Mightier than the sword: A chat with International Booker Prize jury member Sana Goyal

Goyal, a magazine editor, is uniquely qualified, with a PhD in the politics of literary awards. ‘The Global South has been invisible for far too long,’ she says

“I feel like I’ve been walking around with this large secret,” says Sana Goyal, laughing.

Earlier this month, when the jury for the 2025 International Booker Prize was announced, she heaved a sigh of relief. “I got the news in early spring, and had to keep it in for about four months.”

Goyal, who grew up in Mumbai and now lives in Birmingham, is editor and publishing director of the British literary magazine Wasafiri (Swahili for Travellers), which spotlights diverse