A Landmark Project Bringing Tamil Literary Tradition’s Greatest Poem to the World
Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of a complete, multi-volume English translation of Kampan’s Ramayana. This monumental project, undertaken by six of the most esteemed scholars and translators of the Tamil language, marks the first fully annotated literary English translation of this revered work. All eight volumes will be published under Penguin’s Vintage imprint between 2028 and 2030.
Widely considered the Tamil literary tradition’s greatest poem, Kampan’s Ramayana is celebrated for its innovative use of language, the psychological depth of its characters, and its profound engagement with the themes of power, truth, and divinity. The influence of Kampan’s Ramayana extends far beyond Tamil Nadu, impacting literary traditions in Kerala, parts of the Indian peninsula, and even the Southeast Asia. Despite its vast influence, a reliable and complete English translation of the text has been long overdue, largely due to its immense size. This new translation aims to prioritize completeness, clarity, and poetic beauty, making this influential poem accessible to both scholars and general readers alike.
The six books of Kampan’s Ramayana, consisting of 42,000 lines of verse, will be divided into seven volumes, with each volume translated by a highly accomplished scholar. The team includes:
- Shiv Subramaniam, Emory University – Volume 1: Bāla (Youth)
- David Shulman, Hebrew University – Volume 2: Ayodhyā (on Ayodhyā)
- Whitney Cox, University of Chicago – Volume 3: Āraṇya (Wilderness)
- Jennifer Clare, Independent Scholar – Volume 4: Kiṣkindhā (on Kiṣkindhā)
- Archana Venkatesan, UC Davis – Volume 5: Sundara (Loveliness)
- Aniruddhan Vasudevan, Princeton University – Volume 6 and 7: Yuddha Part 1 and 2 (War)
Professors Archana and David will also serve as the volume editors, and the authors of an Introductory Volume.
Commenting on the collaboration, Professors Archana Venkatesan and David Shulman said, ‘The 12th-century poet, Kampan, created a Tamil Ramayana in 10,000 verses, each of them a miracle. His work encompasses and gives voice to an entire civilization, its landscapes, its people, its primary values, profound emotions, and visions of the world. We are thrilled that Penguin will be publishing an English translation of the entire text in individual volumes by a close-knit team of six translator-scholars. This will be the first complete, fully annotated, literary translation of Kampan into a Western language.’
Adding to this, Rea Mukherjee, Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House, says ‘This scholarly and literary translation will be an expansive addition to the existing body of research on the Ramayana. With both the general and specialist reader in mind, this translation will aim to convey the sensibility, spirit, and beauty of Kampan’s magnificent poem. I am thrilled this has found its home at Penguin! I eagerly look forward to working closely with these highly accomplished scholars, and to seeing this collection makes its way to readers soon.’
Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Kamba Ramayanam is a Tamil version of the epic Ramayana written by Kamban in the 12th century. Drawing inspiration from Valmiki’s Ramayana, the Kamba Ramayana is distinct in its treatment of language, style and characterization. I am delighted by the acquisition and look forward to publishing these books.’