The greatest literary happening on the subcontinent takes place this week in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Over 2.5 million attendees are expected at the five-day ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) held at the courtly 18th century Diggi Palace until 25th January.
Started in 2006, this is the 9th JLF, opened by the Indian State of Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who lit the ceremonial lantern and reminisced about her childhood spent reading books by candlelight late into the night.
Hailed as the ‘largest free literature festival in world’, the jamboree, co-organised by author William Dalrymple, has gone stellar since its inception in 2006 with past international speakers including Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Salman Rushdie.
This year’s event sees the coup of three contenders for the Man Booker Prize in its midst as 2015 winner Marlon James, shortlisted writer Sunjeev Sahota and longlisted novelist Anuradha Roy unite on one platform to read their own words and talk of inspirations.
Colourful decorative umbrellas hanging above trees. (Courtesy: Zostel)
Various genres riding strong on the Indian literary scene are represented with mytho-history authors Amish Tripathi, described as ‘India’s first literary popstar’, and Ashwin Sanghi, acclaimed poets Javed Akhtar and Ashok Vajpeyi alongside fiction powerhouse Shobhaa De and Bollywood personality Karan Johar, courting the muse on stage and providing a potent glimpse into contemporary India.
Indeed such is the magnetic draw of the JLF that even Bollywood A-listers can’t stay away – as the lucky festival-goers who caught glimpses of superstar Kajol can testify.
The rich linguistic diversity of Indian writing is under the spotlight with authors, poets and translators debating the merits and pitfalls of the translation process often needed to reach a wider market and Google India hosting a forum inviting visitors to contribute to their Google Translate Community.
The festival has been applauded since its inception 9 years ago for achieving the fine balance between showcasing international and domestic talents. The 2016 line-up is typically eclectic and invigorating. Stephen Fry, Nobel laureate Margaret Atwood and Colm Tóibín are amongst the literary icons holding forth on such disparate topics as Oscar Wilde, Henry James and the Global Novel. Writers Esther Freud and Hannah Rothschild go under the skin of penning family memoirs.
A drum performance at the festival. (Courtesy: Ask Me On Education)
Befitting the times we live in, states of civil chaos are much discussed this year with the Indian Partition of 1947, Gaza, Afghanistan and Syria all fodder for debate while photographers Don McCullin and Steve McCurry talk about capturing life on the frontline.
Jaipur Literature Festival garners devotion from its regular attendees. Rajni George, Senior Editor at Penguin Random House India describes the draw as a: “cross-pollination of ideas, introducing Indians to new British, American and African writers but also very much vice versa. This exchange is important when you consider how isolated our societies can be. So many pivotal debates happen here first – I can’t imagine the world of letters without this frenetic crucible despite the crowds”.
As the sun goes down on the stunning Rajasthani “Pink City”, the literary caravanserai will move on to nearby venues for feasting and dancing by moonlight with Sufi Qawwali, electronica and hip hop fusion all on the musical menu.
