The upcoming fifth South Asia Speaks fellowship, opening applications on September 1, aims to elevate underrepresented South Asian voices in literature by supporting emerging writers and poets from the region.

Founded by Sonia Faleiro and guided by a diverse board, the fellowship encourages applicants from countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan to submit a writing sample and proof of citizenship or residence by September 30.

This year’s fellowship continues its mission to nurture literary talent, building on a track record that has paired 98 fellows with 31 mentors since its inception.

These mentorships have resulted in seven published books with major publishers like Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury, and HarperCollins, showcasing the program’s success in fostering literary careers.

A new addition to the fellowship is an oral history category, mentored by award-winning historian Aanchal Malhotra, focusing on social ethnography and family histories.

Mentors for this year's program include prominent journalists such as Mira Kamdar, Sanam Maher, Roman Gautam, and Taran Khan, as well as novelists Deepa Anappara, Diksha Basu, Mahesh Rao, Prayaag Akbar, and VV Ganeshananthan, with specialized guidance for poetry, translation, and writers with disabilities.