1 - 5 February 2024 | Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur

Programme 2024

Programme
Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music : Kalapini Komkali

Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva

Presented by BluOne Ink

01 Feb | 09:50 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The poet who wins every heart - Gulzar Sa’ab - continues to create magic with each new poetry collection, interweaving the allure of old favourites through verse. Translated by award winning translator and writer, Rakhshanda Jalil, Baal-O-Par is a definitive collection of Gulzar Sa’ab's poetry comprising the complete text of six volumes of poems. Appearing in bilingual form, with the original Urdu in Devnagri script  and the English translations on the facing pages, the collection presents a remarkable tribute to his lyrical and poetic journey. In conversation with former diplomat and celebrated writer Pavan K. Varma they take us through this masterpiece, offering a kaleidoscopic view of history, human experience and poetic expression.

 


 

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

The 2023 Booker Prize-winning novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is an exhilarating, propulsive, and confrontational portrait of a society on the brink. It follows one woman’s attempts to save her family in a dystopic Ireland sliding into authoritarian rule, offering an unflinching account of the erosion of free will and liberty. In conversation with Nandini Nair, Lynch examines the nuances of his writing and explores the story of a mother's fight to keep her family together.

 


 


 

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Historian and writer Katherine Schofield's recent book, Music and Musicians in Late Mughal India, weaves through the lives of nine musicians to provide a new history of music, musicians and their audiences during the period in which North Indian classical music coalesced in its modern form. In conversation with musician and writer Vidya Shah and historian and author Rana Safvi, Schofield discusses the many ways in which Mughal culture responded to the political, economic and social upheaval of the transition to British rule.

 


 

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

The sacred terrain of the high Himalaya has a timeless tradition of spiritual and mystic quests. How do enlightened masters become an enduring and living presence for religious and spiritual communities? Celebrated academic and writer Andrew Quintman has written extensively on the Tibetan master and spiritual poet, Milarepa. Actor and writer Kelly Dorji is a practising Buddhist. His book, The Hidden Rainbow, makes an attempt to take us on a spiritual journey through Buddhist symbolism in the quest for inner peace and acceptance.
Together they discuss the literary representations of Milarepa's life and further consider the manifold ways in which those life stories move beyond the written page into artistic, ritual and lived dimensions. This session will include the launch of the paperback and  Hindi edition of Mystics and Sceptics: In Search of Himalayan Masters.

 


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Co-authored by Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba, Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future, examines some of the critical and crucial questions surrounding India's economic trajectory.  The book proposes a number of strategies for accelerating India's economic development through investment in human capital, expanding opportunities in high-skilled services, and fostering innovative manufacturing of new products. In conversation with Naushad Forbes, they discuss the nuances of India's economic growth while navigating the challenges of being central to a global economy.


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

B. Jeyamohan is a Tamil and Malayalam writer and literary critic who explores mythology, philosophy and fantasy. Jeyamohan's vast and diverse literary oeuvre examines and interprets the essence of India's rich literary classical traditions. His prolific output also includes film scripts for Malayalam and Tamil cinema, including Ozhimuri, Kaanchi, Naan Kadavul, Kadal, 2.0, Venthu Thaninthathu Kaadu and Ponniyin Selvan. Writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran has translated Jeyamohan's Ezhaam Ulagam or 'The Abyss' into English. In conversation with writer Anjum Hasan, they discuss the multilayered narratives explored by Jeyamohan through his rich writing life and the many nuances of translation.


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege, speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

For some, imagination is a luxury in the modern age; something which is by turns elusive, difficult to employ and better left to others. But what does it mean to imagine? How do we go about it, and why is it so important that we imagine for ourselves?  Albert Read’s  insightful and life-affirming book, The Imagination Muscle, puts imagination back at the forefront of our lives. Read speaks to writer Amrita Tripathi on the boundless potential of the human mind and the genesis of ideas across time.


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

'Sanātana Dharma’, or ‘eternal truth’ is the philosophical and practical basis of what is generally known as Hinduism.  The Bhagavadgītā is a 700-verse Hindu scripture, which is part of the epic Mahabharata and a pivotal text in understanding Sanatana Dharma.  Celebrated writer, poet and teacher of Vedanta, Partho's recent book, This Is Sanatan Dharma, is an attempt to explain some of the fundamental principles and practices of  Sanātana Dharma. He takes Sri Aurobindo as his source of inspiration and guidance. Medical practitioner and writer Pariksith Singh’s work include The Veda Made Simple, Sri Aurobindo and Philosophy and Sri Aurobindo and the Literary Renaissance of India. Together they embark on a quest to explore these sacred traditions and texts and their continuing impact on our past, present, and future.

01 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Cricket is the de facto national sport of India. Both the spirit and the practice of the game have changed with the years, but an obsessive interest continues to bind the country together across generations and regions. Celebrated cricketer and commentator Ajay Jadeja  was a member of the Indian cricket team across its many game formats and has also played the role of a coach and mentor. He has also previously been the Captain of the Indian cricket team.  Author, commentator, coach, and former cricketer, Venkat Sundaram’s recent book, Indian Cricket: Then and Now, is a collection of fifty articles by cricketers and leading writers on the sport, celebrates legendary cricketers and chronicles key moments in India’s cricketing history. Former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur’s incisive memoir, Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket, offers a ringside view of the transformational period of Indian cricket, and provides an intimate account of the conversation between players, their lives, and dressing room secrets.In conversation with entrepreneur and author of Gods of Willow, Amrish Kumar, they discuss their books, experiences, and anecdotes of a game that has  controlled the narrative of sports in many parts of the world for years. 

 

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

 

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

An illustrious panel explores the struggle between historical reality and theoretical idealism, and the reality of the electoral process. Writer and academic Yascha Mounk's book, The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure, draws on history, social psychology, and comparative politics to discuss the ways in which common ground can be built for a homogenous society that appeases all. Former Chief Election Commissioner of India and writer S Y Quraishi's book, India's Experiment with Democracy : The Life of a Nation Through Its Elections, evaluates the fundamental principles that set the stage for our ideas of nationhood, citizenship and democracy. Girish Kuber is the Editor of Loksatta. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, they discuss the complexities of nurturing democratic practices in a world torn apart by war, strife and multiethnic conflict.

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH


What is it like to be a Prime Minister and control the destiny of your country? Australia's former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, talks to author and former diplomat Navdeep Suri about  his time in office, and explores some of the key moments in recent history.

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Author Sonora Jha's recent novel, The Laughter, is an illuminating portrait of class, privilege, radicalisation and modern academia that forces us to confront our assumptions of the world. The narrative follows the story of a white male college professor and his dangerous obsession with a new South Asian colleague.The New York Times has called it “a no-holds-barred comic achievement.” In conversation with Susana Torres Prieto, Jha   examines the idea of the 'other' and the semantics of entitlement in a moving saga of lust and retribution. 

 

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Writer and Naturalist Yuvan Aves' recent work Intertidal: A Coast and Marsh Diary, spread across two years and three monsoons, is a diary of deep observations of the coast and wetland, climate and self. Diving into the in-between space where land meets sea--and also where being meets world, the narrative explores interactions with the tiniest life forms in the midst of a landscape of beauty and fragility. In conversation with celebrated author Robert Macfarlane and acclaimed travel writer and  novelist Colin Thubron, Aves takes us on a journey beyond the binaries of man, animal, sea and the coast, into the world of harmonious coexistence.



 

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that connects the dots between climate change, shifting resources and a new map for sustainability across urban and rural clusters and vulnerable communities who are impacted the most. Author and social entrepreneur Shashank Mani's book, Middle Of Diamond India, explores the ethos of the Tier 2 and 3 cities that form an integral backbone of the country.  Founder-Director of The Antara Foundation, Ashok Alexander's recent memoir, How the Light Gets in, takes a journey through the roots of the country, evaluating the conditions of mothers and children. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Susan Ferguson  Country Representative for UN Women India and has had a distinguished career in international development spanned by themes of gender equality and social justice.


 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

American writer and former copywriter, Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel Lessons in Chemistry, revolves around a frustrated chemist as she finds herself at the helm of a cooking show that sparks a revolution in 1960’s America. The novel’s protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, battles a sexist establishment and the perils of being a woman in a man’s world. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, Garmus discusses the electric impact of her poignant work and a world beyond one where women are tied to the kitchen.

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures across time come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.

 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

A session traverses the diverse culinary traditions, kitchens and hearths of South Asian cuisine. Steeped in memories, recipes and familial history, writer and cultural historian Tarana Husain Khan and writer and historian Rana Safvi take us on a delectable journey through the rich cultural and social traditions of Awadhi and Rampur cuisines and the ways in which it has transformed with time.


 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that discusses the core issues and changing realities of the North Eastern states, through the eyes of a journalist, a poet-politician, and an academic.  Together they explore the natural treasures and rich cultural diversity of the  region and the social, political and environmental concerns that continue to beset it.


 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Acclaimed author Amish and his sister Bhavna Roy explore burning questions on the true meaning of idolatry in Idols: Unearthing the Power of Murti Puja, a companion volume to their bestselling Dharma. Together, they search for the essence of Ishta Devata and bhakti—that of a personal god and the path of devotion—through simple, insightful interpretations of myths and religious texts. In conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas, they discuss the symbolic and the deeper meanings of idol worship and the search for divinity within and outside us. 


 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that discusses the integration of mental health with general health policies, as well as the associations between illness and disability. The panelists also examine the treatment gaps, socio-economic conditions, and ground cultural realities in the process of assessment.


 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Journalism is considered the fourth pillar of democracy. Has the changed landscape of media communication and the barrage of new technologies impacted the understanding of the core values of journalism?

 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

For years, it appears that Indians have concerned themselves with making their environs, and themselves, smell good.

With 18,500 varieties of aromatic plants, from the voluptuous allure of the rose to the musky tang of oud, the woody notes of sandalwood to the heady smell of jasmine and the lingering aroma of vetiver, fragrances unlock something at the very heart of India.

In conversation with author John Zubrzycki, writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra discusses her recent book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance, which investigates the idea of scent as a powerful trigger for memories and emotions, as well as a mode of self-expression and identity.

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

In the tapestry of Indian language publishing, the threads of sexuality had limited colours for a long time. Recently, writings in Hindi, Rajasthani, and other languages are reflecting a gratifying new trend of exploring the spectrum of sexualities. How do publishers, authors, and commentators view this long-overdue harbinger of change?
 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JaipurBookMark

The phenomenally successful Malayalam publishing company DC Books celebrated its 50th birthday in 2023. Listen to the inspiring story of the journey with Ravi Deecee in conversation with Karthika VK. 
 

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Comedian and actor Kanan Gill's debut novel, Acts of God, is an ode to comedic science fiction, blending together questions of human existence, the multiverse and life itself. In this conversation with Sarthak Kaushik, Gill dives into this post apocalyptic world and gives us a glimpse into his comedic and writing life.

 

 

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that examines the realities of war reportage and how literature is impacted by the intrinsic nature of war. Journalist and writer Roger Cohen earned a Pulitzer Prize and a George Polk Award with The Times teams, covering the Ukraine war. He has previously reported from various troubled zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Iran. Journalist and award-winning author Anjan Sundram has reported from the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. In conversation with President, international, The New York Times Company, Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, they take a piercing look at the ways in which strife has impacted their journey and craft.

 

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Louise Fowler-Smith's recent work, Sacred Trees of India, examines the fundamental threat posed by deforestation to ecological sustainability and the continuation of life on earth. Drawing on 10 years of fieldwork in India, Fowler-Smith expertly documents the sacred trees and groves of India and the traditions of tree-worship which present a powerful alternative to the Western capitalist commodification of nature. Environmentalist and filmmaker Pradip Krishen’s book Jungle Trees of Central India is a lavishly illustrated account of the trees found in the region.In conversation with Mridula Ramesh they discuss the nuances of a culture whose reverence for trees has helped them prevent outright ecological destruction.

 

 

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.



 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music : Phil Scarff

Phil Scarff, Priyank Krishna and Anoop Banerjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz’s recent work, Trust,  is a riveting tale that challenges the myths shrouding wealth, and the fictions that often pass for history. Following the different versions of the story of a Wall Street businessman and his wife in the years leading up to the Great Depression,  the novel strikingly captures the human weakness for self deception. Winning the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction the novel will also soon be adapted into a TV series.  In conversation with art critic and writer Katie Kitamura, Diaz reflects on the concept of trust as both a moral quality and a financial arrangement, as though virtue and money were synonymous. 

 


 

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Historian, writer and broadcaster Jerry Brotton’s work The Orient Isle reveals England’s relationship with the Muslim world and its influence on the commercial and political landscape of the England of Shakespeare. The individual stories covered form part of a rich tapestry of interaction that was ultimately directed by the geopolitics of the day. In conversation with historian, writer and festival's co-director William Dalrymple, Brotton examines the political, cultural and social imperatives that laid the ground for a shared history across the east and the west.


 

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The fame of the Buddha stands in contrast to the shadowy figure of Yashodhara, the young wife he left behind in the palace. Shyam Selvadurai’s thought-provoking novel, Mansions of the Moon takes us back to India of the 6th century BC as he explores Yashodhara’s early years of marriage and the anguish that descends upon her when her husband abandons her. Another perspective comes from Vanessa R. Sasson whose evocative book, Yashodhara: A Novel, recounts the story of Buddha from Yashodhara’s perspective and in doing so, resurrects hidden aspects of Buddhist monasticism and the sangha. Her recent book is The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women.  In this session, Selvadurai and Sasson discuss their interpretations of Yashodhara’s life—her turmoil, her sacrifices and her spiritual enlightenment in conversation with poet and writer Arundhathi Subramaniam.

 


 

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Two prominent writers and public intellectuals, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Gurcharan Das, speak of their recently published memoirs and the stories behind the stories. Combining the personal and the political, they examine their eventful lives and the lessons and learnings along the way. Former diplomat and politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar’s Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years and its sequel, The Rajiv I Knew, are candid, thoughtful and witty recountals of his life in the foreign service and in politics. Author, columnist and former CEO of Procter & Gamble, Gurucharan Das’s recently published Another Sort of Freedom: A Memoir is a moving story that takes us through the twists and turns of his life from the chaos of Partition to failed first loves and unconventional career decisions. In this engrossing session, they speak with Mandira Nayar about their lives and read from their books.


 

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

The art and science of marketing books is changing. Specialist agencies, social media engagement and reviews on YouTube are just some of the ways that determine how books stand out in an attention deficit economy. Meet experts who are driving the change from the front.
 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

What happens when the decisions of one character changes the course of the narrative arc?
What happens when an action has a domino effect? 

A session on protagonists and literary characters from whom the narratives stem. The authors and translators of the books shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature 2023 respond to questions about the voices they championed.


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

In 1944, Rudolf Vrba became one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz — one of only a tiny handful who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. Against all odds, he and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope. In conversation with journalist Roger Cohen, Freedland delves into the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who even as a teenager understood that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death, a man who deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank, Oskar Schindler and Primo Levi, those rare individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust.


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


77 years after India attained freedom at the stroke of the midnight hour, the Indian economy has emerged as one of the largest in the world. An expert panel of stalwarts in the policy, business and finance field come together to discuss the future of Indian business and enterprise while evaluating the heritage and development of India's economic story. Amitabh Kant will unveil his latest book, The Elephant Moves: India’s New Place in the World at the end of this session.

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Ramacharitmanas is the sixteenth-century epic poem composed in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas. In this popular version, Tulsidas made Lord Rama accessible to the common people.  Philp Lutgendorf’s publication of the seventh volume of The Epic of Ram, the English translation of the poem in 2023 coincides with the 450th anniversary of the epic’s traditional date of composition.

Together with renowned writer, poet and cultural figure, Yatindra Mishra, and writer and academic Harish Trivedi, they focus on the history, significance and timeless nature of this epic text and its abiding impact on Indian culture in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

An engrossing session that has prominent voices from Assam and Odisha, Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Itirani Samanta, speaking of their work and its cultural and literary milieu. Sahitya Akademi award winner and journalist Anuradha Sarma Pujari is the editor of the newspaper Sadin and the magazine Satsori, and the author of ten works of fiction. Her novel, Hriday Ek Bigyapan, has been translated by Aruni Kashyap from Assamese as My Poems Are Not For Your Ad Campaign. 

Novelist, essayist and short story writer Itirani Samanta is the editor of the Kadambini and Kunikatha magazines, and director of Kadambini Media. Her novel, Sakuntala Ra Jhia has been translated from Odia as Shakuntala’s Daughter by Dipty Patnaik. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they discuss their multifaceted literary engagements with their mother languages and the sources and inspirations of their work.

 



 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

Veteran feminist publishers Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon in conversation with R Sivapriya to celebrate this milestone.
 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Yascha Mounk,Badri Narayan and Sreenivasan Jain  explore the interwoven landscapes of identity, ideas, and the individual. Navigating demographic, ethnic, gender and religious factors that polarise a population, an informed panel examines the juxtapositions of our times.

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Travel writing is among the most ancient forms of literature. It allows invaluable social, cultural and political insight. It can signify personal journeys and growth, the intricate histories of places and peoples, and even the power and limits of the mind. Colin Thubron, Nicholas Shakespeare, Sam Miller, Yuvan Aves and Divrina Dhingra discuss their work, inspirations and choice of genre with writer, historian and Festival Co-Director, William Dalrymple. 

 


 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

An important session which navigates the  frameworks of history, law and the social expectations of an evolving society towards persons facing physical and mental disabilities. In this discussion, an engaged panel evaluates governmental policy initiatives and practical measures to provide accessible facilities and support systems for those struggling with disabilities, and the challenges faced by their caregivers.


 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

What does the face of power look like? 

Who gets commemorated in art and why? 

And how do we react to the statues of politicians who we deplore?

What did Roman Emperors really do? 

Leading classicist and cultural commentator Mary Beard’s recent books, Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern and Emperor of Rome explore Roman power from different angles: how Roman art has shaped the Western world’s understanding of power for over two millennia; and what the day-to day nature of their power was. Examining ancient imperial imagery, modern visual imagination and little-known ancient texts, Beard explores the image and reality of Roman emperors, especially the ‘Twelve Caesars’,  from the ruthless Julius Caesar to the fly-torturing Domitian, to understand their ancient and modern significance. In conversation with historian and author Peter Frankopan, she discusses changing identities, the clueless or even deliberate misidentifications and the challenges of modern assumptions about ancient imperial power.

