“Never have we fielded a lineup like this year, a gathering of the greatest artists in fiction and non-fiction the world has to offer, supported by swathes of Princeton, Harvard and Oxbridge faculty. It’s going to be an extraordinary few days,” says William Dalrymple about the JLF 2014 to be held from 17 to 21 January. A strong contingent of historians from these elite global institutions including David Cannadine, father and son duo Partha and Rana Mitter, Maya Jasanoff and Mary Beard will be heard at this year’s event at the Diggy Palace in Jaipur.
New themes on the anvil
A series of sessions on ‘Crime and Punishment’ that dissects the genre of the detective novel and also looks at Bollywood villains, vendetta and the shadow lines between the good guys and the bad will be held. Another focal point will be ‘Women Uninterrupted,’ with the Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri and young literary sensation Samantha Shannon, widely tipped as the next JK Rowling, as key author-panelists.
Themes include a strand of readings and conversations on the survival of languages, which examines India’s linguistic diversity, and the challenges it faces. The Festival, in keeping with its inclusive nature, will also host personalities such as the award winning film actor, Irfan Khan speaking with Sabrina Dhawan, the screen writer for Monsoon Wedding on screenwriting. Olympic bronze medallist boxer Mary Kom, whose biography has just been released, will be also present at JLF 2014.
Best selling fiction writer Amish Tripathi, whose Shiva Trilogy sold two million copies and who was propelled to the top of the bestseller list within a week of his first published book The Immortals of Meluha, will be at Jaipur along with Vaidehi, Geetanjali Shree, Lily Wangchuk, Jerry Pinto, Mahesh Dattani and Narendra Kohli. Nehru Fellow and tribal activist Ganesh N Devy, and Gloria Steinem whose fight for the cause of women is legendary will speak at the JLF.
The world’s leading military historian and winner of Britain’s top non-fiction prizes, the Wolfson and Samuel Johnson prize, Antony Beevor will be present. The award winning novelist, critic and literary polymath Geoff Dyer will take part in the JLF 2014 along with Hollywood actor Rupert Everett and travel writers Robyn Davidson and Cheryl Strayed.
“As readers from around the world get ready for their annual literary pilgrimage, the Jaipur yatra will continue to celebrate books and ideas, readers and writers in an open, joyous and spontaneous space to uphold the spirit of democratic dialogue and exchange,” says Namita Gokhale festival director of JLF.
In 2013, the world’s largest free literary Festival recorded over 180,000 visitors. Registrations for the Festival’s 2014 edition have begun for delegates, members of the media, and the general public. For more information on press accreditation as well list of speakers, log on to www.jaipurliterature festival.org
