This world-renowned literature festival is a global celebration providing thought-provoking sessions and interaction with the authors
As anticipation builds for the seventeenth edition of the prestigious Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), slated to unfold from February 1st to 5th at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, the Festival Producer Teamwork Arts recently treated literary enthusiasts to an exclusive preview at The Leela Palace, Delhi. The forthcoming JLF is poised to be an unparalleled celebration of global literature, featuring an extensive lineup of approximately 550 speakers and artists hailing from diverse nationalities, including recipients of esteemed awards like the Booker, the International Booker, the Pulitzer, and more.
The Global Tapestry of Literary Discourse:
The 2024 edition of JLF is set to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, with a rich tapestry of themes spanning Fiction & Non-Fiction, Literary Criticism, History, Politics & Current Affairs, Economics, Poetry, Art & Culture, Art & Architecture, Translation, Graphic Novels, Gender, Science & Medicine, Food & Memory, Biographies & Memoir, Mythology, Spirituality & Religion, Mental Health, Fashion & Lifestyle, Law & Justice, Geopolitics, Sports, Crime Fiction, Climate Change + Environment & Climate Justice, Pet Parents + Pets & Animals, Cities, Literary Icons Through The Ages, Bollywood & Cinema, and more.
Namita Gokhale, acclaimed writer and Co-Director of JLF emphasized the festival's unwavering commitment to the rich diversity of the multilingual literary heritage. Gokhale urged attendees to explore the brilliant program detailed on the festival's website.
A Literary Extravaganza:
William Dalrymple, writer, historian, and Co-Director of JLF, expressed his excitement while disclosing the stellar lineup for the upcoming festival. The impressive list includes Paul Lynch, Hernan Diaz, Ben Macintyre, Bonnie Garmus, Richard Osman, Peter Frankopan, Colin Thubron, Mary Beard, Kai Bird, Katie Kitamura, Monica Ali, Nicholas Shakespeare, Damon Galgut, Luke Syon, Katherine Rundell, Merve Emre, Vincent Brown, Amia Srinivasan, Patrick Radden Keefe, Jerry Brotton, and many more luminaries from the literary world.
Parallel Exploration: Jaipur BookMark (JBM):
Beyond the main festival, South Asia's most definitive publishing conclave, the Jaipur BookMark (JBM), will run concurrently in its 11th edition. JBM is set to bring together publishers, editors, literary agents, writers, translators, and booksellers from around the world. The forum, focusing on the business of books, will extend over five days and feature a myriad of interesting sessions.
The increasing global interest in translated works and their recognition in book awards will be a focal point. An erudite panel, including Ranjit Hoskote, Arunava Sinha, and Mini Krishnan, will engage in discussions with Karthika VK on the topic of "Infinite Horizons: The Landscape of Translation," exploring the reach and impact of books that traverse linguistic and cultural borders.
Exploring Indian Language Publishing:
The vibrant hum of energy resonates across the landscape of Indian language publishing. Sessions such as "Ear to the Ground: Evolving Lists of Indian Language Publishers" will offer a peek into the diverse worlds of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Bangla, and Punjabi publishers. Parminder Singh Shonkey, Kannan Sundaram, Gita Ramaswami, Shailesh Bharatwasi, Ravi DC, and Esha Chatterjee will engage in a conversation with Mita Kapur, shedding light on the evolving trends and dynamics in Indian language publishing.
Celebrating Seagull Books' 40th Anniversary:
In 2023, Seagull Books marked its 40th birthday. The iconic publishing house has left an indelible mark, creating fine literary works that transcend borders and boundaries. Naveen Kishore, in a conversation with Sanjoy Roy, walks us through the extraordinary journey of Seagull, reflecting on leaps of faith, friendships, and rewarding literary connections, all encapsulated in the theme of "Journeys Across Boundaries."
Digital Dreams: OTT and Publishing:
A contemporary perspective on publishing will emerge in sessions like "Digital Dreams: OTT and Publishing," where specialists in the OTT space, including Sahira Nair, Radhika Gopal, Anish Chandy, and Anand Neelakantan, will explore ways in which publishers can leverage content, both old and new, with the OTT industry. The session promises to open windows to fresh ideas and exchange.
Questing for Data and Industry Insights:
As the publishing industry continues to evolve, a pertinent discussion on the scarcity of data on the book market in India will take centre stage. The Nielsen Report, providing valuable insights on market size, trends, and growth factors, will be explored in-depth in the session titled "Questing for Data: The Nielsen Report and Other Insights." Industry experts, including Vikrant Mathur, Col Yuvraj Malik, and Rick Simonson, will engage in a dialogue with Hemali Sodhi, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive data collection across the spectrum of publishing.
(The author is a filmmaker, producer, film festival curator and freelance writer; views are personal)
