On the occasion of the FILLM Conference 2017 “The Familiar and the Exotic in Language and Literature: The Politics of Perception and Representation”, Prof. Babli Moitra-Saraf and Swiss author Oliver Scharpf will present a different perspective on the popular myths about Switzerland based on the latest book written by Scharpf – “The Chalet and Other Swiss Myths”. The plenary session will be chaired by Prof. Radha Chakravorty.

Time: 2.00 pm till 3.00 pm

The written word continues to play an important role in building up the image of a certain place and time. Literature books and their translation continue to be an effective tool to enhance understanding of cultures. 

The Embassy and Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council will participate in the international FILLM conference 2017 “The Familiar and the Exotic in Language and Literature: The Politics of Perception and Representation”, organized by the International Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures (FILLM).

Oliver Scharpf is a Swiss Italian contemporary writer and author of the book “Lo Chalet e altri miti svizzeri” (The Chalet and Other Swiss Myths). His translator Prof. Babli Moitra-Saraf, is an Italian language expert, and also Principal of the Indraprastha College for Women. Together they will address a plenary session of one hour at the FILLM Conference 2017.

Prof. Babli Moitra-Saraf and Oliver Scharpf will discuss some popular myths about Switzerland and deconstruct them on basis of the book “The Chalet and Other Myths”. In this book, Oliver has discussed what being Swiss could mean. He has deconstructed the popular myths about Switzerland. While doing so he comes up with new images about Switzerland to give an insider view of his country. He writes: "Our country (is) so different from the others, with different languages and habits, what (is it that) ultimately binds the population as a whole, what (do) you recognize it (as)? What (are) you … identified with? And how much truth there is in some clichés and traditions that we accept as fact?" He has indeed researched into history and tradition of Switzerland in order to elaborately discuss the myths that the Swiss strongly associate themselves with.

Prof. Babli Moitra-Saraf has taken up the challenge to translate a section of the book in Hindi. She will also academically question the popular myths about Switzerland and replace them with those created by Oliver.

In addition to the plenary session Oliver will read the book and interact with students of foreign languages at the departments in the Delhi University, and at the Jamia Milia Islamia University.

Oliver Scharpf  is a young contemporary writer from the Italian speaking region of Switzerland, Ticino. He worked as collaborator for a few radio programs. He writes columns for the weekly newspaper Azione since 2007. He holds a diploma degree in script writing for theatre and studied art history at the University of Geneva. In addition to being associated with several artistic projects, he has published several books of poetry and prose. His book of poetry “Uppercuts” has been translated in English. His book “Lo Chalet e altri miti svizzeri” (The Chalet and other Swiss myths) has received enthusiastic reviews and has become popular.

Prof. Babli Moitra-Saraf is the Principal of Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi where she is an Associate Professor in the Department of English. She also heads the Department of Multimedia and Mass Communication. She received her M.Phil degree in English and PhD in Sociology. She is fluent in several Indian and foreign languages and is a published translator. “La Preda e altri Racconti (Einaudi 2004)” and “La Cattura (Theoria 1996)” are Italian translations of the Bengali activist-novelist Mahasweta Devi’s works, which Prof. Moitra-Saraf has successfully published  in collaboration with Maria Federica Oddera. Her work “Rajouri Remembered (2007)”, is a translation of oral history and documents from Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, recounting the effects of the Partition of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. She has published in the field of Translating and Interpreting Studies. She is on the editorial board of “Translation” - a transdisciplinary journal - and of “Saar Sansaar”, dedicated to Hindi translations directly from foreign languages. She has been recognized with many awards in the academic and literary field.