian Poetic Originality
- Ancient theories of poetic originality in India differ from Western ones by focusing less on linguistic fidelity and more on creativity and interpretation.
- Jain authors innovatively balance mimesis and creativity without strict concern for plagiarism or literal translation.
Essence of Literary Transcreation
- Literary transcreation involves transmitting sound, image, and meaning creatively across cultures.
- Purushottam Lal emphasized editing and reconciling Indian myths to communicate morality and values to new audiences.
Jain Adaptations of Myths
- Jain authors adapt myths to align with their religious and philosophical outlook.
- Motivations include clarifying stories for audiences, fitting genre expectations, and maintaining community identity.