 

 

 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

At a time when change appears to be the only constant, a session that evaluates the swiftly transforming world around us and human strategies of survival, adaptation, and growth. A diverse panel speaks of their individual approaches to dynamic flux, and how imagination, skill and resilience help them ride change.

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Lexicographers are unsung heroes who toil to expand the universe of languages. Translators, linguists, readers and writers all owe them a huge debt. What drives them to take on this gargantuan task which is never finished? This session explores all these questions and more!
 

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Gulzar Sa’ab is the most beloved of all Indian poets and lyricists. His humour, sensitivity, and empathy tug at the heartstrings across generations. Yatindra Mishra's new book Gulzar Sa’ab takes us on a journey through his life and times.  Based on meticulously recorded conversations, recorded over two decades, translated into English by Sathya Saran, Mishra's book is a tribute to the genius of Gulzaar Sa’ab.

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The magnificent big cats of the jungle ecosystem, such as the great Bengal Tiger, have inspired writers of both fiction and nonfiction for generations.  News anchor and environment reporter Gargi Rawat’s recent book, Tiger Season, is a fictional account of an environmental journalist's tryst with tiger conservation, love, and the great outdoors. Writer, novelist and nature activist Arefa Tehsin was appointed the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Udaipur district by the government of Rajasthan and has pursued nature conservation through her books and articles. Together, they discuss the mystique of tiger tales and the story of conservation efforts in Rajasthan.


 

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The Amur River forms the highly contested border between Russia and China. It is the most densely fortified frontier on earth and represents the histories of both countries, as well as their unique relationship. Colin Thubron, the laureate of travel writing, follows the dramatic journey of the Amur, from its secret source to an expanse of almost 3,000 miles in his acclaimed book, The Amur River: Between Russia and China. In this astonishing account of an often perilous journey, among diverse peoples, climates and terrain, Thubron reveals the urgent history of this river of the far east and its links to global geopolitics. In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan.

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Bestselling historian Ben Macintyre’s latest nonfiction book, Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle, is a true story of the most infamous prison in history. Colditz gained international infamy as a prison of war camp during World War 2 for Allied officers who had repeatedly attempted to escape from other camps. Set in the time of World War 2, Macintyre presents a biography of the prison itself, the world detainees built within it and their thrilling escape. In conversation with writer Narayani Basu, Macintyre takes us on a deep dive through real life espionage within the walls of a German prison.

 


 

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist Charles Glass' recent book Soldiers Don't Go Mad, is a poignant history of the friendship between two great war poets, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, alongside a narrative investigation of the origins of PTSD and the literary response to World War I. Bound together by brotherhood, poetry and mental illness, it explores the story of the soldiers and doctors who struggled with the effects of industrial warfare on the human psyche. In conversation with author and journalist Mukund Padmanabhan, Glass takes an immersive look at the healing power of art in the face of the destructive nature of war.

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

As societies evolve, so must systems of learning; education and innovation are indispensable to changing realities and lying-in-wait challenges. Experts in education in its many shifting dimensions come together to discuss the future of education and the ways in which it can be tied to wider social welfare and public good.

Professor Charlie Jeffery is the Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of York. He believes that education can render social and economic welfare. Co-CEO of Archie Comics, Nancy Silberkleit, has worked extensively on the ways in which graphic novels can be used as a valuable tool to encourage literacy and a love for reading among children. Academic and writer Sital Kalantry is an associate dean at Seattle University School of Law. Priyank Narayan is a seasoned entrepreneur and an educationist. He is the Founder of IndiaPreneurship, an organisation focused on showcasing entrepreneurial opportunities in India to the world.

They will be in conversation with Sanjoy K Roy.

 

 

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Award-winning Calcutta born writer Shumona Sinha's translated work, Down With the Poor!, written in French as Assommons les pauvres!, takes a multilayered look into France's modern day refugee crisis. Translated into English by Teresa Lavender Fagan, the narrative attempts to understand the circumstances and rage of a woman who attacks a refugee in the Paris Metro over the course of one night. The story won the Valéry Larbaud Award in France, was on the short list for the Renaudot Award, won the Internationaler Literaturpreis in Berlin, and was adapted to theatre in Germany and Austria. In conversation with translator and writer Arunava Sinha, she attempts to explain the political undertones of her story and the simmering violence seeping through the pages.

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Podcasts bring a unique connection between voice and text. High quality podcasts connect with listeners with an intimacy that fosters trust. How are podcasts making more listeners into readers?  This is a session that examines the deepening symbiosis. 
 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The first novel is always the most difficult. Three super successful first timers speak to literary critic Merve Emre about the trials and tribulations of writing first fictions and read from their work.


 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

India is a country of many contradictions. Balancing between being the world's fastest growing economy and burgeoning technological prowess, we also see a land of poverty with the masses struggling to survive. A distinguished  panel comes together to evaluate policy and strategies towards inclusive development and growth. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Padma Vibhushan awardee Raghunath Mashelkar has been an influential thought leader in shaping science, technology and innovation policies in post-liberalised India. In conversation with co-chairman of Forbes Marshall and author of The Struggle And The Promise: Restoring India's Potential, Naushad Forbes, they present a conceptual roadmap for India's future, suited to its diverse social, economic and cultural needs.

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Two committed writers talk about their recent books, the themes of which navigate hope, dissent and despair. Prominent political theorist and scholar of multiculturalism and secularism in non-western societies, Rajeev Bhargava, in his new book, Reimagining Indian Secularism (History for Peace) interrogates the abuse and the deliberate distortion of Indian secularism by its opponents. His earlier collection of essays, Between Hope and Despair, explored the idea of an inclusive, pluralist India, raising pertinent questions on India’s collective ethical identity. Noted political economist and social commentator Parakala Prabhakar’s recently published The Crooked Timber of New India: Essays on a Republic in Crisis investigates the idea of ‘New India’ against the backdrop of rising religious majoritarianism and authoritarianism. Together, they will be in conversation with Mohit Satyanand.

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Sensitisation towards an equitable social, cultural, and economic environment that helps provide equal opportunities to women is essential for a just and progressive society. A distinguished panel discusses how to facilitate an increase in women's decision-making power and their access to opportunities and resources, creating an egalitarian platform to reduce the gap in accessibility between men and women. 


 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

As more readers across the world reach out for translations, they also receive attention and recognition in book awards. An erudite panel discusses the reach and impact of books that cross linguistic and cultural borders.
 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
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A thoughtful session that looks at the world and India's place in it. As a culture, India has retained its core identity despite our centuries of invasions, migrations and societal change. What is the core essence behind this continuity and what are the factors that have nurtured it.  Manmohan Vaidya is the Sah Sarkaryawah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the author of We and the World Around. Badri Narayan is a Sahitya Akademi award winning poet, essayist and professor at the School of Social Sciences, JNU and works on the political understanding and constructs of Northern India. Writer, politician and former diplomat Pavan K Varma  has written extensively on India and Indian civilisational values. In conversation with journalist Mandira Nayar, they discuss the idea of India and its place in a changing world.

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Many feminisms and perspectives, both current and prevalent across cultures and societies, have perhaps provided a greater flexibility to the women's movement. Issues such as women rights, intersectional feminism, ethnic marginalisation, social hierarchies and economic deprivation all take on many forms and have to be understood in their multiplicity. This session brings togethers writers and activists from across the world to speak of their immediate contexts and the wider search for equity and justice.


 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The legacy of Indian fashion is a vibrant tapestry, seamlessly weaving together elements of the past and present, tradition and modernity. Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani’s creations navigate these histories, from the impact of globalisation and colonisation on attire to the revival of long-forgotten techniques. His book, Journey to India Modern, written with investigative journalist Alia Allana, reveals the paths he takes for his craft, and the significance of his luxury design studio in today's world. In conversation with writer Shivani Sibal, Tahiliani shares insights into his explorations in fashion around the globe, his efforts to merge stories across time and space, and the questions he seeks to pose through his designs.

 


 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two exceptional writers explore the nuances of the written word and the world of fiction. Anjum Hasan’s latest novel, History's Angel, follows the journey of a mild-mannered school teacher at a time in India's history when Muslims are seen as either hapless victims or live threats. The poignant narrative deftly highlights the power of ideas and the peril of majoritarianism. Tania James’ recent novel, Loot, is a luminous tale of history that explores the far reaches of empire and human desire. The narrative follows the journey of a young woodcarver as his art catches the attention of Tipu Sultan—his journey mirroring the transformation of nations and dynasties ravaged by war across India and Europe. In conversation with Anish Gawande.


 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

As AI storms into various aspects of our lives, publishing is no exception. What does the future hold with AI entering the domains of editing, translation and audio books? How will AI impact legal contracts and the understanding of originality in IP? This session attempts to read the new shapes on the horizon.
 

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that engages with Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, Braj bhasha and Spanish in translation of poetry and epic texts. Venerated scholar Oscar Pujol studied Sanskrit at Banaras Hindu University. He has also authored the first Sanskrit-Catalan dictionary. His Spanish translation of  The Bhagavadgītā was published in 2023. 

Mridul Kirti has translated highly respectable Hindu scriptures such as the Samaveda and Ashtavakra Gita, written in Sanskrit. into Hindi and Brij Bhasha. They will be in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari Goyal.

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The Freedom to Dream is the most precious of all freedoms. Samsung explores the power of innovation and digital artistry to enable new levels of joy through the intuitive skills of its very latest model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series. An inspiring panel of artists, writers, musicians, historians, mathematicians and entrepreneurs discuss the many ways in which one can educate, create and conceptualise thought in a constantly transforming world.

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Acclaimed author and journalist Mrinal Pande’s novel, Sahela Re, pays tribute to the declining gharanas of Hindustani classical music  as she attempts to record, in her words, “The last cry of a lost aesthetics, an art form, a way of life.” Pande’s protagonist, Vidya, collects old letters, photographs and gramophone records on a tantalising quest to unearth the stories and traditions of a time when the practice of music was likened to sacred worship.

Writer, columnist and cultural icon Yatindra Mishra has worked extensively on the heritage of Indian music. His books include biographies of Lata Mangeshkar and Begum Akhtar among others. In conversation with academic and writer  Katherine Schofield, Pande, herself a trained Hindustani classical musician, and Mishra, speak of the history and memory of this music, the unspoken codes of artistes’ lives, and the links between their stories and the legacy of Indian classical music.

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Three prominent Indian poets share their work and inspirations, and talk to each other about metre, rhyme, and the muse. Naveen Kishore’s hypnotic verses in his new collection Mother Muse Quintet, an ode to the birth mother and the mother tongue, emerge fog-like from the depths of memories and dreams, and swirl, like time itself, in a slow timeless vortex of loss and longing, death and life. Ranjit Hoskote’s eighth collection of poetry Icelight transits between audacious exploration and contemplative retreat as it archives lost worlds and relationships, and curates poignant versions of the past, the present, and the future. Arundhathi Subramaniam’s recent anthology Wild Women: Seekers, Protagonists, and Goddesses in Sacred Indian Poetry weaves together haunting voices of, by, and for women across the Indian subcontinent as it traverses the sacred feminine and invites us to reclaim an explosive inheritance of female power, rapture, and wisdom. Introduced by Anisha Lalvani for a session of free flowing conversation and verse.  This session will include the unveiling of Ranjit Hoskote’s latest collection of essays, To Break and To Branch, a tribute to celebrated poet, playwright and painter,  Gieve Patel.


 

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Author John Boyne's recent book, All the Broken Places, is a powerful sequel to his bestselling work, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The narrative is a devastating yet poignant account of a woman who must confront the transgressions of her past, and a present in which it is never too late for courage and redemption. In conversation with literary critic and writer Merve Emre, Boyne discusses the tragedies of the past and the inevitable shadows they cast upon the future.

 

 

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

Be it to preserve memory or to keep alive the soundscape of different languages, the drumbeat of creativity powers the work of committed publishers from various countries. Tune in to this thoughtful panel of publishers  hailing from lands as diverse as Mauritius and Tibet.
 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: The Trio One World

Presented by the Embassy of Switzerland | Presented by BluOne Ink

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Pulitzer Prize winning writer Kai Bird speaks to historian and writer Jonathan Freedland on his writing life and  literary journey. Co-authored with the late Martin J. Sherwin Bird famously wrote, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, which acted as inspiration for the Chirstopher Nolan’s film, Oppenheimer. He is also known for his writings on United States-Middle East political relations, and his biographies of political figures such as Jimmy Carter.  

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

 

“Every Ramayana is different, every Mahabharata is different,” says author, columnist and screenwriter Anand Neelakantan. Recounting Indian epics from their antagonists’ perspectives, he crafts striking interpretations of the tales, laying bare a world of immense possibility and inexhaustible retelling. The author of thirteen books, including the famed Bahubali Trilogy, Neelakantan is a storyteller whose diverse tools involve novels, television shows, audio books and films. In this session, Neelakantan, in conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas speaks about the unyielding power of myths and the multitude of stories they carry within.

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


Amitabh Kant, Mukesh Bansal and Neelkanth Mishra  explore the timely theme of cherishing our planet and our place in the cosmos. As India makes strides in reaching out to explore our planetary systems and beyond, our vision as a species expands and our horizons widen. Even as the consciousness of ‘One World’ dawns, greed and hubris divide the world, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, writers, technocrats and future space professionals explore the exciting potential of a global economy within the burgeoning space ecosystem. A stimulating and visionary ‘Future Now’ session examining our changing world.

 

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

A session exploring the artistic genius of our  country’s foremost modern artist, Raja Ravi Varma. Two of Ganesh V. Shivaswamy's six-volume series, Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint, navigates through the life, artistic style and ever lasting impact of Raja Ravi Varma's creative journey. In conversation with Asad Lalljee.

 

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


A powerful session of readings and recitations which platforms extraordinary poetic talent within the oral tradition of indigenous literature.

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

A visit to a bookstore should open doors to a world of magic. Bookstore wizards speak up for the fine art of curation and display. This is a session that looks at how booksellers expand the circle of readers. 
 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Charu Nivedita's Conversations with Aurangzeb, originally in Tamil, boasts a sprawling narrative of a hundred and forty-five thousand words. Translated by Nandini Krishnan, the novel cleverly combines history and satire to provide a sharp social commentary.  In conversation with podcaster and writer Eric Chopra, Nivedita and Krishnan talk about the process of collaborating to 'transcreate' a narrative in which the spirit of an erstwhile emperor speaks through an Aghori, spilling his views on themes such as myth, cinema, language, society, and politics.



 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Historian and archaeologist Josephine Quinn's recent work, How the World Made the West, is an expansive history of the origins of the West spanning 4000 years. Questioning the idea of ‘civilisations’ within history, Quinn presents an intriguing idea of how it was contact and connections, rather than distinct and isolated civilisations, that drove historical change.  In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan and classicist and writer Mary Beard, Quinn calls for a reassessment of the idea of the ‘West’ and takes a deep dive into a shared history lost in time.


 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The landscape of modern love has changed, adapting and evolving to our times. A diverse panel of writers examines the transforming terrain of romance, desire and commitment. Columnist and writer Seema Goswami’s popular column ‘Spectator’ examines contemporary life and society. Author Shivani Sibal’s debut novel Equations looks at family, social change and class divides. Writer and translator Anish Gawande is the curator of Pink List India — an archive of Indian politicians supporting LGBTQIA+ rights. Together they discuss the refuge of love in a world of ceaseless turbulence and shift with Maria Goretti.

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Books can be burned, banned, and branded dangerous, but the often unexpected and subversive ideas that they contain cannot be suppressed. Mridula Garg is a reputed and prolific Hindi writer and a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award. Her novel Chittacobra was branded obscene and led to her arrest. Kalpana Raina is a patron of translation across diverse languages and has recently co-translated For Now It Is Night  - stories by the late Hari Krishna Kaul. Former diplomat Navdeep Suri has translated the words of his grandfather Nanak Singh, whose poems, Khooni Vaisakhi and Zakhmi Dil had been banned and censored after Jallianwala Bagh and the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. Merve Emre is the Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing and Criticism at Wesleyan University and the director of the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism. Novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy is the editor of Our Freedoms and has written extensively on free speech. In an important session, they speak of books that  were suppressed and silenced, and how they survive obliteration and censorship.

 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The regions around the Indian Ocean are connected through ancient traditions of island nations and their cultures. This session brings together diverse voices from countries that share a common heritage of oceanic experience in their linguistic, literary and poetic identities. Anitah Aujayeb is a Mauritian poet, historian and multilingual educator. Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. Shyam Selvadurai, is an acclaimed novelist from Sri Lanka. Indian poet and Diplomat Abhay K’s  book length poem Monsoon , weaves the biodiversity, cuisine and heritage of IndianOcean islands and the Indian subcontinent into one poetic thread.


 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

Educational publishing remains the commercial backbone of the Indian book industry. Some leading publishers discuss the prospects of growth in the current policy environment and the implementation of the NEP. They also explore areas of common interest between educational and trade publishers.
 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 

A session on the idea of justice and how the Supreme Court of India strives to face the challenges of a changing world.

Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice S. Muralidhar has also practised law in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court for nearly two decades. Justice Madan B. Lokur is presently a Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji, was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India, and has also been a Judge at the Delhi High Court  and a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Sital Kalantry and Aparna Chandra's co-authored book, Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India, builds on deep research to observe the challenges and trials faced by the Supreme court and its processes. The narrative provides an overview of the Supreme Court and presents data-driven suggestions for improving its effectiveness. In conversation with  former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and Telangana High Court, Chief Justice Chauhan, an illustrious panel weaves through the past, present and future to provide a holistic account of the highest court of justice.

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Namita Gokhale, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, reminisces about her debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, first published in 1984, which has remained a cult classic over the years. In conversation with journalist Pragya Tiwari, podcaster and writer Eric Chopra and founder of A Suitable Agency, Hemal Sodhi, Gokhale also talks of the trajectory of her literary life, her 23 published books, and her new novella, Never Never Land.

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Complex and crucial health issues often have simple core solutions. The many levels of  devastation caused by the vagaries of climate change include drought and flood situations where the lack of access to proper sanitation can cause immense damage. A session that flags the need and necessity to commit to core health through sanitation, hygiene and  cleanliness.

This session will include the launch of the Dettol Hygiea Android game. Join the battle of hygiene and let's bust some germs with the Dettol Hygiea Android game by Dettol Banega Swasth India on its 10-year anniversary. The launch will be led by EVP South Asia, Gaurav Jain; Director of External Affairs and Partnerships South Asia, Ravi Bhatnagar; and Deputy CEO of MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, Sanjeev Dham.

