(Oirschot, 1957) from 1983 to 1987 he worked in Surinam. Van Kempen is the compiler of two extensive anthologies: Spiegel van de Surinaamse poëzie (Mirror of the Surinamese Poetry) (1995) and Mama Sranan. 200 jaar Surinaamse verhaalkunst (Mama Sranan, 200 Years of Surinamese Storytelling) (1999). In 1997 his first novel, Plantage Lankmoedigheid (Plantation Patience) appeared. He also published: Het Nirwana is een lege trein (Nirvana is an Empty Train) (2000) and Pakistaanse nacht (Pakistani Night) (2002). In 2002 he obtained his doctorate with his thesis Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur (A history of Surinamese literature). His anthology Noordoostpassanten (Northeast Transients), which he compiled together with Wim Rutgers, was presented at the Winternachten festival in 2005. In 2006 he published the novel Escape Routes.

(Jidt Narainsingh Baldewsingh, Livorno, Surinam, 1948) Born in Suriname, Jit Narain is the grandson of Indian immigrants. In 1969 he went to the Netherlands to study medicine and became a doctor in The Hague. He returned to Suriname in 1991. Since then he has been heading the head of an outpatients clinic in Saramacca. He is a fervent defender of the emancipation of Sarnami, the Hindu-Surinamese language and for his efforts received the Rahman Khan prize. Narain writes poems which can be read and sung. The poems reflect the history and memories of Hindustan immigrants in Suriname. He writes in Sarnami and in Dutch, approaching the same secret history of immigrants from different perspectives. He made his debut in 1977 with the poetry collection in Sarnami Dal Bhat Chatni (Rice, yellow peas and chutney). His debut has been followed by six other collections of poetry.

(1965). She studied at the Academy for Higher Arts and Culture. One of the first in Surinam to write poetry in Sarnami. Most of this work was published in Bhasa magazine. She also wrote poetry in Dutch. The Hindu view of the world forms the background for her dark and sombre work. Her first collection Ghungbru tut gail is to appear.

(Surinam, 1954). Gajadin moved to The Netherlands in 1972. Her poetry describes the changing of life’s balance for Hindus leaving Surinam. Despite being part of the Sarnami movement (promoting the Surinamese/Hindustani Language), her first three poetry collections were written in Dutch: Van erf tot skai (collected in From grounds to imitation leather , 1977). The collection Kab ke yaad/Van wanneer een herinnering ( From when a memory , 1984) anthologises the Sarnami poetry, along with translations in Dutch. In her stories, collected in Bari dopahar, ( The Hottest Hour of the Day , 1989), she remembers and describes the country she has left. Her latest novel is Schoorvoetige tijden (2000, Hesitant Times ).
(WIN 2004)