Sangam House is the oldest writer’s residency in India. Sangam means confluence in many Indian languages and also points back to the great gatherings of Tamil poets and writers between 100 BCE and 300 CE. Sangam House is where multiple traditions meet and new streams are born out of these encounters.
Founded by American DW Gibson and Indian Arshia Sattar, it was conceived as a place for writers to work in a serene environment, while meeting other fellows and to create a solid network of personal and professional relationships. All the dinners are taken together with the other residents, in order to foster exchanges and create a sense of community. Reading sessions are also organized among the residents, in order to give each other feedback.
The resident should be willing to engage with the cultural and literary milieu of Bangalore, even if his project is not necessarily set in its context. There should be a curiosity for discovering new literary forms and traditions and experimenting with them.
Bangalore is a city which has a lot to offer. Praised for its all-year-long pleasant weather and its vibrant art scene, Bangalore is home to the maximum number of independent bookstores. It has many cultural facilities and museums, such as the newly-opened Science Gallery Museum, the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) and many smaller yet happening cultural venues.
Housed at The Jamun, a spacious bungalow complex co-designed by French interior designer Dominic Dube. Sangam House offers a calm and quiet environment with easy access to the city centre. It is located in a green lane facing a park, with giant jamun trees in the front garden. The rooms are inundated with sun and offer access to pleasant balconies and outdoor terraces.
Six writers live together at the Jamun at one time, offering the resident a chance to interact with writers from India and other parts of the world.