 

 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Award-winning biographer Nicholas Shakespeare's recent work, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, offers us a fresh portrait of the man behind James Bond and his enduring legacy. The evolution of what Bond represents about ideas of masculinity, the British national psyche, and global politics has shifted over time, as has the interpretation of the life of his author. However, Fleming himself was more mysterious and subtle than anything he wrote. Historian and writer Matthew Parker's book Goldeneye: Where Bond was Born, provides an intimate peek into Fleming's stay at Goldeneye in Jamaica, the space in which the Bondverse materialised. Together, they pay homage to the man behind 007.


 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Both Diana Evans, half-Nigerian and half-English, and Ivy Ngeow, born and raised in Malaysia, live in London and tell stories about the urban middle-class through the lens of mixed-race ethnicities. Set in South London, against the backdrop of Barack Obama’s historic win in the 2008 US presidential elections, Evans’s third novel, Ordinary People, is the story of two couples who find themselves at a moment of reckoning as they deal with midlife relationship crisis, the demands of parenthood and the loss of loved ones. Ivy Ngeow’s recent novel, The American Boyfriend, is a thrilling tale of how Phoebe, a single mother with a dead-end job in Southwark, lands herself in trouble when she goes to Florida with her two-year-old toddler to meet her long-distance boyfriend. Together, they will be in conversation with academic Veio Pou, as they talk about their books and discuss how their writerly experiences are shaped or not by their hybrid cultural identities.

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The vibrant hum of energy is heard across the landscape of Indian language publishing. What books are finding greater traction? Get a peek into the diverse worlds of Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi publishers.
 

03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Writer Devdutt Pattanaik's recent book, Bahubali: 63 Insights into Jainism, explores the stories, symbols, rituals and ideas associated with one of India's most ancient faiths. Steeped in philosophy and with accompanying illustrations, the book follows the journeys of  the Tirthankars who were known to be the perfect beings, showing the path of truth and liberation to humanity while examining the lesser-known tenets of the faith. Introduced by  Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Purana, the master storyteller weaves together knowledge, ritual, social imagery and reality.

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
CHARBAGH

India is a federation of states and union territories, and the relationship between the centre and the states is crucial. This relationship is interpreted differently and often contentiously through diverse lenses and perspectives. An illustrious panel, including  former Chief Election Commissioner of India Navin Chawla; and former Governor of Rajasthan Margaret Alva, Indian Lawyer Pinky Anand speak to author and academic Varghese K George about the fine balance between the centre and the state and the constant juxtaposition between the two.

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 


 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Novelist and playwright Damon Galgut’s The Promise is the sharp and meditative winner of the 2021 Booker Prize. It conveys the play of power in relationships - with self, society, state - against the backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa. A white family, nettled by changing society, wrangles over a farm and a delayed promise. As South Africa churns with a violent past, turbulent politics, and the rumbles of change, Galgut weaves together the stories and struggles of relationships from both. Galgut’s other works include A Sinless Season, The Good Doctor, and Arctic Summer. In conversation with writer Anish Gawande.

 


 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A riveting session that looks at aspects of subcontinental engagement in the Great War through the eyes of three writers.

Mukund Padmanabhan’s The Great Flap of 1942 describes the panic caused by the Japanese threat to India during the Second World War. His Majesty’s Headhunter by Mmhonlumo Kikon provides an inside perspective on the epic siege of Kohima. In conversation with  Vishnu Som they speak of different facets of military history, and discuss impacts and outcomes.

 


 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 was a glorious moment in the history of the Jewish people; however, for the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, the development was a catastrophe. After several regional wars and decades of conflict, the two State solution espoused by the international community remains a distant dream. Since Israel's occupation in 1967 of  Gaza and the West Bank, expanding Jewish settlements in the latter have further reduced the land available for a Palestinian State and exacerbated tensions. Today, as the world watches the wave of violence and destruction following the horrific Hamas attack of October 7, an informed panel discusses the complicated history of the conflict, the present developments and their likely impact on the region. 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Historian Matthew Parker’s latest book, One Fine Day: British Empire on the Brink, is a critical historical exploration of the British Empire at both the peak of its global reach—and the moment it began to topple. On  29 September 1923, the British empire reached its peak, geographically speaking. As the Palestine mandate, administered by Britain, came into force. Through the prism of this single day from Jamaica to London to a tiny Pacific island, Parker captures the pinnacle of British imperialism in vivid detail. In conversation with writer and historian David Veevers,  Parker examines a moment of palpable change leading up to the sun setting on the British Empire.

 


 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Leading publishers discuss the current taxation regime. What are the changes they would like to see? How are they grappling with the problem of pirated books? Are the legal remedies satisfactory? This session takes a close look at the hard questions. 
 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

How do you take a work of prose and turn it into a screenplay? Celebrated writers Bonnie Garmus, Kai Bird, Ben Mcintyre and Nicholas Shakespeare discuss the process behind transforming the written word for the screen and the nuances of the craft, with film, television and literary agent Charles Collier.

 

 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 

An engaged conversation observes the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic, and diplomatic implications and complexities.

 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The Chola empire reigned over the southern reaches of the peninsula, covering the Krishna-Godavari delta in northern Andhra Pradesh and extending their influence towards South East Asia at the height of its power. They unified peninsular India south of the Tungabhadra River and maintained this territorial unity for three centuries, from 907 to 1215. An expert panel comes together to evaluate the key figures who played a crucial role in establishing Chola supremacy and the cultural, political, economic, and social paradigms that facilitated this expansion.


 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

An engaged conversation observing the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic and diplomatic implications and complexities.

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The book as an object of enduring beauty takes shape under the discerning eye of outstanding designers. An inspiring session where extraordinary talents talk about their creative process and the outcome that we get to hold and cherish.
 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Can like-minded nations stay together to protect a rule-based global order?  Can countries of the QUAD move beyond geopolitical compulsions and political hubris to rise towards a future of common goals and interest? Journalist Suhasini Haider discusses the QUAD and beyond with American Ambassador to India, H.E. Eric Garcetti; Former Prime Minister to Australia, Malcolm Turnbull; High Commissioner of Australia to India Philip Green; and the former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, Shyam Saran.

 

 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The territorial imperative drives most species on the planet. Aggression is wired into the human psyche; the hotspots of war and violence in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Palestine stand testament to irrationality and violence. An engaged panel discusses the whys and wherefores of these conflicts and how reason, rationality and peace could prevail.

 

 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

With an enhanced focus on translation among publishers and a growing tribe of translators from languages, big and small, the larger literary canon is being enriched in multiple ways. Currently, the translations for the international market emerging from India are mostly in English but there is growing interest from other languages. The session will explore questions such as: What are publishers in the West looking for from the translated literature of non-English languages? What are translators' learnings in this context?


 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Books signpost the zeitgeist of nations and seek out universalities across the world. Publishers from different countries share what inspires them to grow their lists and what the future holds for reading communities.
 

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Susheela Raman and Sam Mills, in the company of William Dalrymple, bring their latest project to the Jaipur Literature Festival stage, performing the visionary poetry of William Blake. Blake has been an inspiration for countless poets, artists and philosophers.

Alongside their brilliant, original settings of Blake in song, William Dalrymple recites his words, becoming ‘The Voice of the Devil’ from Blake’s classic ‘Marriage of Heaven and Hell’. Two centuries after his death his sublime and provocative work reinvents itself for each new era.

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


Artificial intelligence and data science have transformed our understanding and application of knowledge in various fields. The intersection of AI with climate and environmental challenges provides transformative opportunities to accelerate and optimise affordable clean energy and reduce the planet's carbon footprint.  A session that takes a comprehensive look at the positives and negatives of using AI to mitigate climate change and other scientific questions while addressing the challenges ahead.

 

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Language and communication derives from the interplay of words and images, sounds and symbols. In a session that celebrates the power of graphics, a panel comes together to discuss the ways in which publishers and authors are reimagining context, references and illustration for today's technological generation and its ever-reducing attention span. 

  



 

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.


 

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

For an industry poised to grow, data on the book market in India remains quite scarce. The Nielsen Report provides some valuable insights on the size of the market, trends and the factors that will drive growth. Industry experts unpack key findings and advocate for the collection of more data across the spectrum of publishing. 
 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: Dr. Kamala Shankar

Presented by Utsad Imamuddin Khan Dagar, Indian Music Art & Culture Society. | Presented by BluOne Ink

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize, Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov’s compelling dystopian fiction Time Shelter introduces us to an eerie world where people seek refuge in artificially recreated pasts. Translated into English by Angela Rodel, Gospodinov’s enigmatic tale unravels a curious aspect of the human psyche which uses nostalgia to deal with sadness and despair. In conversation with Nandini Nair, he talks about his book and the personal and political experiences which shaped this unique read.

 


 

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

The wise and witty Sudha Murthy's writing covers a variety of themes and genres. Her recent book, Common Yet Uncommon, is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the quirks and foibles of ordinary people. In conversation with editorial and publishing consultant Meru Gokhale, she speaks of her stellar and extraordinarily successful life and what keeps her rooted with her feet firmly on the ground. 

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Our planet needs therapy. Anger spills over into political judgement and international cooperation. A high-powered panel of diplomats and thinkers consider strategies of mindfulness and discuss the checks and balances that are needed to encourage peace in a fraught world.

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Many people think climate change primarily implies warmer temperatures, but temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, every little change has the capacity to influence other aspects. Weaving through history and current politics, an illustrious panel evaluates the lessons from our past to better understand the impact of the climate crisis in our present and future.

 

 

 



 

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The Festival Reading Room finds inspiration in the range of voices and narratives across platforms. A session that brings together author and columnist Arefa Tehsin and academic and author Saras Manickam as they speak of their inspiration and the quest of the written word.

 

 

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

Seagull Books celebrated its 40th birthday in 2023. The iconic publishing house has created fine books across borders and boundaries. Naveen Kishore walks us through the extraordinary journey of Seagull, one full of leaps of faith, friendships and rewarding literary connections.
 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Vedic monk Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is the author of the bestselling memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. A graduate of Stanford University with a PhD in psychology, Sadhviji has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganga at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, for more than twenty-seven years where she gives spiritual teachings, writes, serves as a unique voice of female leadership and oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, for which she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by President Biden. In an inspirational session with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, she discusses her spiritual practices and wisdom teaching.



 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Celebrated television presenter and writer Richard Osman’s best-selling crime series, The Thursday Murder Club, a series which has sold well over 3 million copies, follows four unlikely friends as they meet up once a week in their peaceful retirement village to investigate unsolved murders. The series includes The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil to Die. In conversation with Somnath Batabyal, Osman takes a deep dive into this unorthodox septuagenarian world of murder, mystery and mayhem.

 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist, literary critic and novelist Nilanjana S Roy's recent novel Black River, writes of a society that unravels in the midst of class divides, religious strife and gendered violence. Exploring themes of friendship, love and grief, Black River is a tender and reflective search for justice interwoven with the politics of religion and the loss of home and country. In conversation with journalist and entrepreneur Pragya Tiwari, Roy discusses the murky storyline, fast-paced narrative, and the grim unfolding of a murder in a village rife with devastation. 


 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Leonardo da Vinci's reputation as an inventor and scientist, and the complexity of his creativity and personality, have sometimes almost overshadowed the importance of his aims and techniques as a painter. Museum curator and art historian Luke Syson is the Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge. His highly acclaimed  Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan exhibit  attempted to  understand the complex nature of one of the most sought after names of the Renaissance period. In conversation with celebrated writer Tim Parks, Syson takes a deep dive into the art and times of Da Vinci.


 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two outstanding women who lead by example speak about empowering the next generation with physical and mental strength. Writer and academician, Pardis Mahdavi’s new book, Book of Queens, is the untold story of generations of Middle Eastern horsewomen and their efforts to defend their homelands from the Taliban and other terrorist outfits. Emmy winning journalist, activist and founder of the anti-sex trafficking NGO, ‘Apne Aap’, Ruchira Gupta’s recent book, I Kick and I Fly, revolves around the escape of a girl from Bihar from being sold into the sex-trade because of the timely intervention of the owner of the local hostel for ‘at-risk girls’, someone who also helps her reassess the value of her body through Kung Fu. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about their work and women who defy conventional narratives of femininity.

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

An outside-in view of publishing from the specialists in the OTT space. What can publishers do to leverage content, old and new, with the OTT industry? How do they build greater synergy? This is a session that opens windows to fresh ideas and exchange.
 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Writer and literary chronicler Perumal Murugan's recent novel, Fire Bird, translated from Tamil into English by Janani Kannan, is the winner of the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature. The transcendental work draws from Murugan's own life experiences of displacement and movement, and explores the fragility of our fundamental attraction to permanence and our futile efforts to attain it. In conversation with publishers Kannan Sundaram and Manasi Subramaniam, he takes a poignant look into the human desire for roots and belonging in an ever changing world.

 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Celebrated writer Katherine Rundell’s work, The Golden Mole: And Other Living Treasure, is a lavishly illustrated tribute to endangered animals across the world. A session which gives us a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck with the beauty of our world in all its fragility and strangeness. In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A joyous session, where three food writers discuss their adventures with Indian cuisine. Food writer, restaurant consultant, and founder of ‘Karen’s Gourmet Kitchen’, Karen Anand’s Masala Memsahib introduces us to the local cuisines, eating practices, and fascinating culinary histories of five Indian states, as she recounts her fabulous adventures with food and intersperses them with delicious recipes. Swedish detective novelist, travel writer, and founder-director of Bangalore’s Semi-Deluxe Writing Programme, Zac O’Yeah’s recently published Digesting India is a wildly entertaining and fast-paced story of a traveller’s discovery of unique dishes and food habits, as he sets to explore the culture and diversity of India through culinary experiences. Video jockey, food vlogger, and author Maria Goretti’s From My Kitchen to Yours: Food, Love and Other Ingredients celebrates how she lives her life and presents a six-course meal layout for each month with delectable easy-to-make recipes from across India. In conversation with Amrita Tripathi, they talk about their books, and engage in a fun-filled session on all that tickles our taste-buds. 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

COP28 closed with an agreement signalling the 'beginning of the end' of the fossil fuel era. An informed panel discusses the possible paths to a timely and equitable transition. This is a much-needed session on global solidarity and determination to move beyond policy into tangible outcomes.

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures as illustrious and complex as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad  and Indira Gandhi come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.



 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

India speaks in a thousand tongues. India reads in several scripts. Discerning literary voices from across the country reflect upon experiments in form and content. What is keeping readers, old and new, glued to the page or the screen?
 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Intertwining corporate avarice and the intergenerational empire behind the opioid crisis in America, a gripping and foreboding session that unravels the infestation seeped into the pharmaceutical industry. Writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s explosive book and winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for 2021, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, traces the family's ambitions and ruthless methods and their role in the OxyContin epidemic. A disturbing narrative on American morality and ambition, the saga investigates the owners of Purdue Pharma and their complete disregard for human health. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 

The inimitable Shashi Tharoor offers us time-tested aphorisms of our age. His latest book The Less you Preach, the More you Learn: Aphorisms for our Age, co-authored with Joseph Zacharias, gives short and pithy life lessons on coping, surviving and succeeding. The bestselling author persuasively shares ways in which we can conquer frustration, insecurity and improve relationships with our friends and family.

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. The synthesis of the sciences allows us to interpret our world from the sub-atomic to the edge of the universe. Yet we continue to battle each other as human greed and hubris destroy the fragile balance of our planet. A crucial session that addresses geopolitics, the burdens of history, planetary consciousness and the urgent need for cooperation between governments, continents, and cultures.


 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Uncontrolled and erratic, the online world can be a fearful and uncertain ecosphere for young users to navigate safely. Author and columnist Neha J. Hiranandani has written articles on parenting for The Indian Express and Vogue India. Her new book, ‘iParent’, leads parents of the digital generation through the world of cyber-safety for their kids. Shivani Sibal is a parent and the author of the novel Equations, which explores family, social change and class divides. Parent, writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, Marcus du Sautoy, is the author of several books including, his recent book Around the World in 80 Games explores how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined. In conversation with Priyanka Khanna they discuss the stark differences in digital environments across generations, guidelines for parents coping with these, and how a world of devices may be handled with caution.


 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Award-winning journalist and seasoned political commentator Neerja Chowdhury's recent book How Prime Ministers Decide

explores the tenures of six prominent Prime Ministers of independent India and dissects the pivotal decisions that shaped the course of Indian history. Weaving through first hand interviews, anecdotes and eye-opening accounts, the narrative sheds light upon the world of power and human fallibility. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, Chowdhury shares her deep insights into the inner workings and often opaque processes behind these events, and reflects upon what they indicate in the larger context.

 


 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Three accomplished writers who chronicle and creatively reinterpret India’s rich repertoire of myths. Author and academic Koral Dasgupta has written the evocative Sati series, which explores the Pancha Kanyas from the Hindu epics with a feminine consciousness. The latest in the series, Mandodari, recounts the struggle of Ravan’s wife as she confronts myriad challenges, and tries to balance love and ethical duties. Author, screenwriter, and former anchor Satyarth Nayak’s best-selling book Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas compiles some of the greatest mythological tales, including many lesser known stories. Beginning from the Satya Yuga and ending with the arrival of the Kali Yuga, Nayak’s illustrated edition seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the psyche of gods, demons, and humans. Editor and writer Saksham Garg’s novel, Samsara: Enter the Valley of the God, takes us on a fantastical journey through the realm of the gods hidden in the heart of the Himalaya. Together they discuss the process of returning to ancient texts and the hoary past, and present them to contemporary readers. 

 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Tamil publisher Kalachuvadu has consistently published Perumal Murugan's writing over the last twenty years. The latest JCB award for Fire Bird is but one testament to the creative synergy between them. What goes into the making of such a long standing literary friendship?
 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Historian and writer Peter Frankopan’s latest book The Earth Transformed: An Untold History is a revolutionary new history that reveals how climate change has dramatically shaped the  development—and demise—of civilisations across time. Spanning centuries and continents, Frankopan explains how nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history and evaluates the fall of civilisations at the behest of Mother Nature.  In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Our planet is changing in extreme ways. With ocean levels rising and temperatures soaring, governments and industries across the world have begun taking systemic steps to mitigate the challenges brought on by climate change. A panel championing the leadership, solutions and ambitious action that are driving the transition to a more sustainable, equitable, climate-resilient global economy.

