MUMBAI, India — Sana Goyal conceded that for months she whiled her days away bearing a heavy secret—one that she joked about with light-hearted laughter. This secret unraveled when Goyal, a prominent figure in the literary community, was unveiled early this spring as a juror for the prestigious 2025 International Booker Prize. The announcement brought her immense relief after maintaining discretion about her involvement for over four months.
Raised in Mumbai, Goyal now resides in Birmingham, England, retaining her connection to the literary world as the editor and publishing director of Wasafiri, a British literary magazine known for its diverse global coverage. “Wasafiri,” a Swahili word for “travelers,” has become a bastion for contemporary writing from across the globe under her leadership.
With her appointment, Goyal joins a distinguished league of Indian-origin individuals who have previously served on the International Booker Prize jury. This group includes various acclaimed writers and critics like Amit Chaudhuri, Pankaj Mishra, Jeet Thayil, and Neel Mukherjee.
Initially introduced in 2005 as the Man Booker International and revamped in 2016, the prize is awarded annually for a single book translated into English and available in the UK or Ireland. This year, aside from Goyal, the jury consists of notable personalities such as British author Max Porter, Nigerian-origin poet Caleb Femi, Korean-origin author Anton Hur, and British singer-songwriter Beth Orton.
At 32, Goyal divulged her excitement about the opportunity to delve into over a hundred book entries, humorously hinting at the impending necessity of new bookshelves at home—a detail yet to be disclosed to her husband.
The journey to this prestigious role began early for Goyal, who moved to the UK at the age of 19 to pursue her higher education in English and comparative literature at the University of York, followed by a master’s in postcolonial studies at SOAS, University of London. Her academic focus was entrenched in the politics of literary prizes, shaping her future in the literary critique and editorial domains.
Her career trajectory included stints at Vogue India and freelance writing, where she covered a range of topics but focused primarily on books and authors. Now, as a recognized voice in global literary circles, she writes for The Guardian, Financial Times, and Los Angeles Review of Books, among others, focusing on the Global South—regions she feels are underrepresented in mainstream literature.
Since commencing her professional voyage with Wasafiri in 1984, starting from a digital editor to ascending to the pinnacle editorial role, Goyal has utilized the platform to champion the lesser-heard voices from the Global South. “In an increasingly polarized world, this mission is crucial,” Goyal stated, noting the demographic majority these regions represent globally.
Besides her latest role, Goyal’s experience on literary juries is extensive, having served on the 2022 Orwell Prize for Political Fiction and the 2023 Republic of Consciousness Prize’s panel, aimed at recognizing works from small, independent presses.
Reflecting on her tenure across various juries, Goyal acknowledges the grand responsibility of literary and cultural gatekeeping. She emphasizes her commitment to advocate for marginalized or overlooked voices, especially in a publishing world fraught with critiques over bias and commercial pressures.
Her acute reader’s eye searches for books that challenge easy categorization, those that resonate profoundly, fostering a sense of community and solidarity through reading. Goyal aspires to find works that echo long after the pages are turned, influencing both the literary landscape and the broader discussion on cultural representation and diversity.