Theodor Kallifatides, first International ARA Newspaper Award

BarcelonaTo coincide with the fifteenth anniversary of the ARA, this newspaper has launched a new award this year, joining those already given to Carles Capdevila (education), Tatiana Sisquella (social initiatives), and Ignasi Pujol (entrepreneurship). This is the Diari ARA International Prize, which this year will be awarded to Theodor Kallifatides as its first recipient. This Greek-Swedish writer will receive the award on November 27th, during the ARA Night, which aims to recognize the contribution of individuals or institutions to global progress and coexistence.

"With his extensive literary work of more than forty titles, often tinged with autobiographical elements, he embodies the values of a pluralistic Europe, open to dialogue between cultures and complex identities," explains Esther Vera, director of the ARA, in the award's statement of purpose. "This is the Europe in which Kallifatides finds the essence of humanistic thought and the ethical legacy of Ancient Greece. In these times of rising populism and the far right, and of rejection of difference, the author bears witness to the enriching reality of diverse identities." The journalist also highlights how "his example radiates tolerance, concern for the weak and persecuted, a strong work ethic, integration into his adopted society—Swedish has become his literary language—and at the same time, fidelity to his origins." Translated into more than twenty languages, including Catalan and Spanish by the publisher Galaxia Guttenberg, his work has become a literary phenomenon in Catalonia, with an ever-growing readership captivated by the human pulse of his stories and characters who, as Ver describes them, possess a poetic imperfection, are roguish and inwardly free. Theodor Kallifatides was born in 1938 in the Greek village of Molaoi, in the heart of the Peloponnese. He emigrated to Sweden at the age of 25, knowing nothing of the Scandinavian language. In a short time, with perseverance and the simple, playful words his children brought him home from school, he became a successful Swedish writer. In fact, the bulk of his writing career has been in his adopted language, while in recent years he has revisited family history and memories of his youth. tumultuous. He himself has translated his work into Greek.

The son of a teacher labeled a communist—when he was simply a progressive—a sense of civic duty is deeply rooted in his character and actions. "I try to be in tune with my time and my society," he explained in an interview with ARA in 2021. "I think that being alive means, primarily, working for others. My father was a teacher his whole life. He always worked for young people. For me, then, it's like an instinct: to do things as best you can."

This striving to do things better is an expression of personal, but also collective, commitment. His experience embodies the EU's long-standing dream of creating a space where, beyond the visible borders, the invisible ones also fall away. "We must be closer to one another, as Europeans," the writer explained. The most serious problems we face cannot be solved by a single nation, not even the largest: climate change, immigration, poverty, the pandemic. Without cooperation, we will not move forward. I hope we find new ways to cooperate.”

The ARA supplement on Sunday, November 23, just before the newspaper's anniversary, will include a new interview with this insightful thinker, capable of expressing with a serene gaze and simple words the complexity of being alive and finding oneself in a home—be it a house, family, language, or refuge—in the 21st century.

ARA Night is celebrated this year on November 27 and will feature a visit from Kallifatides to cover the award ceremony, in addition to the presentation of the other prizes and a musical performance by Cristina López. After the ceremony, the newspaper will offer a concert dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi, featuring some of his most famous arias from operas such as Rigoletto, Aida, The Troubadour, La Traviata, Nabucco, Othello and Macbeth. The recital will be performed by Berna Perles (soprano), Antoni Lliteres (tenor), Àngel Òdena (baritone), the Madrigal choir (conducted by Pere Lluís Biosca) and the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, with Beatriz Fernández Aucejo as conductor.