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Virginia Woolf is recognised as a major twentieth-century author, a great novelist and essayist and a key figure in literary history as a feminist and a modernist. Author and literary critic, Merve Emre’s The Annotated Mrs. Dalloway, presents her illuminating commentary on Virginia Woolf’s  groundbreaking novel, Mrs Dalloway, in a lushly illustrated hardcover edition. The narrative is considered to be a pivotal work of literary modernism and one of the most significant and influential novels of the twentieth century. In conversation with Anish Gawande, Emre explores Woolf’s aesthetic and political ambitions while diving into the nuances of her characters.

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

Where does fiction come from? What is the process of its creation? How do you make up characters and situations that are believable? And why should the reader care? Five of the world’s acclaimed novelists, Damon Galgut, Hernan Diaz, Tim Parks and Katie Kitamura, share their insights on the art of creating a novel in conversation with Nandini Nair.

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta and Commodore Gurnam Singh and speak to Commodore Srikant Kesnur on the critical role played by the Navy during the 1971 Indo - Pak War.

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The flourishing Indie publishing scene in the UK and India never ceases to surprise and delight, as it continues to throw up creative talents fearlessly treading new paths.  There is much fertile ground for ongoing exchange between Indie publishers from the two countries.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Uncommon Love, a heartwarming biography written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, recounts the early years of Sudha and Narayan Murthy’s courtship, their marriage and parenthood, and the founding years of Infosys. The narrative gives us personal insights  into the  struggles  and ideals of the Murthys before they became the icons of business success and philanthropy.  Together with Priyanka Khanna, they explore the interwoven fabric of business and family and the values that have held them both together.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Sprawled across a quarter of the world’s land mass that claimed nearly seven hundred million people, Britain’s empire was the largest in human history. An illustrious panel evaluates the establishment of this superpower and  explores the ways in which communities across the world resisted and defied both the Empire and the East India Company.


 

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Navdeep Suri and Navtej Sarna, both writers, translators, and former diplomats, speak about the essence of Punjabiyat in this session, invoking its spirit of emotional generosity and compassion through the works of their forebears. Suri’s recently published translation of his grandfather Nanak Singh’s Khoon de Sohile (Hymns in Blood) is a grim reminder of the violence and trauma that religious conflict can bring in its wake.  The sequal to this will be the recently launched, Agg di Khed(A Game of Fire). His earlier translations include Singh’s long poem, Khooni Vaisakhi, on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sarna’s Savage Harvest is the translation of his father Mohinder Singh Sarna's collection of short stories on the Partition of India. His own novel, Crimson Spring, is also a poignant recounting of the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh bloodshed. Together, in conversation with academic Sarabjot Singh, they return to the past to examine the enormous legacy of their respective forefathers and the formative role they played in Punjabi literature.



 

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

 

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Libraries ignite the first spark for the love of books and reading. The JCB Foundation's deep commitment to literacy and to literary outreach is reflected in the Community Library Project which embodies the idea of ‘Reading Is Thinking’. A committed panel talks about the vision of an accessible library network for all.


 

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Picture books draw first readers into unravelling the mysteries of image and text. How do publishers make the first happy step on the reading ladder turn into a giant leap of becoming a bookworm?

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
CHARBAGH

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Actor Irrfan Khan's transformative oeuvre took Indian cinema by storm. From his National School of Drama days to his nearly decade-long stint in television and his work in path-breaking movies such as The Namesake, Life of Pi, Maqbool and Hindi Medium, Irrfan's special quality of stardom touched all his viewers. Film critic and writer Shubhra Gupta's, Irrfan: A Life in Movies, is a collection of conversations with his contemporaries and their memories of their time with the legend.  In conversation with his beloved wife and theatre actor Sutapa Sikdar and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, they dive into the art, craft and life of Irrfan with Sathya Saran.


 

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
CHARBAGH

In conversation with former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur, cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department and Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore; owner of Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals, Manaj Badale; and Sports Expert and United Nations Ally for Women in Sport, Harini Rana discuss the future of sports in India and its role in education and nation building.

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

From c. 324 BCE to c. 185 BCE, the Mauryas controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent with efficiency and administrative finesse. Following key moments through Mauryan history, an expert panel discusses the enigmatic ruler Chanragupta Maurya, his successors and how colonial and post colonial writing has dramatically transformed our understanding of one of the first pan-Indian dynasties.


 

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

An important session upon the transformative power of gender-inclusive language in challenging and reshaping societal norms towards more equitable and inclusive perspectives. The panel will also discuss the broader implications of this approach, highlighting its potential to inspire change in social attitudes and contribute to a more accepting and diverse society. It will also focus attention on the critical role of representation in breaking stereotypes and fostering a culture of empathy and understanding.

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that brings together writers who transit easily between languages and believe in linguistic and cultural dialogue as a desirable cosmopolitanism. B. Jeyamohan writes in both Tamil and Malayalam, and Shumona Sinha is a Bengali who writes in French.  Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. In conversation with writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran, they speak of the many languages, cultures and literary spaces they inhabit and discuss how they negotiate them

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

This session invites publishers from India and abroad to share information about their eclectic lists. The perfect platform to start professional matchmaking and do better business across borders.

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: Saptak Chatterjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Delhi has always played an integral role in the geographical, social, and political landscape of the Indian subcontinent. Swapna Liddle’s recent book, Broken Script, delves into the intricate struggle between the last two Mughal emperors and the East India Company— one wielding considerable symbolic authority, the other a fast-growing military and political power. Historian and writer Rana Safvi’s trilogy on Delhi— Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi; The Forgotten Cities of Delhi; and Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi — takes a nuanced look into the city's magnificence through its forts and buildings, living monuments to the grandeur and strife of the past. In conversation with historian, Festival Co-Director, and author of The Last Mughal, William Dalrymple, they explore the gallis of the old Mughal capital.

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy’s recent book Around the World in Eighty Games traverses the globe while exploring the genesis of games and what makes them fascinating. Drawing on the mathematics of chance, game theory, gamification, gaming strategies and computer games, Sautoy’s captivating book reveals the secrets behind the invention of engrossing games in cultures around the world.  In this conversation, he discusses the mathematical insides of board games, card games and dice games in a riveting session that unlocks their eternal and universal appeal.

 


 

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Author, academic and singer Reba Som's recent memoir, Hop, Skip and Jump, is a travelogue of her experiences as a Foreign Service Officer's wife, spanning the many decades she spent through multiple postings and environments. Civil Service Officer Rajan Kashyap's memoir, Beyond the Trappings of Office, follows his journey through his student years into the civil services, giving us a peek into the inner workings of a department that remains the backbone of our country. In conversation with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, they take us through their journey as an integral part of the Indian socio-cultural fabric

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

The relationship between the human species and their pets constitutes a deep and meaningful bond. A panel of animal lovers come together to celebrate the inseparable healing bond between humans and their animal best friends and the comical, nostalgic and heartwarming ways in which they impact our lives and bring families together even long after they are gone. 


 

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

As we seek respite from the relentless pace of modern lives, two poets present poetry of and for our times depicting different aspects of our restless world.

 


 

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Diplomat and award-winning Australian writer Felicity Volk’s Desire Lines is a heart-rending and passionate story of love which compels us to confront the lies we tell ourselves to survive. Set against landmarks of twentieth century Australian history, her novel unravels the uneasy relationship society has with its own truth-telling in politics, history, and war. In conversation with diplomat Barry O’Farrell, Volk discusses the nuances of her narrative and her writing life.

 


 

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

Veteran writer, Mridula Garg, and literary activist and translator, Kalpana Raina, speak of the trajectory and narrative arc of their literary journeys.. Mridula Garg with her penchant for breaking gender stereotypes has a recent Hindi novel, Ve Nayaab Aurtein, which experiments with narrative structure, as it weaves stories out of memories and distorts social taboos with delightful ease. Known for her entrepreneurial support to translators, Kalpana Raina’s co-translation of Hari Krishna Kaul’s stories, For Now, It is Night, brings out different shades of hurt and loneliness in  the lives of Kashmiri Pandits. A thoughtful and engaging session where Garg and Raina read from their works and speak of their inspirations, in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari.

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
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Sharmistha Mukherjee’s remarkable biography Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers offers a fascinating glimpse into the illustrious life of Pranab Mukherjee, former politician and the thirteenth President of India. Based on his diary entries, personal stories narrated to Sharmistha, and her own research, this sweeping narrative combines the personal and the political as it invites us into the lives of the Mukherjees and uncovers hitherto unknown facets of Pranab’s political career, his unfulfilled ambitions, and his private conversations with prominent politicians. In conversation with Vir Sanghvi, Sharmistha talks about her workaholic and devoutly religious Baba who narrated events in the spirit of adda at the dinner-table and who never tried to impose his faith or beliefs on her.

 



 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

As the boundaries of gender and identity blend and dissolve, writers and activists speak of who they are, the journeys of becoming, and the power to initiate change. 


 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 2024, the ‘International Year of Camelids,’ recognises camelids and their essential role in protecting hostile ecosystems and providing livelihood for millions of families around the world. Scientist Ilse Köhler-Rollefson is the author of Camel Karma, a narrative that traces her quest to save Rajasthan’s camels while sharing insights into connections with the Raika people and their enduring relationship with species. Her recent work, Hoofprints on the Land, is a fascinating and lyrical description of the working partnerships between people and animals. Yuvan Aves writes, teaches, learns, and lives where the landscape merges with mindscape. He is a multi-award winning writer, nature-educator and environmental defender, and the managing trustee of Palluyir Trust for Nature Education and Research. Together, Rollefson and Aves discuss the camel cultures of the world, the welfare and preservation of these animals, and the crucial role they play in questions of food security, climate change and biodiversity.

 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Silk, prized for its lightness, luminosity and beauty, is also one of the strongest biological materials ever known. Writer and broadcaster Aarathi Prasad’s Silk is a cultural and biological history from the origins and ancient routes of silk to the story of the biologists who learned the secrets of silk-producing animals, from the moths of China, Indonesia and India to the spiders of South America and Madagascar and the molluscs of the Mediterranean. In conversation with the festival's co-director, historian and author William Dalrymple.

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


A bold and path breaking novel, Belinge, by Sahitya Akademi Awardee Bharat Ola, is a transformative take on transgender identities. Written in Rajasthani, the tragic narrative breaks across stereotypes to examine the story of a child born in a small village in Rajasthan and the puzzles and dilemmas of non conformity and the journey to selfhood.

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
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Award-winning journalist Sohini Chattopadhyay's recent book,  The Day I Became a Runner, presents the compelling stories of eight female athletes and spans the entire history of independent India. It is an inspiring alternative account of the Indian Republic chronicled through the lens of its women athletes and the wide range of social and geographical backgrounds. In conversation with novelist Amrita Tripathi, they discuss the poignant ways in which these women challenged patriarchal norms and created a sisterhood of runners.

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
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Acclaimed author and historian Vincent Brown's groundbreaking geopolitical thriller Tacky′s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War takes on the Atlantic slave trade with a subversive and powerful reconstruction of the history of insurgency, rebellion, victory, and defeat. With a keen emphasis on the seminal uprising that upended the dominant imperial rule of the British Atlantic world, eventually becoming known as the Tacky’s Revolt and ultimately leading the way for abolition, the book explores the contentious climate of oppression and slavery, offering an alternative perspective of the events that occurred, with an unflinching look at the brutal and inhumane methods of oppression and the resilience of those that resisted. In conversation with historian Matthew Parker, author of The Sugar Barons, Brown unpacks the complex narratives binding the conflicting histories of Europe, Africa and America.

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH


Philosopher and writer Amia Srinivasan in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari evaluates the ideas of ‘freedom of speech’ while weaving through the dichotomies of academic, political and social freedom. As we take a look at a world increasingly divided between the left and the right, Srinivasan examines how one's political and sociological standing may have influence or implications across academics, industries and policy.

 

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Tracing the fear, unease, and murky paths that lie within the faultlines of society, noir and detective fiction unearth its discomforting realities. Literary critic and writer Nilanjana S Roy’s recent novel, Black River, is a riveting murder mystery weaving through class divide, violence against women and religious strife in the heart of Delhi. Simon Rowe is the author of Mami Suzuki: Private Eye and Pearl City: Stories from Japan and Elsewhere, among others.. He has lived in western Japan for more than 25 years, contributing stories about Japanese life and culture. Together in conversation with author Tarun K Saint they discuss the method and art of crime writing, and how it unmasks society as it disentangles its truths and hidden anxieties.



 

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

At a time when literary pursuits span different forms and formats of narrative possibility, and genres merge and intersect, two writers, with unique tones of voice and storytelling techniques, speak of their experiments with language and literary conventions. Belgian writer, screenwriter, librettist and journalist Gaea Schoeters’s latest novel Trofee, is the story of Hunter White, a wealthy American share trader, who goes to Africa to shoot a rhinoceros. Her debut work, a travel book titled Girls, Muslims and Motorcycles, was followed by three novels and the interview-collection Het Einde. Schoeter’s received special mention at the European Union Prize for Literature in 2022.

Indian writer, columnist and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival, Shinie Antony’s new novella, Can’t, features a storyteller in her seventies teaming up with a teenage poet to travel the world while the recently published Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith is an imaginary biography of Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Artist and writer Bulbul Sharma’s recent work, Sunbirds in the Morning is a delightful narrative which recounts her observations of birds and animals she encountered throughout the COVID19 pandemic days. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about the variety and range of their writing, and discuss the literary forms they choose to tell their tales.

 

 

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

John Zubrzycki’s recent book, Dethroned: Patel, Menon and The Integration of Princely India, is a riveting account of the absorption of the Princely states into the Indian union post-1947. Zubrzycki expertly juggles a fascinating cast of characters, from Mountbatten to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and from V.P Menon to Jawaharlal Nehru, to present a captivating account of the chess game that saved the subcontinent from fragmentation. In conversation with writer and historian Sam Dalrymple and historian Narayani Basu, author of V.P.Menon - The Unsung Architect Of Modern India,  Zubrzycki takes us through the integration of Princely India.

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
JaipurBookMark

Join us for an insightful exploration of ideas as festival directors discuss curating festivals in a world which is getting increasingly polarised.

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
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Katie Kitamura’s novel Intimacies, longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, delivers a profound commentary on a world distorted by moral dilemmas. Weaving a labyrinthine story of an interpreter at the World Court whose life unravels between her boyfriend’s betrayal and her work with an apprehended president accused of crimes against humanity. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, she discusses a multifaceted narrative and the intimate boundaries between love, truth and violence.


 

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Former top cop and BCCI anti-corruption chief, Neeraj Kumar’s recently published A Cop in Cricket exposes the seamier side of the sport, providing an eye-opening insider’s account of the shocking nexus which threatens the integrity of the sport. Police officer and social activist, Amod K. Kanth’s Khaki on Broken Wings: Cases that Shocked India is the second volume of the Police Diaries series. He speaks of some of the heinous crimes that dominated national headlines, the omnipresent mafias, the loopholes within the criminal justice system, and the exploitation of the prison and correctional services. Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar’s recent memoir, Madam Commissioner, is a candid account of her thirty-six years in Indian law enforcement. In a gripping conversation with former diplomat and writer Vikas Swarup, they speak about real-life experiences and share the inside stories of their lives in the police force.

 

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

What apparatus facilitated the transportation of Indian architecture, religion, and languages to Southeast Asia? Which centres in India contributed ideas to Anuradhapura, Angkor Wat, and Borobudur, leading to the creation of some of the world's greatest temples and monuments? Art historian Naman Ahuja's latest work, Phanigiri, offers a rich context for understanding the new discoveries of extraordinary ancient sculptures at this Buddhist archaeological site in Telangana. Ahuja also examines how Southern Indian sites were connected with Roman, Egyptian, Gandharan, and Southeast Asian centers. Sureshkumar Muthukumaran's work centers on interactions between peoples in ancient Eurasia, with a focus on examining long-distance connectivity.

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Oscar Pujol received his doctorate in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and has had a life-long engagement with India. James Mallinson is the Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford and an authority on medieval Hatha Yoga practices. In conversation with Swati Chopra, they discuss their fascination with and commitment to the Sanskrit language and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that it contains.

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
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Academic and writer Joya Chatterji's recent work, Shadows at Noon, navigates decades of research and scholarship to explore key strands of South Asian history in the twentieth century. Weaving through themes of nationalism, migration, food, and the search for self, the narrative follows the story of Partition and Independence, and the formation of the modern nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari, Chatterji delves into the cultural, political, and social makeup of the region, examining the threads that unify us all.

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Imogen Edwards-Jones’ novels The Witches of St. Petersburg and The Witch’s Daughter take the reader into the mysteries and occult practices of imperial Russia. The Witches of St. Petersburg is a historical fiction saga about black magic in the Russian Court at the turn of the last century, based on the true story of the Montenegrin Princesses who married into the Russian Court and introduced Rasputin to the Tsar and Tsarina. Its sequel, The Witch’s Daughter, recounts the adventures of Princess Militza’s daughter, Nadezhda, as she encounters dangerous situations post Rasputin’s murder and falls in love with Prince Orlov under the most extraordinary and unusual circumstances. In conversation with acclaimed academician Susana Torres, whose research interests include study of the rise and fall of empires, and the rhetoric of power, Imogen talks about her books and her epic tales of women who rise from the ashes of an empire engulfed in bloody revolution.

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The Enlightenment was an age of endeavours. As Britain was consumed by the impulse for grand projects, in 1768 the Royal Navy bought a Whitby collier for an expedition to the South Seas. No one could have guessed she would become the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. Her name was Endeavour. Historian and writer Peter Moore’s book, Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World, presents a vivid biography of the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. In conversation with historian and broadcaster Clare Wright.


 

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Written by Likla and designed by Rohina Thapar and Shambhavi Thakur, Eye Spy: Indigenous Arts, is a magical collection of folk and tribal art traditions across India. Bringing together the magic of eight indigenous painting traditions, the illustrative narrative explores the genesis, stories, techniques and artists that have kept these traditions alive across the country.

 

 


 

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session exploring the legacy of 17th-century Mewar's Laghu-Chitra tradition.


 

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

05 Feb | 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM
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Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
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Morning Music : Kalapini Komkali

Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva

Presented by BluOne Ink

01 Feb | 09:50 AM - 10:50 AM
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01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
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The poet who wins every heart - Gulzar Sa’ab - continues to create magic with each new poetry collection, interweaving the allure of old favourites through verse. Translated by award winning translator and writer, Rakhshanda Jalil, Baal-O-Par is a definitive collection of Gulzar Sa’ab's poetry comprising the complete text of six volumes of poems. Appearing in bilingual form, with the original Urdu in Devnagri script  and the English translations on the facing pages, the collection presents a remarkable tribute to his lyrical and poetic journey. In conversation with former diplomat and celebrated writer Pavan K. Varma they take us through this masterpiece, offering a kaleidoscopic view of history, human experience and poetic expression.

