A new Thai–Danish short story competition is inviting submissions inspired by The Pilgrim Kamanita, the 1906 novel by Danish Nobel Laureate Karl Gjellerup.
Organised under the project “Tales Without Borders: Thai–Danish Literature and Translations”, the contest aims to promote creativity and cross-cultural understanding between Thailand and Denmark. It is hosted by the World Literature and Creative Writing Programme at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts, in collaboration with the Royal Danish Embassy in Thailand.
Participants are encouraged to engage with Gjellerup’s spiritual tale — or its acclaimed Thai translation by Sathirakoses and Nagapradipa — and submit short stories of 2,000 to 3,000 words. Entries may be written in English or in Thai with an accompanying English translation.
The competition is open to all ages and backgrounds, with a deadline of 15 December 2025. Three winners will be announced in February 2026, each receiving a certificate of recognition.
Karl Gjellerup (1857–1919) shared the 1917 Nobel Prize in Literature with fellow Dane Henrik Pontoppidan. His novel The Pilgrim Kamanita tells the story of an Indian merchant’s son on a spiritual journey from desire to enlightenment, reflecting Gjellerup’s lifelong fascination with Buddhism.
Source: Bangkok Post
