The much-awaited Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) concluded and transformed the landscape of the Pink city.
The 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) kicked off on Thursday morning with the famed Shillong Chamber Choir’s rendition of "Vande Mataram". Renowned poets Gulzar and Anne Waldman delivered the keynote address in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The theme this year is "The Freedom to Dream: India at 70".
Gulzar congratulated the festival organisers and reminded them to remain grounded as they prosper. He referred to India as a "happy country" having an abundance of writers and thinkers. He added that it is poetry from the northeast which he has found the most appealing and that it is an injustice to call them regional languages as they are all national languages. Waldman mesmerized the audience with her poetry recital."We will have a total chaos without books, literature and library", she said in her address.
Vasundhara Raje expressed her happiness to the organisers for putting Jaipur on the world map. She added that this was one event that she always looked forward to.
Festival director, William Dalrymple reminded the audience that when people pay high to attend a literary gathering in other parts of the world, they can hear the greatest minds of the world for free at the Jaipur Literature Festival.
The festival producer, Sanjoy Roy said that a decade ago, none could have imagined that the world would come together to participate in JLF. He described how JLF was a place for freedom of expression and equity. Festival producer, Namita Gokhale shed light on the events for JLF. The sessions revolve around different themes, including the freedom to dream, which explores the India of today in the context of its history as well as its future. Other themes include Translations and World Literature, Women and Marginalised Voices, Sanskrit and Colonialism and the Legacy of the Raj.
JLF is one of the most popular of literary events and hosts over 250 authors, leaders, thinkers and popular icons. JLF concluded on January 23.
Tags: Jlf
Jaipur Literature Festival
The Freedom To Dream: India At 70
Vasundhara Raje