 


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
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Co-authored by Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba, Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future, examines some of the critical and crucial questions surrounding India's economic trajectory.  The book proposes a number of strategies for accelerating India's economic development through investment in human capital, expanding opportunities in high-skilled services, and fostering innovative manufacturing of new products. In conversation with Naushad Forbes, they discuss the nuances of India's economic growth while navigating the challenges of being central to a global economy.


 

01 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
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Cricket is the de facto national sport of India. Both the spirit and the practice of the game have changed with the years, but an obsessive interest continues to bind the country together across generations and regions. Celebrated cricketer and commentator Ajay Jadeja  was a member of the Indian cricket team across its many game formats and has also played the role of a coach and mentor. He has also previously been the Captain of the Indian cricket team.  Author, commentator, coach, and former cricketer, Venkat Sundaram’s recent book, Indian Cricket: Then and Now, is a collection of fifty articles by cricketers and leading writers on the sport, celebrates legendary cricketers and chronicles key moments in India’s cricketing history. Former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur’s incisive memoir, Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket, offers a ringside view of the transformational period of Indian cricket, and provides an intimate account of the conversation between players, their lives, and dressing room secrets.In conversation with entrepreneur and author of Gods of Willow, Amrish Kumar, they discuss their books, experiences, and anecdotes of a game that has  controlled the narrative of sports in many parts of the world for years. 

 

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
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An illustrious panel explores the struggle between historical reality and theoretical idealism, and the reality of the electoral process. Writer and academic Yascha Mounk's book, The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure, draws on history, social psychology, and comparative politics to discuss the ways in which common ground can be built for a homogenous society that appeases all. Former Chief Election Commissioner of India and writer S Y Quraishi's book, India's Experiment with Democracy : The Life of a Nation Through Its Elections, evaluates the fundamental principles that set the stage for our ideas of nationhood, citizenship and democracy. Girish Kuber is the Editor of Loksatta. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, they discuss the complexities of nurturing democratic practices in a world torn apart by war, strife and multiethnic conflict.

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
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American writer and former copywriter, Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel Lessons in Chemistry, revolves around a frustrated chemist as she finds herself at the helm of a cooking show that sparks a revolution in 1960’s America. The novel’s protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, battles a sexist establishment and the perils of being a woman in a man’s world. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, Garmus discusses the electric impact of her poignant work and a world beyond one where women are tied to the kitchen.

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
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Acclaimed author Amish and his sister Bhavna Roy explore burning questions on the true meaning of idolatry in Idols: Unearthing the Power of Murti Puja, a companion volume to their bestselling Dharma. Together, they search for the essence of Ishta Devata and bhakti—that of a personal god and the path of devotion—through simple, insightful interpretations of myths and religious texts. In conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas, they discuss the symbolic and the deeper meanings of idol worship and the search for divinity within and outside us. 


 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
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01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
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Comedian and actor Kanan Gill's debut novel, Acts of God, is an ode to comedic science fiction, blending together questions of human existence, the multiverse and life itself. In this conversation with Sarthak Kaushik, Gill dives into this post apocalyptic world and gives us a glimpse into his comedic and writing life.

 

 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
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Morning Music : Phil Scarff

Phil Scarff, Priyank Krishna and Anoop Banerjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz’s recent work, Trust,  is a riveting tale that challenges the myths shrouding wealth, and the fictions that often pass for history. Following the different versions of the story of a Wall Street businessman and his wife in the years leading up to the Great Depression,  the novel strikingly captures the human weakness for self deception. Winning the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction the novel will also soon be adapted into a TV series.  In conversation with art critic and writer Katie Kitamura, Diaz reflects on the concept of trust as both a moral quality and a financial arrangement, as though virtue and money were synonymous. 

 


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
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What happens when the decisions of one character changes the course of the narrative arc?
What happens when an action has a domino effect? 

A session on protagonists and literary characters from whom the narratives stem. The authors and translators of the books shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature 2023 respond to questions about the voices they championed.


 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
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Yascha Mounk,Badri Narayan and Sreenivasan Jain  explore the interwoven landscapes of identity, ideas, and the individual. Navigating demographic, ethnic, gender and religious factors that polarise a population, an informed panel examines the juxtapositions of our times.

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
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Gulzar Sa’ab is the most beloved of all Indian poets and lyricists. His humour, sensitivity, and empathy tug at the heartstrings across generations. Yatindra Mishra's new book Gulzar Sa’ab takes us on a journey through his life and times.  Based on meticulously recorded conversations, recorded over two decades, translated into English by Sathya Saran, Mishra's book is a tribute to the genius of Gulzaar Sa’ab.

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
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The Amur River forms the highly contested border between Russia and China. It is the most densely fortified frontier on earth and represents the histories of both countries, as well as their unique relationship. Colin Thubron, the laureate of travel writing, follows the dramatic journey of the Amur, from its secret source to an expanse of almost 3,000 miles in his acclaimed book, The Amur River: Between Russia and China. In this astonishing account of an often perilous journey, among diverse peoples, climates and terrain, Thubron reveals the urgent history of this river of the far east and its links to global geopolitics. In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan.

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
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The first novel is always the most difficult. Three super successful first timers speak to literary critic Merve Emre about the trials and tribulations of writing first fictions and read from their work.


 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
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A thoughtful session that looks at the world and India's place in it. As a culture, India has retained its core identity despite our centuries of invasions, migrations and societal change. What is the core essence behind this continuity and what are the factors that have nurtured it.  Manmohan Vaidya is the Sah Sarkaryawah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the author of We and the World Around. Badri Narayan is a Sahitya Akademi award winning poet, essayist and professor at the School of Social Sciences, JNU and works on the political understanding and constructs of Northern India. Writer, politician and former diplomat Pavan K Varma  has written extensively on India and Indian civilisational values. In conversation with journalist Mandira Nayar, they discuss the idea of India and its place in a changing world.

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
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02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
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The Freedom to Dream is the most precious of all freedoms. Samsung explores the power of innovation and digital artistry to enable new levels of joy through the intuitive skills of its very latest model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series. An inspiring panel of artists, writers, musicians, historians, mathematicians and entrepreneurs discuss the many ways in which one can educate, create and conceptualise thought in a constantly transforming world.

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
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Morning Music: The Trio One World

Presented by the Embassy of Switzerland | Presented by BluOne Ink

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
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Pulitzer Prize winning writer Kai Bird speaks to historian and writer Jonathan Freedland on his writing life and  literary journey. Co-authored with the late Martin J. Sherwin Bird famously wrote, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, which acted as inspiration for the Chirstopher Nolan’s film, Oppenheimer. He is also known for his writings on United States-Middle East political relations, and his biographies of political figures such as Jimmy Carter.  

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
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Charu Nivedita's Conversations with Aurangzeb, originally in Tamil, boasts a sprawling narrative of a hundred and forty-five thousand words. Translated by Nandini Krishnan, the novel cleverly combines history and satire to provide a sharp social commentary.  In conversation with podcaster and writer Eric Chopra, Nivedita and Krishnan talk about the process of collaborating to 'transcreate' a narrative in which the spirit of an erstwhile emperor speaks through an Aghori, spilling his views on themes such as myth, cinema, language, society, and politics.



 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
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A session on the idea of justice and how the Supreme Court of India strives to face the challenges of a changing world.

Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice S. Muralidhar has also practised law in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court for nearly two decades. Justice Madan B. Lokur is presently a Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji, was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India, and has also been a Judge at the Delhi High Court  and a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Sital Kalantry and Aparna Chandra's co-authored book, Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India, builds on deep research to observe the challenges and trials faced by the Supreme court and its processes. The narrative provides an overview of the Supreme Court and presents data-driven suggestions for improving its effectiveness. In conversation with  former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and Telangana High Court, Chief Justice Chauhan, an illustrious panel weaves through the past, present and future to provide a holistic account of the highest court of justice.

03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
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Writer Devdutt Pattanaik's recent book, Bahubali: 63 Insights into Jainism, explores the stories, symbols, rituals and ideas associated with one of India's most ancient faiths. Steeped in philosophy and with accompanying illustrations, the book follows the journeys of  the Tirthankars who were known to be the perfect beings, showing the path of truth and liberation to humanity while examining the lesser-known tenets of the faith. Introduced by  Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Purana, the master storyteller weaves together knowledge, ritual, social imagery and reality.

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
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03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
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How do you take a work of prose and turn it into a screenplay? Celebrated writers Bonnie Garmus, Kai Bird, Ben Mcintyre and Nicholas Shakespeare discuss the process behind transforming the written word for the screen and the nuances of the craft, with film, television and literary agent Charles Collier.

 

 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
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Can like-minded nations stay together to protect a rule-based global order?  Can countries of the QUAD move beyond geopolitical compulsions and political hubris to rise towards a future of common goals and interest? Journalist Suhasini Haider discusses the QUAD and beyond with American Ambassador to India, H.E. Eric Garcetti; Former Prime Minister to Australia, Malcolm Turnbull; High Commissioner of Australia to India Philip Green; and the former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, Shyam Saran.

 

 

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
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03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
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Susheela Raman and Sam Mills, in the company of William Dalrymple, bring their latest project to the Jaipur Literature Festival stage, performing the visionary poetry of William Blake. Blake has been an inspiration for countless poets, artists and philosophers.

Alongside their brilliant, original settings of Blake in song, William Dalrymple recites his words, becoming ‘The Voice of the Devil’ from Blake’s classic ‘Marriage of Heaven and Hell’. Two centuries after his death his sublime and provocative work reinvents itself for each new era.

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 PM
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Morning Music: Dr. Kamala Shankar

Presented by Utsad Imamuddin Khan Dagar, Indian Music Art & Culture Society. | Presented by BluOne Ink

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
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Winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize, Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov’s compelling dystopian fiction Time Shelter introduces us to an eerie world where people seek refuge in artificially recreated pasts. Translated into English by Angela Rodel, Gospodinov’s enigmatic tale unravels a curious aspect of the human psyche which uses nostalgia to deal with sadness and despair. In conversation with Nandini Nair, he talks about his book and the personal and political experiences which shaped this unique read.

 


 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
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Vedic monk Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is the author of the bestselling memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. A graduate of Stanford University with a PhD in psychology, Sadhviji has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganga at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, for more than twenty-seven years where she gives spiritual teachings, writes, serves as a unique voice of female leadership and oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, for which she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by President Biden. In an inspirational session with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, she discusses her spiritual practices and wisdom teaching.



 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
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Writer and literary chronicler Perumal Murugan's recent novel, Fire Bird, translated from Tamil into English by Janani Kannan, is the winner of the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature. The transcendental work draws from Murugan's own life experiences of displacement and movement, and explores the fragility of our fundamental attraction to permanence and our futile efforts to attain it. In conversation with publishers Kannan Sundaram and Manasi Subramaniam, he takes a poignant look into the human desire for roots and belonging in an ever changing world.

 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Intertwining corporate avarice and the intergenerational empire behind the opioid crisis in America, a gripping and foreboding session that unravels the infestation seeped into the pharmaceutical industry. Writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s explosive book and winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for 2021, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, traces the family's ambitions and ruthless methods and their role in the OxyContin epidemic. A disturbing narrative on American morality and ambition, the saga investigates the owners of Purdue Pharma and their complete disregard for human health. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 

The inimitable Shashi Tharoor offers us time-tested aphorisms of our age. His latest book The Less you Preach, the More you Learn: Aphorisms for our Age, co-authored with Joseph Zacharias, gives short and pithy life lessons on coping, surviving and succeeding. The bestselling author persuasively shares ways in which we can conquer frustration, insecurity and improve relationships with our friends and family.

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Historian and writer Peter Frankopan’s latest book The Earth Transformed: An Untold History is a revolutionary new history that reveals how climate change has dramatically shaped the  development—and demise—of civilisations across time. Spanning centuries and continents, Frankopan explains how nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history and evaluates the fall of civilisations at the behest of Mother Nature.  In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Uncommon Love, a heartwarming biography written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, recounts the early years of Sudha and Narayan Murthy’s courtship, their marriage and parenthood, and the founding years of Infosys. The narrative gives us personal insights  into the  struggles  and ideals of the Murthys before they became the icons of business success and philanthropy.  Together with Priyanka Khanna, they explore the interwoven fabric of business and family and the values that have held them both together.

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Actor Irrfan Khan's transformative oeuvre took Indian cinema by storm. From his National School of Drama days to his nearly decade-long stint in television and his work in path-breaking movies such as The Namesake, Life of Pi, Maqbool and Hindi Medium, Irrfan's special quality of stardom touched all his viewers. Film critic and writer Shubhra Gupta's, Irrfan: A Life in Movies, is a collection of conversations with his contemporaries and their memories of their time with the legend.  In conversation with his beloved wife and theatre actor Sutapa Sikdar and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, they dive into the art, craft and life of Irrfan with Sathya Saran.


 

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: Saptak Chatterjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Delhi has always played an integral role in the geographical, social, and political landscape of the Indian subcontinent. Swapna Liddle’s recent book, Broken Script, delves into the intricate struggle between the last two Mughal emperors and the East India Company— one wielding considerable symbolic authority, the other a fast-growing military and political power. Historian and writer Rana Safvi’s trilogy on Delhi— Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi; The Forgotten Cities of Delhi; and Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi — takes a nuanced look into the city's magnificence through its forts and buildings, living monuments to the grandeur and strife of the past. In conversation with historian, Festival Co-Director, and author of The Last Mughal, William Dalrymple, they explore the gallis of the old Mughal capital.

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Sharmistha Mukherjee’s remarkable biography Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers offers a fascinating glimpse into the illustrious life of Pranab Mukherjee, former politician and the thirteenth President of India. Based on his diary entries, personal stories narrated to Sharmistha, and her own research, this sweeping narrative combines the personal and the political as it invites us into the lives of the Mukherjees and uncovers hitherto unknown facets of Pranab’s political career, his unfulfilled ambitions, and his private conversations with prominent politicians. In conversation with Vir Sanghvi, Sharmistha talks about her workaholic and devoutly religious Baba who narrated events in the spirit of adda at the dinner-table and who never tried to impose his faith or beliefs on her.

 



 

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Award-winning journalist Sohini Chattopadhyay's recent book,  The Day I Became a Runner, presents the compelling stories of eight female athletes and spans the entire history of independent India. It is an inspiring alternative account of the Indian Republic chronicled through the lens of its women athletes and the wide range of social and geographical backgrounds. In conversation with novelist Amrita Tripathi, they discuss the poignant ways in which these women challenged patriarchal norms and created a sisterhood of runners.

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Acclaimed author and historian Vincent Brown's groundbreaking geopolitical thriller Tacky′s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War takes on the Atlantic slave trade with a subversive and powerful reconstruction of the history of insurgency, rebellion, victory, and defeat. With a keen emphasis on the seminal uprising that upended the dominant imperial rule of the British Atlantic world, eventually becoming known as the Tacky’s Revolt and ultimately leading the way for abolition, the book explores the contentious climate of oppression and slavery, offering an alternative perspective of the events that occurred, with an unflinching look at the brutal and inhumane methods of oppression and the resilience of those that resisted. In conversation with historian Matthew Parker, author of The Sugar Barons, Brown unpacks the complex narratives binding the conflicting histories of Europe, Africa and America.

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Katie Kitamura’s novel Intimacies, longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, delivers a profound commentary on a world distorted by moral dilemmas. Weaving a labyrinthine story of an interpreter at the World Court whose life unravels between her boyfriend’s betrayal and her work with an apprehended president accused of crimes against humanity. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, she discusses a multifaceted narrative and the intimate boundaries between love, truth and violence.


 

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Academic and writer Joya Chatterji's recent work, Shadows at Noon, navigates decades of research and scholarship to explore key strands of South Asian history in the twentieth century. Weaving through themes of nationalism, migration, food, and the search for self, the narrative follows the story of Partition and Independence, and the formation of the modern nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari, Chatterji delves into the cultural, political, and social makeup of the region, examining the threads that unify us all.

05 Feb | 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

03. Prophet Song

Paul Lynch in conversation with Nandini Nair; introduced by Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to India

Supported by the Embassy of Ireland

The 2023 Booker Prize-winning novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is an exhilarating, propulsive, and confrontational portrait of a society on the brink. It follows one woman’s attempts to save her family in a dystopic Ireland sliding into authoritarian rule, offering an unflinching account of the erosion of free will and liberty. In conversation with Nandini Nair, Lynch examines the nuances of his writing and explores the story of a mother's fight to keep her family together.

 


 


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

B. Jeyamohan is a Tamil and Malayalam writer and literary critic who explores mythology, philosophy and fantasy. Jeyamohan's vast and diverse literary oeuvre examines and interprets the essence of India's rich literary classical traditions. His prolific output also includes film scripts for Malayalam and Tamil cinema, including Ozhimuri, Kaanchi, Naan Kadavul, Kadal, 2.0, Venthu Thaninthathu Kaadu and Ponniyin Selvan. Writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran has translated Jeyamohan's Ezhaam Ulagam or 'The Abyss' into English. In conversation with writer Anjum Hasan, they discuss the multilayered narratives explored by Jeyamohan through his rich writing life and the many nuances of translation.


 

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH


What is it like to be a Prime Minister and control the destiny of your country? Australia's former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, talks to author and former diplomat Navdeep Suri about  his time in office, and explores some of the key moments in recent history.

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures across time come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.

 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

42. The Orient Isle

Jerry Brotton in conversation with William Dalrymple

Historian, writer and broadcaster Jerry Brotton’s work The Orient Isle reveals England’s relationship with the Muslim world and its influence on the commercial and political landscape of the England of Shakespeare. The individual stories covered form part of a rich tapestry of interaction that was ultimately directed by the geopolitics of the day. In conversation with historian, writer and festival's co-director William Dalrymple, Brotton examines the political, cultural and social imperatives that laid the ground for a shared history across the east and the west.


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

In 1944, Rudolf Vrba became one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz — one of only a tiny handful who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. Against all odds, he and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope. In conversation with journalist Roger Cohen, Freedland delves into the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who even as a teenager understood that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death, a man who deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank, Oskar Schindler and Primo Levi, those rare individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust.


