Mehdi Khawaja is a distinguished writer, translator, and editor whose work has significantly enriched the landscape of South Asian literature in English. Renowned for bringing contemporary Kashmiri writing to a wider global audience, he has earned recognition for translations that combine literary sensitivity with linguistic precision. He is the recipient of the prestigious Armory Square Prize for South Asian Literature in Translation and the English PEN Presents x SALT award, honours that celebrate exceptional emerging translators. His English translation of Akhtar Mohiuddin’s acclaimed Kashmiri novel To Each Their Own Hell introduces one of Kashmir’s most important literary voices to international readers. Khawaja’s writings and translations have appeared in leading literary journals and anthologies, reflecting his deep engagement with language, identity, memory, and place. At #BBLF-2026, he brings valuable perspectives on literary translation as a creative act, the richness of Kashmiri literature, and the power of translation in fostering dialogue across cultures and languages.