The second edition of the four-day long Dehradun Community literature Festival 2017 commenced on Wednesday at World Integrity Center India. The first day saw participation of eminent authors and artists. The authors who held the session during the first day of the festival included actor Sonali Bendre, Jatin Das and Rohinton Daruwala. The first day of the fest began with a session on essential art- essential poetry by Jatin Das and Rohinton Daruwala. Rohinton Daruwala is the author of the book ‘The Sand libraries of Timbuktu’ while Jatin Das is a contemporary artist who has been painting for 50 years and has held over 55 one- man exhibitions both in India and abroad. The session was moderated by WIC India president Nazia Yusuf Izuddin.
At the session Jatin Das said, “We are not performing artists. We work quietly. It is not necessary for an artist to exhibit. These days not only artists’ work but they themselves are in the marketplace. For any creative activity, you need distance from public, money and power,” he opined.
later in the day, Indian film actress Sonali Bendre Behl’s participated in a session on her book ‘The Modern Gurukul: My Experiments with Parenting’. The book is about her journey, achievements and challenges as a first-time mother. She was in interaction with editor in chief of Penguin Random House, Milee Ashwarya who was the moderator for the session.
Bendre said, “My book ‘The Modern Gurukul: My Experiments with Parenting’ is very appropriate for a city like Dehradun which is a hub of schools. The biggest accomplishment of my life has been being a published author.”
On being asked about her inspiration for writing, she said that she has loved books ever since she was a child. To encourage reading Sonali has introduced a Sonali’s Book Club. Throwing light on her book she said, “I have written my own experiences on parenting in this book. My 11-year-old son has been my source of inspiration.”
In the book she has shared three principles of parenting that she states will help one to strike a balance between tradition and modernity. It will also guide one on how to raise a child in the digital age.
The festival’s chairperson Nazia Yusuf Izuddin said, "The Dehradun Community literature Festival aims to be an anchor for the people of Uttarakhand as a guide, mentor and life coach to educate and engage the Dehradun community and Uttarakhand community at large in the field of literature. literature is a life source and literature festivals deepen and enrich the socio-cultural fabric of a community. Discussion and dialogue encourage people to think and contribute to their societies in a meaningful manner. Such participation also forms the basis for good citizenship."
According to the event organisers, the second edition of Dehradun Community literature Festival will feature and hostmore than 50 authors representing various genres.