 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Travel writing is among the most ancient forms of literature. It allows invaluable social, cultural and political insight. It can signify personal journeys and growth, the intricate histories of places and peoples, and even the power and limits of the mind. Colin Thubron, Nicholas Shakespeare, Sam Miller, Yuvan Aves and Divrina Dhingra discuss their work, inspirations and choice of genre with writer, historian and Festival Co-Director, William Dalrymple. 

 


 

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Bestselling historian Ben Macintyre’s latest nonfiction book, Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle, is a true story of the most infamous prison in history. Colditz gained international infamy as a prison of war camp during World War 2 for Allied officers who had repeatedly attempted to escape from other camps. Set in the time of World War 2, Macintyre presents a biography of the prison itself, the world detainees built within it and their thrilling escape. In conversation with writer Narayani Basu, Macintyre takes us on a deep dive through real life espionage within the walls of a German prison.

 


 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

89. The Power of Myth

Anand Neelakantan in conversation with Satyarth Nayak

Presented by The Week

 

“Every Ramayana is different, every Mahabharata is different,” says author, columnist and screenwriter Anand Neelakantan. Recounting Indian epics from their antagonists’ perspectives, he crafts striking interpretations of the tales, laying bare a world of immense possibility and inexhaustible retelling. The author of thirteen books, including the famed Bahubali Trilogy, Neelakantan is a storyteller whose diverse tools involve novels, television shows, audio books and films. In this session, Neelakantan, in conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas speaks about the unyielding power of myths and the multitude of stories they carry within.

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Historian and archaeologist Josephine Quinn's recent work, How the World Made the West, is an expansive history of the origins of the West spanning 4000 years. Questioning the idea of ‘civilisations’ within history, Quinn presents an intriguing idea of how it was contact and connections, rather than distinct and isolated civilisations, that drove historical change.  In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan and classicist and writer Mary Beard, Quinn calls for a reassessment of the idea of the ‘West’ and takes a deep dive into a shared history lost in time.


 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Namita Gokhale, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, reminisces about her debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, first published in 1984, which has remained a cult classic over the years. In conversation with journalist Pragya Tiwari, podcaster and writer Eric Chopra and founder of A Suitable Agency, Hemal Sodhi, Gokhale also talks of the trajectory of her literary life, her 23 published books, and her new novella, Never Never Land.

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
CHARBAGH

India is a federation of states and union territories, and the relationship between the centre and the states is crucial. This relationship is interpreted differently and often contentiously through diverse lenses and perspectives. An illustrious panel, including  former Chief Election Commissioner of India Navin Chawla; and former Governor of Rajasthan Margaret Alva, Indian Lawyer Pinky Anand speak to author and academic Varghese K George about the fine balance between the centre and the state and the constant juxtaposition between the two.

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Novelist and playwright Damon Galgut’s The Promise is the sharp and meditative winner of the 2021 Booker Prize. It conveys the play of power in relationships - with self, society, state - against the backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa. A white family, nettled by changing society, wrangles over a farm and a delayed promise. As South Africa churns with a violent past, turbulent politics, and the rumbles of change, Galgut weaves together the stories and struggles of relationships from both. Galgut’s other works include A Sinless Season, The Good Doctor, and Arctic Summer. In conversation with writer Anish Gawande.

 


 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

138. Common Yet Uncommon

Sudha Murthy in conversation with Meru Gokhale

Presented by Rajasthan Patrika

The wise and witty Sudha Murthy's writing covers a variety of themes and genres. Her recent book, Common Yet Uncommon, is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the quirks and foibles of ordinary people. In conversation with editorial and publishing consultant Meru Gokhale, she speaks of her stellar and extraordinarily successful life and what keeps her rooted with her feet firmly on the ground. 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

Celebrated television presenter and writer Richard Osman’s best-selling crime series, The Thursday Murder Club, a series which has sold well over 3 million copies, follows four unlikely friends as they meet up once a week in their peaceful retirement village to investigate unsolved murders. The series includes The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil to Die. In conversation with Somnath Batabyal, Osman takes a deep dive into this unorthodox septuagenarian world of murder, mystery and mayhem.

 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Celebrated writer Katherine Rundell’s work, The Golden Mole: And Other Living Treasure, is a lavishly illustrated tribute to endangered animals across the world. A session which gives us a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck with the beauty of our world in all its fragility and strangeness. In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. The synthesis of the sciences allows us to interpret our world from the sub-atomic to the edge of the universe. Yet we continue to battle each other as human greed and hubris destroy the fragile balance of our planet. A crucial session that addresses geopolitics, the burdens of history, planetary consciousness and the urgent need for cooperation between governments, continents, and cultures.


 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Our planet is changing in extreme ways. With ocean levels rising and temperatures soaring, governments and industries across the world have begun taking systemic steps to mitigate the challenges brought on by climate change. A panel championing the leadership, solutions and ambitious action that are driving the transition to a more sustainable, equitable, climate-resilient global economy.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Sprawled across a quarter of the world’s land mass that claimed nearly seven hundred million people, Britain’s empire was the largest in human history. An illustrious panel evaluates the establishment of this superpower and  explores the ways in which communities across the world resisted and defied both the Empire and the East India Company.


 

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
CHARBAGH

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
CHARBAGH

In conversation with former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur, cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department and Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore; owner of Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals, Manaj Badale; and Sports Expert and United Nations Ally for Women in Sport, Harini Rana discuss the future of sports in India and its role in education and nation building.

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
CHARBAGH

190. Around the World in Eighty Games

Marcus du Sautoy introduced by Sanjoy K. Roy

Presented by Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series

Writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy’s recent book Around the World in Eighty Games traverses the globe while exploring the genesis of games and what makes them fascinating. Drawing on the mathematics of chance, game theory, gamification, gaming strategies and computer games, Sautoy’s captivating book reveals the secrets behind the invention of engrossing games in cultures around the world.  In this conversation, he discusses the mathematical insides of board games, card games and dice games in a riveting session that unlocks their eternal and universal appeal.

 


 

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
CHARBAGH

The relationship between the human species and their pets constitutes a deep and meaningful bond. A panel of animal lovers come together to celebrate the inseparable healing bond between humans and their animal best friends and the comical, nostalgic and heartwarming ways in which they impact our lives and bring families together even long after they are gone. 


 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
CHARBAGH

As the boundaries of gender and identity blend and dissolve, writers and activists speak of who they are, the journeys of becoming, and the power to initiate change. 


 

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
CHARBAGH


Philosopher and writer Amia Srinivasan in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari evaluates the ideas of ‘freedom of speech’ while weaving through the dichotomies of academic, political and social freedom. As we take a look at a world increasingly divided between the left and the right, Srinivasan examines how one's political and sociological standing may have influence or implications across academics, industries and policy.

 

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
CHARBAGH

Imogen Edwards-Jones’ novels The Witches of St. Petersburg and The Witch’s Daughter take the reader into the mysteries and occult practices of imperial Russia. The Witches of St. Petersburg is a historical fiction saga about black magic in the Russian Court at the turn of the last century, based on the true story of the Montenegrin Princesses who married into the Russian Court and introduced Rasputin to the Tsar and Tsarina. Its sequel, The Witch’s Daughter, recounts the adventures of Princess Militza’s daughter, Nadezhda, as she encounters dangerous situations post Rasputin’s murder and falls in love with Prince Orlov under the most extraordinary and unusual circumstances. In conversation with acclaimed academician Susana Torres, whose research interests include study of the rise and fall of empires, and the rhetoric of power, Imogen talks about her books and her epic tales of women who rise from the ashes of an empire engulfed in bloody revolution.

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
CHARBAGH

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

04. Musically Speaking: The Chords of Mughal India

Katherine Schofield in conversation with Vidya Shah and Rana Safvi

Presented by RED FM

Historian and writer Katherine Schofield's recent book, Music and Musicians in Late Mughal India, weaves through the lives of nine musicians to provide a new history of music, musicians and their audiences during the period in which North Indian classical music coalesced in its modern form. In conversation with musician and writer Vidya Shah and historian and author Rana Safvi, Schofield discusses the many ways in which Mughal culture responded to the political, economic and social upheaval of the transition to British rule.

 


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege, speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

 

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Author Sonora Jha's recent novel, The Laughter, is an illuminating portrait of class, privilege, radicalisation and modern academia that forces us to confront our assumptions of the world. The narrative follows the story of a white male college professor and his dangerous obsession with a new South Asian colleague.The New York Times has called it “a no-holds-barred comic achievement.” In conversation with Susana Torres Prieto, Jha   examines the idea of the 'other' and the semantics of entitlement in a moving saga of lust and retribution. 

 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that discusses the integration of mental health with general health policies, as well as the associations between illness and disability. The panelists also examine the treatment gaps, socio-economic conditions, and ground cultural realities in the process of assessment.


 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that examines the realities of war reportage and how literature is impacted by the intrinsic nature of war. Journalist and writer Roger Cohen earned a Pulitzer Prize and a George Polk Award with The Times teams, covering the Ukraine war. He has previously reported from various troubled zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Iran. Journalist and award-winning author Anjan Sundram has reported from the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. In conversation with President, international, The New York Times Company, Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, they take a piercing look at the ways in which strife has impacted their journey and craft.

 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

43.Yashodhara and Women of the Sangha

Shyam Selvadurai and Vanessa R. Sasson in conversation with Arundhathi Subramaniam ; Introduced by the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to India, Stewart Wheeler

Presented by Dainik Bhaskar

The fame of the Buddha stands in contrast to the shadowy figure of Yashodhara, the young wife he left behind in the palace. Shyam Selvadurai’s thought-provoking novel, Mansions of the Moon takes us back to India of the 6th century BC as he explores Yashodhara’s early years of marriage and the anguish that descends upon her when her husband abandons her. Another perspective comes from Vanessa R. Sasson whose evocative book, Yashodhara: A Novel, recounts the story of Buddha from Yashodhara’s perspective and in doing so, resurrects hidden aspects of Buddhist monasticism and the sangha. Her recent book is The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women.  In this session, Selvadurai and Sasson discuss their interpretations of Yashodhara’s life—her turmoil, her sacrifices and her spiritual enlightenment in conversation with poet and writer Arundhathi Subramaniam.

 


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


77 years after India attained freedom at the stroke of the midnight hour, the Indian economy has emerged as one of the largest in the world. An expert panel of stalwarts in the policy, business and finance field come together to discuss the future of Indian business and enterprise while evaluating the heritage and development of India's economic story. Amitabh Kant will unveil his latest book, The Elephant Moves: India’s New Place in the World at the end of this session.

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

An important session which navigates the  frameworks of history, law and the social expectations of an evolving society towards persons facing physical and mental disabilities. In this discussion, an engaged panel evaluates governmental policy initiatives and practical measures to provide accessible facilities and support systems for those struggling with disabilities, and the challenges faced by their caregivers.


 

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist Charles Glass' recent book Soldiers Don't Go Mad, is a poignant history of the friendship between two great war poets, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, alongside a narrative investigation of the origins of PTSD and the literary response to World War I. Bound together by brotherhood, poetry and mental illness, it explores the story of the soldiers and doctors who struggled with the effects of industrial warfare on the human psyche. In conversation with author and journalist Mukund Padmanabhan, Glass takes an immersive look at the healing power of art in the face of the destructive nature of war.

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

India is a country of many contradictions. Balancing between being the world's fastest growing economy and burgeoning technological prowess, we also see a land of poverty with the masses struggling to survive. A distinguished  panel comes together to evaluate policy and strategies towards inclusive development and growth. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Padma Vibhushan awardee Raghunath Mashelkar has been an influential thought leader in shaping science, technology and innovation policies in post-liberalised India. In conversation with co-chairman of Forbes Marshall and author of The Struggle And The Promise: Restoring India's Potential, Naushad Forbes, they present a conceptual roadmap for India's future, suited to its diverse social, economic and cultural needs.

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Many feminisms and perspectives, both current and prevalent across cultures and societies, have perhaps provided a greater flexibility to the women's movement. Issues such as women rights, intersectional feminism, ethnic marginalisation, social hierarchies and economic deprivation all take on many forms and have to be understood in their multiplicity. This session brings togethers writers and activists from across the world to speak of their immediate contexts and the wider search for equity and justice.


 

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Acclaimed author and journalist Mrinal Pande’s novel, Sahela Re, pays tribute to the declining gharanas of Hindustani classical music  as she attempts to record, in her words, “The last cry of a lost aesthetics, an art form, a way of life.” Pande’s protagonist, Vidya, collects old letters, photographs and gramophone records on a tantalising quest to unearth the stories and traditions of a time when the practice of music was likened to sacred worship.

Writer, columnist and cultural icon Yatindra Mishra has worked extensively on the heritage of Indian music. His books include biographies of Lata Mangeshkar and Begum Akhtar among others. In conversation with academic and writer  Katherine Schofield, Pande, herself a trained Hindustani classical musician, and Mishra, speak of the history and memory of this music, the unspoken codes of artistes’ lives, and the links between their stories and the legacy of Indian classical music.

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

90. The Pale Blue Dot: Cherishing our Planet

Mukesh Bansal, Amitabh Kant and Neelkanth Mishra in conversation with Vishnu Som

Presented by Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series


Amitabh Kant, Mukesh Bansal and Neelkanth Mishra  explore the timely theme of cherishing our planet and our place in the cosmos. As India makes strides in reaching out to explore our planetary systems and beyond, our vision as a species expands and our horizons widen. Even as the consciousness of ‘One World’ dawns, greed and hubris divide the world, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, writers, technocrats and future space professionals explore the exciting potential of a global economy within the burgeoning space ecosystem. A stimulating and visionary ‘Future Now’ session examining our changing world.

 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The landscape of modern love has changed, adapting and evolving to our times. A diverse panel of writers examines the transforming terrain of romance, desire and commitment. Columnist and writer Seema Goswami’s popular column ‘Spectator’ examines contemporary life and society. Author Shivani Sibal’s debut novel Equations looks at family, social change and class divides. Writer and translator Anish Gawande is the curator of Pink List India — an archive of Indian politicians supporting LGBTQIA+ rights. Together they discuss the refuge of love in a world of ceaseless turbulence and shift with Maria Goretti.

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Complex and crucial health issues often have simple core solutions. The many levels of  devastation caused by the vagaries of climate change include drought and flood situations where the lack of access to proper sanitation can cause immense damage. A session that flags the need and necessity to commit to core health through sanitation, hygiene and  cleanliness.

This session will include the launch of the Dettol Hygiea Android game. Join the battle of hygiene and let's bust some germs with the Dettol Hygiea Android game by Dettol Banega Swasth India on its 10-year anniversary. The launch will be led by EVP South Asia, Gaurav Jain; Director of External Affairs and Partnerships South Asia, Ravi Bhatnagar; and Deputy CEO of MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, Sanjeev Dham.

 

 

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A riveting session that looks at aspects of subcontinental engagement in the Great War through the eyes of three writers.

Mukund Padmanabhan’s The Great Flap of 1942 describes the panic caused by the Japanese threat to India during the Second World War. His Majesty’s Headhunter by Mmhonlumo Kikon provides an inside perspective on the epic siege of Kohima. In conversation with  Vishnu Som they speak of different facets of military history, and discuss impacts and outcomes.

 


 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 

An engaged conversation observes the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic, and diplomatic implications and complexities.

 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


Artificial intelligence and data science have transformed our understanding and application of knowledge in various fields. The intersection of AI with climate and environmental challenges provides transformative opportunities to accelerate and optimise affordable clean energy and reduce the planet's carbon footprint.  A session that takes a comprehensive look at the positives and negatives of using AI to mitigate climate change and other scientific questions while addressing the challenges ahead.

 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

139. Anger Management: Strategies for Peace

Ajay Bisaria, May-Elin Stener and Diana Mickevičienė in conversation with Navtej Sarna

Our planet needs therapy. Anger spills over into political judgement and international cooperation. A high-powered panel of diplomats and thinkers consider strategies of mindfulness and discuss the checks and balances that are needed to encourage peace in a fraught world.

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist, literary critic and novelist Nilanjana S Roy's recent novel Black River, writes of a society that unravels in the midst of class divides, religious strife and gendered violence. Exploring themes of friendship, love and grief, Black River is a tender and reflective search for justice interwoven with the politics of religion and the loss of home and country. In conversation with journalist and entrepreneur Pragya Tiwari, Roy discusses the murky storyline, fast-paced narrative, and the grim unfolding of a murder in a village rife with devastation. 


 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A joyous session, where three food writers discuss their adventures with Indian cuisine. Food writer, restaurant consultant, and founder of ‘Karen’s Gourmet Kitchen’, Karen Anand’s Masala Memsahib introduces us to the local cuisines, eating practices, and fascinating culinary histories of five Indian states, as she recounts her fabulous adventures with food and intersperses them with delicious recipes. Swedish detective novelist, travel writer, and founder-director of Bangalore’s Semi-Deluxe Writing Programme, Zac O’Yeah’s recently published Digesting India is a wildly entertaining and fast-paced story of a traveller’s discovery of unique dishes and food habits, as he sets to explore the culture and diversity of India through culinary experiences. Video jockey, food vlogger, and author Maria Goretti’s From My Kitchen to Yours: Food, Love and Other Ingredients celebrates how she lives her life and presents a six-course meal layout for each month with delectable easy-to-make recipes from across India. In conversation with Amrita Tripathi, they talk about their books, and engage in a fun-filled session on all that tickles our taste-buds. 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Uncontrolled and erratic, the online world can be a fearful and uncertain ecosphere for young users to navigate safely. Author and columnist Neha J. Hiranandani has written articles on parenting for The Indian Express and Vogue India. Her new book, ‘iParent’, leads parents of the digital generation through the world of cyber-safety for their kids. Shivani Sibal is a parent and the author of the novel Equations, which explores family, social change and class divides. Parent, writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, Marcus du Sautoy, is the author of several books including, his recent book Around the World in 80 Games explores how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined. In conversation with Priyanka Khanna they discuss the stark differences in digital environments across generations, guidelines for parents coping with these, and how a world of devices may be handled with caution.


