An Evening with Award-Winning Indian Author Jeet Thayil

International award-winning author, poet, musician, and publisher Jeet Thayil joined us in Zurich for a wide-ranging conversation on his work, his observations of the sudden disappearance of Bombay’s opium world, the growing role of politics in Indian literature and the ways poets, novelists, and essayists engage with today’s political developments, to ongoing debates around language in Indian literature, the conversation made clear just how significant a role literature can play in society.

Plus: readings from his latest book The Elsewhereans and recent poems.

Jeet is in conversation with political geographer Jasnea Sarma during this live Asia Society Switzerland event.

Find all information on our flagship STATE OF ASIA Address and Conference, taking place on Nov.4/5 in Zurich, on our website here.

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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.  
Published: September 25, 2026
Host/Editor: Remko Tanis, Managing Editor, Asia Society Switzerland