 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Virginia Woolf is recognised as a major twentieth-century author, a great novelist and essayist and a key figure in literary history as a feminist and a modernist. Author and literary critic, Merve Emre’s The Annotated Mrs. Dalloway, presents her illuminating commentary on Virginia Woolf’s  groundbreaking novel, Mrs Dalloway, in a lushly illustrated hardcover edition. The narrative is considered to be a pivotal work of literary modernism and one of the most significant and influential novels of the twentieth century. In conversation with Anish Gawande, Emre explores Woolf’s aesthetic and political ambitions while diving into the nuances of her characters.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Navdeep Suri and Navtej Sarna, both writers, translators, and former diplomats, speak about the essence of Punjabiyat in this session, invoking its spirit of emotional generosity and compassion through the works of their forebears. Suri’s recently published translation of his grandfather Nanak Singh’s Khoon de Sohile (Hymns in Blood) is a grim reminder of the violence and trauma that religious conflict can bring in its wake.  The sequal to this will be the recently launched, Agg di Khed(A Game of Fire). His earlier translations include Singh’s long poem, Khooni Vaisakhi, on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sarna’s Savage Harvest is the translation of his father Mohinder Singh Sarna's collection of short stories on the Partition of India. His own novel, Crimson Spring, is also a poignant recounting of the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh bloodshed. Together, in conversation with academic Sarabjot Singh, they return to the past to examine the enormous legacy of their respective forefathers and the formative role they played in Punjabi literature.



 

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

From c. 324 BCE to c. 185 BCE, the Mauryas controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent with efficiency and administrative finesse. Following key moments through Mauryan history, an expert panel discusses the enigmatic ruler Chanragupta Maurya, his successors and how colonial and post colonial writing has dramatically transformed our understanding of one of the first pan-Indian dynasties.


 

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

191. Hop, Skip and Jump: Beyond the Trappings of Office

Rajan Kashyap and Reba Som in conversation with Puneeta Roy

Author, academic and singer Reba Som's recent memoir, Hop, Skip and Jump, is a travelogue of her experiences as a Foreign Service Officer's wife, spanning the many decades she spent through multiple postings and environments. Civil Service Officer Rajan Kashyap's memoir, Beyond the Trappings of Office, follows his journey through his student years into the civil services, giving us a peek into the inner workings of a department that remains the backbone of our country. In conversation with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, they take us through their journey as an integral part of the Indian socio-cultural fabric

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

As we seek respite from the relentless pace of modern lives, two poets present poetry of and for our times depicting different aspects of our restless world.

 


 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 2024, the ‘International Year of Camelids,’ recognises camelids and their essential role in protecting hostile ecosystems and providing livelihood for millions of families around the world. Scientist Ilse Köhler-Rollefson is the author of Camel Karma, a narrative that traces her quest to save Rajasthan’s camels while sharing insights into connections with the Raika people and their enduring relationship with species. Her recent work, Hoofprints on the Land, is a fascinating and lyrical description of the working partnerships between people and animals. Yuvan Aves writes, teaches, learns, and lives where the landscape merges with mindscape. He is a multi-award winning writer, nature-educator and environmental defender, and the managing trustee of Palluyir Trust for Nature Education and Research. Together, Rollefson and Aves discuss the camel cultures of the world, the welfare and preservation of these animals, and the crucial role they play in questions of food security, climate change and biodiversity.

 

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Tracing the fear, unease, and murky paths that lie within the faultlines of society, noir and detective fiction unearth its discomforting realities. Literary critic and writer Nilanjana S Roy’s recent novel, Black River, is a riveting murder mystery weaving through class divide, violence against women and religious strife in the heart of Delhi. Simon Rowe is the author of Mami Suzuki: Private Eye and Pearl City: Stories from Japan and Elsewhere, among others.. He has lived in western Japan for more than 25 years, contributing stories about Japanese life and culture. Together in conversation with author Tarun K Saint they discuss the method and art of crime writing, and how it unmasks society as it disentangles its truths and hidden anxieties.



 

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Former top cop and BCCI anti-corruption chief, Neeraj Kumar’s recently published A Cop in Cricket exposes the seamier side of the sport, providing an eye-opening insider’s account of the shocking nexus which threatens the integrity of the sport. Police officer and social activist, Amod K. Kanth’s Khaki on Broken Wings: Cases that Shocked India is the second volume of the Police Diaries series. He speaks of some of the heinous crimes that dominated national headlines, the omnipresent mafias, the loopholes within the criminal justice system, and the exploitation of the prison and correctional services. Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar’s recent memoir, Madam Commissioner, is a candid account of her thirty-six years in Indian law enforcement. In a gripping conversation with former diplomat and writer Vikas Swarup, they speak about real-life experiences and share the inside stories of their lives in the police force.

 

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The Enlightenment was an age of endeavours. As Britain was consumed by the impulse for grand projects, in 1768 the Royal Navy bought a Whitby collier for an expedition to the South Seas. No one could have guessed she would become the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. Her name was Endeavour. Historian and writer Peter Moore’s book, Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World, presents a vivid biography of the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. In conversation with historian and broadcaster Clare Wright.


 

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

05. Songs of Milarepa

Andrew Quintman and Kelly Dorji in conversation, introduced by Namita Gokhale

Presented by BluOne Ink

The sacred terrain of the high Himalaya has a timeless tradition of spiritual and mystic quests. How do enlightened masters become an enduring and living presence for religious and spiritual communities? Celebrated academic and writer Andrew Quintman has written extensively on the Tibetan master and spiritual poet, Milarepa. Actor and writer Kelly Dorji is a practising Buddhist. His book, The Hidden Rainbow, makes an attempt to take us on a spiritual journey through Buddhist symbolism in the quest for inner peace and acceptance.
Together they discuss the literary representations of Milarepa's life and further consider the manifold ways in which those life stories move beyond the written page into artistic, ritual and lived dimensions. This session will include the launch of the paperback and  Hindi edition of Mystics and Sceptics: In Search of Himalayan Masters.

 


 

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

For some, imagination is a luxury in the modern age; something which is by turns elusive, difficult to employ and better left to others. But what does it mean to imagine? How do we go about it, and why is it so important that we imagine for ourselves?  Albert Read’s  insightful and life-affirming book, The Imagination Muscle, puts imagination back at the forefront of our lives. Read speaks to writer Amrita Tripathi on the boundless potential of the human mind and the genesis of ideas across time.


 

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Writer and Naturalist Yuvan Aves' recent work Intertidal: A Coast and Marsh Diary, spread across two years and three monsoons, is a diary of deep observations of the coast and wetland, climate and self. Diving into the in-between space where land meets sea--and also where being meets world, the narrative explores interactions with the tiniest life forms in the midst of a landscape of beauty and fragility. In conversation with celebrated author Robert Macfarlane and acclaimed travel writer and  novelist Colin Thubron, Aves takes us on a journey beyond the binaries of man, animal, sea and the coast, into the world of harmonious coexistence.



 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

A session traverses the diverse culinary traditions, kitchens and hearths of South Asian cuisine. Steeped in memories, recipes and familial history, writer and cultural historian Tarana Husain Khan and writer and historian Rana Safvi take us on a delectable journey through the rich cultural and social traditions of Awadhi and Rampur cuisines and the ways in which it has transformed with time.


 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Journalism is considered the fourth pillar of democracy. Has the changed landscape of media communication and the barrage of new technologies impacted the understanding of the core values of journalism?

 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Louise Fowler-Smith's recent work, Sacred Trees of India, examines the fundamental threat posed by deforestation to ecological sustainability and the continuation of life on earth. Drawing on 10 years of fieldwork in India, Fowler-Smith expertly documents the sacred trees and groves of India and the traditions of tree-worship which present a powerful alternative to the Western capitalist commodification of nature. Environmentalist and filmmaker Pradip Krishen’s book Jungle Trees of Central India is a lavishly illustrated account of the trees found in the region.In conversation with Mridula Ramesh they discuss the nuances of a culture whose reverence for trees has helped them prevent outright ecological destruction.

 

 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

44. The Memoirists

Mani Shankar Aiyar and Gurcharan Das in conversation with Mandira Nayar

Presented by Rajasthan Patrika

Two prominent writers and public intellectuals, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Gurcharan Das, speak of their recently published memoirs and the stories behind the stories. Combining the personal and the political, they examine their eventful lives and the lessons and learnings along the way. Former diplomat and politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar’s Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years and its sequel, The Rajiv I Knew, are candid, thoughtful and witty recountals of his life in the foreign service and in politics. Author, columnist and former CEO of Procter & Gamble, Gurucharan Das’s recently published Another Sort of Freedom: A Memoir is a moving story that takes us through the twists and turns of his life from the chaos of Partition to failed first loves and unconventional career decisions. In this engrossing session, they speak with Mandira Nayar about their lives and read from their books.


 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Ramacharitmanas is the sixteenth-century epic poem composed in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas. In this popular version, Tulsidas made Lord Rama accessible to the common people.  Philp Lutgendorf’s publication of the seventh volume of The Epic of Ram, the English translation of the poem in 2023 coincides with the 450th anniversary of the epic’s traditional date of composition.

Together with renowned writer, poet and cultural figure, Yatindra Mishra, and writer and academic Harish Trivedi, they focus on the history, significance and timeless nature of this epic text and its abiding impact on Indian culture in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

What does the face of power look like? 

Who gets commemorated in art and why? 

And how do we react to the statues of politicians who we deplore?

What did Roman Emperors really do? 

Leading classicist and cultural commentator Mary Beard’s recent books, Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern and Emperor of Rome explore Roman power from different angles: how Roman art has shaped the Western world’s understanding of power for over two millennia; and what the day-to day nature of their power was. Examining ancient imperial imagery, modern visual imagination and little-known ancient texts, Beard explores the image and reality of Roman emperors, especially the ‘Twelve Caesars’,  from the ruthless Julius Caesar to the fly-torturing Domitian, to understand their ancient and modern significance. In conversation with historian and author Peter Frankopan, she discusses changing identities, the clueless or even deliberate misidentifications and the challenges of modern assumptions about ancient imperial power.

 

 

 

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

As societies evolve, so must systems of learning; education and innovation are indispensable to changing realities and lying-in-wait challenges. Experts in education in its many shifting dimensions come together to discuss the future of education and the ways in which it can be tied to wider social welfare and public good.

Professor Charlie Jeffery is the Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of York. He believes that education can render social and economic welfare. Co-CEO of Archie Comics, Nancy Silberkleit, has worked extensively on the ways in which graphic novels can be used as a valuable tool to encourage literacy and a love for reading among children. Academic and writer Sital Kalantry is an associate dean at Seattle University School of Law. Priyank Narayan is a seasoned entrepreneur and an educationist. He is the Founder of IndiaPreneurship, an organisation focused on showcasing entrepreneurial opportunities in India to the world.

They will be in conversation with Sanjoy K Roy.

 

 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Two committed writers talk about their recent books, the themes of which navigate hope, dissent and despair. Prominent political theorist and scholar of multiculturalism and secularism in non-western societies, Rajeev Bhargava, in his new book, Reimagining Indian Secularism (History for Peace) interrogates the abuse and the deliberate distortion of Indian secularism by its opponents. His earlier collection of essays, Between Hope and Despair, explored the idea of an inclusive, pluralist India, raising pertinent questions on India’s collective ethical identity. Noted political economist and social commentator Parakala Prabhakar’s recently published The Crooked Timber of New India: Essays on a Republic in Crisis investigates the idea of ‘New India’ against the backdrop of rising religious majoritarianism and authoritarianism. Together, they will be in conversation with Mohit Satyanand.

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The legacy of Indian fashion is a vibrant tapestry, seamlessly weaving together elements of the past and present, tradition and modernity. Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani’s creations navigate these histories, from the impact of globalisation and colonisation on attire to the revival of long-forgotten techniques. His book, Journey to India Modern, written with investigative journalist Alia Allana, reveals the paths he takes for his craft, and the significance of his luxury design studio in today's world. In conversation with writer Shivani Sibal, Tahiliani shares insights into his explorations in fashion around the globe, his efforts to merge stories across time and space, and the questions he seeks to pose through his designs.

 


 

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Three prominent Indian poets share their work and inspirations, and talk to each other about metre, rhyme, and the muse. Naveen Kishore’s hypnotic verses in his new collection Mother Muse Quintet, an ode to the birth mother and the mother tongue, emerge fog-like from the depths of memories and dreams, and swirl, like time itself, in a slow timeless vortex of loss and longing, death and life. Ranjit Hoskote’s eighth collection of poetry Icelight transits between audacious exploration and contemplative retreat as it archives lost worlds and relationships, and curates poignant versions of the past, the present, and the future. Arundhathi Subramaniam’s recent anthology Wild Women: Seekers, Protagonists, and Goddesses in Sacred Indian Poetry weaves together haunting voices of, by, and for women across the Indian subcontinent as it traverses the sacred feminine and invites us to reclaim an explosive inheritance of female power, rapture, and wisdom. Introduced by Anisha Lalvani for a session of free flowing conversation and verse.  This session will include the unveiling of Ranjit Hoskote’s latest collection of essays, To Break and To Branch, a tribute to celebrated poet, playwright and painter,  Gieve Patel.


 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

91. Raja Ravi Varma:The Shaping of an Artist

Ganesh V. Shivaswamy in conversation with Asad Lalljee

Presented by ABP Live

A session exploring the artistic genius of our  country’s foremost modern artist, Raja Ravi Varma. Two of Ganesh V. Shivaswamy's six-volume series, Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint, navigates through the life, artistic style and ever lasting impact of Raja Ravi Varma's creative journey. In conversation with Asad Lalljee.

 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Books can be burned, banned, and branded dangerous, but the often unexpected and subversive ideas that they contain cannot be suppressed. Mridula Garg is a reputed and prolific Hindi writer and a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award. Her novel Chittacobra was branded obscene and led to her arrest. Kalpana Raina is a patron of translation across diverse languages and has recently co-translated For Now It Is Night  - stories by the late Hari Krishna Kaul. Former diplomat Navdeep Suri has translated the words of his grandfather Nanak Singh, whose poems, Khooni Vaisakhi and Zakhmi Dil had been banned and censored after Jallianwala Bagh and the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. Merve Emre is the Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing and Criticism at Wesleyan University and the director of the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism. Novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy is the editor of Our Freedoms and has written extensively on free speech. In an important session, they speak of books that  were suppressed and silenced, and how they survive obliteration and censorship.

 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Award-winning biographer Nicholas Shakespeare's recent work, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, offers us a fresh portrait of the man behind James Bond and his enduring legacy. The evolution of what Bond represents about ideas of masculinity, the British national psyche, and global politics has shifted over time, as has the interpretation of the life of his author. However, Fleming himself was more mysterious and subtle than anything he wrote. Historian and writer Matthew Parker's book Goldeneye: Where Bond was Born, provides an intimate peek into Fleming's stay at Goldeneye in Jamaica, the space in which the Bondverse materialised. Together, they pay homage to the man behind 007.


 

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 was a glorious moment in the history of the Jewish people; however, for the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, the development was a catastrophe. After several regional wars and decades of conflict, the two State solution espoused by the international community remains a distant dream. Since Israel's occupation in 1967 of  Gaza and the West Bank, expanding Jewish settlements in the latter have further reduced the land available for a Palestinian State and exacerbated tensions. Today, as the world watches the wave of violence and destruction following the horrific Hamas attack of October 7, an informed panel discusses the complicated history of the conflict, the present developments and their likely impact on the region. 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The Chola empire reigned over the southern reaches of the peninsula, covering the Krishna-Godavari delta in northern Andhra Pradesh and extending their influence towards South East Asia at the height of its power. They unified peninsular India south of the Tungabhadra River and maintained this territorial unity for three centuries, from 907 to 1215. An expert panel comes together to evaluate the key figures who played a crucial role in establishing Chola supremacy and the cultural, political, economic, and social paradigms that facilitated this expansion.


 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

The territorial imperative drives most species on the planet. Aggression is wired into the human psyche; the hotspots of war and violence in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Palestine stand testament to irrationality and violence. An engaged panel discusses the whys and wherefores of these conflicts and how reason, rationality and peace could prevail.

 

 

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

Language and communication derives from the interplay of words and images, sounds and symbols. In a session that celebrates the power of graphics, a panel comes together to discuss the ways in which publishers and authors are reimagining context, references and illustration for today's technological generation and its ever-reducing attention span. 

  



 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

140. Scorched Earth: Lessons from Nature

Siddarth Shrikanth, Peter Frankopan and Jeff Goodell in conversation with Gargi Rawat, Introduced by Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy to the U.S. Mission to India , Gloria Berbena

Supported by the US Embassy, New Delhi

Many people think climate change primarily implies warmer temperatures, but temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, every little change has the capacity to influence other aspects. Weaving through history and current politics, an illustrious panel evaluates the lessons from our past to better understand the impact of the climate crisis in our present and future.

 

 

 



 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

Leonardo da Vinci's reputation as an inventor and scientist, and the complexity of his creativity and personality, have sometimes almost overshadowed the importance of his aims and techniques as a painter. Museum curator and art historian Luke Syson is the Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge. His highly acclaimed  Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan exhibit  attempted to  understand the complex nature of one of the most sought after names of the Renaissance period. In conversation with celebrated writer Tim Parks, Syson takes a deep dive into the art and times of Da Vinci.


 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

COP28 closed with an agreement signalling the 'beginning of the end' of the fossil fuel era. An informed panel discusses the possible paths to a timely and equitable transition. This is a much-needed session on global solidarity and determination to move beyond policy into tangible outcomes.

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Award-winning journalist and seasoned political commentator Neerja Chowdhury's recent book How Prime Ministers Decide

explores the tenures of six prominent Prime Ministers of independent India and dissects the pivotal decisions that shaped the course of Indian history. Weaving through first hand interviews, anecdotes and eye-opening accounts, the narrative sheds light upon the world of power and human fallibility. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, Chowdhury shares her deep insights into the inner workings and often opaque processes behind these events, and reflects upon what they indicate in the larger context.

 


 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

Where does fiction come from? What is the process of its creation? How do you make up characters and situations that are believable? And why should the reader care? Five of the world’s acclaimed novelists, Damon Galgut, Hernan Diaz, Tim Parks and Katie Kitamura, share their insights on the art of creating a novel in conversation with Nandini Nair.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

 

 

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
DURBAR HALL

An important session upon the transformative power of gender-inclusive language in challenging and reshaping societal norms towards more equitable and inclusive perspectives. The panel will also discuss the broader implications of this approach, highlighting its potential to inspire change in social attitudes and contribute to a more accepting and diverse society. It will also focus attention on the critical role of representation in breaking stereotypes and fostering a culture of empathy and understanding.

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
DURBAR HALL

195. Desire Lines

Felicity Volk in conversation with Barry O'Farrell

Diplomat and award-winning Australian writer Felicity Volk’s Desire Lines is a heart-rending and passionate story of love which compels us to confront the lies we tell ourselves to survive. Set against landmarks of twentieth century Australian history, her novel unravels the uneasy relationship society has with its own truth-telling in politics, history, and war. In conversation with diplomat Barry O’Farrell, Volk discusses the nuances of her narrative and her writing life.

 


 

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Silk, prized for its lightness, luminosity and beauty, is also one of the strongest biological materials ever known. Writer and broadcaster Aarathi Prasad’s Silk is a cultural and biological history from the origins and ancient routes of silk to the story of the biologists who learned the secrets of silk-producing animals, from the moths of China, Indonesia and India to the spiders of South America and Madagascar and the molluscs of the Mediterranean. In conversation with the festival's co-director, historian and author William Dalrymple.

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

At a time when literary pursuits span different forms and formats of narrative possibility, and genres merge and intersect, two writers, with unique tones of voice and storytelling techniques, speak of their experiments with language and literary conventions. Belgian writer, screenwriter, librettist and journalist Gaea Schoeters’s latest novel Trofee, is the story of Hunter White, a wealthy American share trader, who goes to Africa to shoot a rhinoceros. Her debut work, a travel book titled Girls, Muslims and Motorcycles, was followed by three novels and the interview-collection Het Einde. Schoeter’s received special mention at the European Union Prize for Literature in 2022.

Indian writer, columnist and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival, Shinie Antony’s new novella, Can’t, features a storyteller in her seventies teaming up with a teenage poet to travel the world while the recently published Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith is an imaginary biography of Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Artist and writer Bulbul Sharma’s recent work, Sunbirds in the Morning is a delightful narrative which recounts her observations of birds and animals she encountered throughout the COVID19 pandemic days. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about the variety and range of their writing, and discuss the literary forms they choose to tell their tales.

 

 

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

What apparatus facilitated the transportation of Indian architecture, religion, and languages to Southeast Asia? Which centres in India contributed ideas to Anuradhapura, Angkor Wat, and Borobudur, leading to the creation of some of the world's greatest temples and monuments? Art historian Naman Ahuja's latest work, Phanigiri, offers a rich context for understanding the new discoveries of extraordinary ancient sculptures at this Buddhist archaeological site in Telangana. Ahuja also examines how Southern Indian sites were connected with Roman, Egyptian, Gandharan, and Southeast Asian centers. Sureshkumar Muthukumaran's work centers on interactions between peoples in ancient Eurasia, with a focus on examining long-distance connectivity.

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
DURBAR HALL

Written by Likla and designed by Rohina Thapar and Shambhavi Thakur, Eye Spy: Indigenous Arts, is a magical collection of folk and tribal art traditions across India. Bringing together the magic of eight indigenous painting traditions, the illustrative narrative explores the genesis, stories, techniques and artists that have kept these traditions alive across the country.

 

 


 

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
DURBAR HALL

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

10. Quest of Truth

Pariksith Singh and Partho in conversation

Presented by BluOne Ink

'Sanātana Dharma’, or ‘eternal truth’ is the philosophical and practical basis of what is generally known as Hinduism.  The Bhagavadgītā is a 700-verse Hindu scripture, which is part of the epic Mahabharata and a pivotal text in understanding Sanatana Dharma.  Celebrated writer, poet and teacher of Vedanta, Partho's recent book, This Is Sanatan Dharma, is an attempt to explain some of the fundamental principles and practices of  Sanātana Dharma. He takes Sri Aurobindo as his source of inspiration and guidance. Medical practitioner and writer Pariksith Singh’s work include The Veda Made Simple, Sri Aurobindo and Philosophy and Sri Aurobindo and the Literary Renaissance of India. Together they embark on a quest to explore these sacred traditions and texts and their continuing impact on our past, present, and future.

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

 

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that connects the dots between climate change, shifting resources and a new map for sustainability across urban and rural clusters and vulnerable communities who are impacted the most. Author and social entrepreneur Shashank Mani's book, Middle Of Diamond India, explores the ethos of the Tier 2 and 3 cities that form an integral backbone of the country.  Founder-Director of The Antara Foundation, Ashok Alexander's recent memoir, How the Light Gets in, takes a journey through the roots of the country, evaluating the conditions of mothers and children. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Susan Ferguson  Country Representative for UN Women India and has had a distinguished career in international development spanned by themes of gender equality and social justice.


 

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that discusses the core issues and changing realities of the North Eastern states, through the eyes of a journalist, a poet-politician, and an academic.  Together they explore the natural treasures and rich cultural diversity of the  region and the social, political and environmental concerns that continue to beset it.


 

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

For years, it appears that Indians have concerned themselves with making their environs, and themselves, smell good.

With 18,500 varieties of aromatic plants, from the voluptuous allure of the rose to the musky tang of oud, the woody notes of sandalwood to the heady smell of jasmine and the lingering aroma of vetiver, fragrances unlock something at the very heart of India.

In conversation with author John Zubrzycki, writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra discusses her recent book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance, which investigates the idea of scent as a powerful trigger for memories and emotions, as well as a mode of self-expression and identity.

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.



 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

50. Eastern Eye

Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Iti Samanta in conversation with Rachna Singh

An engrossing session that has prominent voices from Assam and Odisha, Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Itirani Samanta, speaking of their work and its cultural and literary milieu. Sahitya Akademi award winner and journalist Anuradha Sarma Pujari is the editor of the newspaper Sadin and the magazine Satsori, and the author of ten works of fiction. Her novel, Hriday Ek Bigyapan, has been translated by Aruni Kashyap from Assamese as My Poems Are Not For Your Ad Campaign. 

Novelist, essayist and short story writer Itirani Samanta is the editor of the Kadambini and Kunikatha magazines, and director of Kadambini Media. Her novel, Sakuntala Ra Jhia has been translated from Odia as Shakuntala’s Daughter by Dipty Patnaik. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they discuss their multifaceted literary engagements with their mother languages and the sources and inspirations of their work.

 



 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

At a time when change appears to be the only constant, a session that evaluates the swiftly transforming world around us and human strategies of survival, adaptation, and growth. A diverse panel speaks of their individual approaches to dynamic flux, and how imagination, skill and resilience help them ride change.

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The magnificent big cats of the jungle ecosystem, such as the great Bengal Tiger, have inspired writers of both fiction and nonfiction for generations.  News anchor and environment reporter Gargi Rawat’s recent book, Tiger Season, is a fictional account of an environmental journalist's tryst with tiger conservation, love, and the great outdoors. Writer, novelist and nature activist Arefa Tehsin was appointed the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Udaipur district by the government of Rajasthan and has pursued nature conservation through her books and articles. Together, they discuss the mystique of tiger tales and the story of conservation efforts in Rajasthan.


 

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Award-winning Calcutta born writer Shumona Sinha's translated work, Down With the Poor!, written in French as Assommons les pauvres!, takes a multilayered look into France's modern day refugee crisis. Translated into English by Teresa Lavender Fagan, the narrative attempts to understand the circumstances and rage of a woman who attacks a refugee in the Paris Metro over the course of one night. The story won the Valéry Larbaud Award in France, was on the short list for the Renaudot Award, won the Internationaler Literaturpreis in Berlin, and was adapted to theatre in Germany and Austria. In conversation with translator and writer Arunava Sinha, she attempts to explain the political undertones of her story and the simmering violence seeping through the pages.

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Sensitisation towards an equitable social, cultural, and economic environment that helps provide equal opportunities to women is essential for a just and progressive society. A distinguished panel discusses how to facilitate an increase in women's decision-making power and their access to opportunities and resources, creating an egalitarian platform to reduce the gap in accessibility between men and women. 


 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two exceptional writers explore the nuances of the written word and the world of fiction. Anjum Hasan’s latest novel, History's Angel, follows the journey of a mild-mannered school teacher at a time in India's history when Muslims are seen as either hapless victims or live threats. The poignant narrative deftly highlights the power of ideas and the peril of majoritarianism. Tania James’ recent novel, Loot, is a luminous tale of history that explores the far reaches of empire and human desire. The narrative follows the journey of a young woodcarver as his art catches the attention of Tipu Sultan—his journey mirroring the transformation of nations and dynasties ravaged by war across India and Europe. In conversation with Anish Gawande.


 

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that engages with Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, Braj bhasha and Spanish in translation of poetry and epic texts. Venerated scholar Oscar Pujol studied Sanskrit at Banaras Hindu University. He has also authored the first Sanskrit-Catalan dictionary. His Spanish translation of  The Bhagavadgītā was published in 2023. 

Mridul Kirti has translated highly respectable Hindu scriptures such as the Samaveda and Ashtavakra Gita, written in Sanskrit. into Hindi and Brij Bhasha. They will be in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari Goyal.

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Author John Boyne's recent book, All the Broken Places, is a powerful sequel to his bestselling work, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The narrative is a devastating yet poignant account of a woman who must confront the transgressions of her past, and a present in which it is never too late for courage and redemption. In conversation with literary critic and writer Merve Emre, Boyne discusses the tragedies of the past and the inevitable shadows they cast upon the future.

 

 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

92. Adivani - Rhythm and Roots

Vasamalli. K and Shantha Naik introduced by Badri Narayan

Presented by Amar Ujala


A powerful session of readings and recitations which platforms extraordinary poetic talent within the oral tradition of indigenous literature.

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The regions around the Indian Ocean are connected through ancient traditions of island nations and their cultures. This session brings together diverse voices from countries that share a common heritage of oceanic experience in their linguistic, literary and poetic identities. Anitah Aujayeb is a Mauritian poet, historian and multilingual educator. Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. Shyam Selvadurai, is an acclaimed novelist from Sri Lanka. Indian poet and Diplomat Abhay K’s  book length poem Monsoon , weaves the biodiversity, cuisine and heritage of IndianOcean islands and the Indian subcontinent into one poetic thread.


 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Both Diana Evans, half-Nigerian and half-English, and Ivy Ngeow, born and raised in Malaysia, live in London and tell stories about the urban middle-class through the lens of mixed-race ethnicities. Set in South London, against the backdrop of Barack Obama’s historic win in the 2008 US presidential elections, Evans’s third novel, Ordinary People, is the story of two couples who find themselves at a moment of reckoning as they deal with midlife relationship crisis, the demands of parenthood and the loss of loved ones. Ivy Ngeow’s recent novel, The American Boyfriend, is a thrilling tale of how Phoebe, a single mother with a dead-end job in Southwark, lands herself in trouble when she goes to Florida with her two-year-old toddler to meet her long-distance boyfriend. Together, they will be in conversation with academic Veio Pou, as they talk about their books and discuss how their writerly experiences are shaped or not by their hybrid cultural identities.

03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Historian Matthew Parker’s latest book, One Fine Day: British Empire on the Brink, is a critical historical exploration of the British Empire at both the peak of its global reach—and the moment it began to topple. On  29 September 1923, the British empire reached its peak, geographically speaking. As the Palestine mandate, administered by Britain, came into force. Through the prism of this single day from Jamaica to London to a tiny Pacific island, Parker captures the pinnacle of British imperialism in vivid detail. In conversation with writer and historian David Veevers,  Parker examines a moment of palpable change leading up to the sun setting on the British Empire.

 


 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

An engaged conversation observing the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic and diplomatic implications and complexities.

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

With an enhanced focus on translation among publishers and a growing tribe of translators from languages, big and small, the larger literary canon is being enriched in multiple ways. Currently, the translations for the international market emerging from India are mostly in English but there is growing interest from other languages. The session will explore questions such as: What are publishers in the West looking for from the translated literature of non-English languages? What are translators' learnings in this context?


 

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.


 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

141. Reading Room

Arefa Tehsin and Saras Manickam in conversation with Bulbul Sharma

The Festival Reading Room finds inspiration in the range of voices and narratives across platforms. A session that brings together author and columnist Arefa Tehsin and academic and author Saras Manickam as they speak of their inspiration and the quest of the written word.

 

 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two outstanding women who lead by example speak about empowering the next generation with physical and mental strength. Writer and academician, Pardis Mahdavi’s new book, Book of Queens, is the untold story of generations of Middle Eastern horsewomen and their efforts to defend their homelands from the Taliban and other terrorist outfits. Emmy winning journalist, activist and founder of the anti-sex trafficking NGO, ‘Apne Aap’, Ruchira Gupta’s recent book, I Kick and I Fly, revolves around the escape of a girl from Bihar from being sold into the sex-trade because of the timely intervention of the owner of the local hostel for ‘at-risk girls’, someone who also helps her reassess the value of her body through Kung Fu. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about their work and women who defy conventional narratives of femininity.

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures as illustrious and complex as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad  and Indira Gandhi come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.



 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Three accomplished writers who chronicle and creatively reinterpret India’s rich repertoire of myths. Author and academic Koral Dasgupta has written the evocative Sati series, which explores the Pancha Kanyas from the Hindu epics with a feminine consciousness. The latest in the series, Mandodari, recounts the struggle of Ravan’s wife as she confronts myriad challenges, and tries to balance love and ethical duties. Author, screenwriter, and former anchor Satyarth Nayak’s best-selling book Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas compiles some of the greatest mythological tales, including many lesser known stories. Beginning from the Satya Yuga and ending with the arrival of the Kali Yuga, Nayak’s illustrated edition seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the psyche of gods, demons, and humans. Editor and writer Saksham Garg’s novel, Samsara: Enter the Valley of the God, takes us on a fantastical journey through the realm of the gods hidden in the heart of the Himalaya. Together they discuss the process of returning to ancient texts and the hoary past, and present them to contemporary readers. 

 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta and Commodore Gurnam Singh and speak to Commodore Srikant Kesnur on the critical role played by the Navy during the 1971 Indo - Pak War.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Libraries ignite the first spark for the love of books and reading. The JCB Foundation's deep commitment to literacy and to literary outreach is reflected in the Community Library Project which embodies the idea of ‘Reading Is Thinking’. A committed panel talks about the vision of an accessible library network for all.


 

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that brings together writers who transit easily between languages and believe in linguistic and cultural dialogue as a desirable cosmopolitanism. B. Jeyamohan writes in both Tamil and Malayalam, and Shumona Sinha is a Bengali who writes in French.  Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. In conversation with writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran, they speak of the many languages, cultures and literary spaces they inhabit and discuss how they negotiate them

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

196. The Narrative Arc - Mridula Garg and Kalpana Raina

Mridula Garg and Kalpana Raina in conversation with Aditi Maheshwari Goyal

Presented by Amar Ujala

 

Veteran writer, Mridula Garg, and literary activist and translator, Kalpana Raina, speak of the trajectory and narrative arc of their literary journeys.. Mridula Garg with her penchant for breaking gender stereotypes has a recent Hindi novel, Ve Nayaab Aurtein, which experiments with narrative structure, as it weaves stories out of memories and distorts social taboos with delightful ease. Known for her entrepreneurial support to translators, Kalpana Raina’s co-translation of Hari Krishna Kaul’s stories, For Now, It is Night, brings out different shades of hurt and loneliness in  the lives of Kashmiri Pandits. A thoughtful and engaging session where Garg and Raina read from their works and speak of their inspirations, in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari.

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


A bold and path breaking novel, Belinge, by Sahitya Akademi Awardee Bharat Ola, is a transformative take on transgender identities. Written in Rajasthani, the tragic narrative breaks across stereotypes to examine the story of a child born in a small village in Rajasthan and the puzzles and dilemmas of non conformity and the journey to selfhood.

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

John Zubrzycki’s recent book, Dethroned: Patel, Menon and The Integration of Princely India, is a riveting account of the absorption of the Princely states into the Indian union post-1947. Zubrzycki expertly juggles a fascinating cast of characters, from Mountbatten to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and from V.P Menon to Jawaharlal Nehru, to present a captivating account of the chess game that saved the subcontinent from fragmentation. In conversation with writer and historian Sam Dalrymple and historian Narayani Basu, author of V.P.Menon - The Unsung Architect Of Modern India,  Zubrzycki takes us through the integration of Princely India.

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Oscar Pujol received his doctorate in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and has had a life-long engagement with India. James Mallinson is the Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford and an authority on medieval Hatha Yoga practices. In conversation with Swati Chopra, they discuss their fascination with and commitment to the Sanskrit language and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that it contains.

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session exploring the legacy of 17th-century Mewar's Laghu-Chitra tradition.


 

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

26. Inaugural Address

Manisha Chaudhry, Sanjoy K.Roy, Ambassador May-Elin Stener, and Namita Gokhale

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

In the tapestry of Indian language publishing, the threads of sexuality had limited colours for a long time. Recently, writings in Hindi, Rajasthani, and other languages are reflecting a gratifying new trend of exploring the spectrum of sexualities. How do publishers, authors, and commentators view this long-overdue harbinger of change?
 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
JaipurBookMark

The phenomenally successful Malayalam publishing company DC Books celebrated its 50th birthday in 2023. Listen to the inspiring story of the journey with Ravi Deecee in conversation with Karthika VK. 
 

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

45. Marketing in the Times of Social Media

Pragya Tiwari, Saksham Garg, Atika Gupta, and Jai Prakash Pandey, in conversation with Ajay Jain

The art and science of marketing books is changing. Specialist agencies, social media engagement and reviews on YouTube are just some of the ways that determine how books stand out in an attention deficit economy. Meet experts who are driving the change from the front.
 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

Veteran feminist publishers Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon in conversation with R Sivapriya to celebrate this milestone.
 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Lexicographers are unsung heroes who toil to expand the universe of languages. Translators, linguists, readers and writers all owe them a huge debt. What drives them to take on this gargantuan task which is never finished? This session explores all these questions and more!
 

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Podcasts bring a unique connection between voice and text. High quality podcasts connect with listeners with an intimacy that fosters trust. How are podcasts making more listeners into readers?  This is a session that examines the deepening symbiosis. 
 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

As more readers across the world reach out for translations, they also receive attention and recognition in book awards. An erudite panel discusses the reach and impact of books that cross linguistic and cultural borders.
 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

As AI storms into various aspects of our lives, publishing is no exception. What does the future hold with AI entering the domains of editing, translation and audio books? How will AI impact legal contracts and the understanding of originality in IP? This session attempts to read the new shapes on the horizon.
 

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

Be it to preserve memory or to keep alive the soundscape of different languages, the drumbeat of creativity powers the work of committed publishers from various countries. Tune in to this thoughtful panel of publishers  hailing from lands as diverse as Mauritius and Tibet.
 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

93.The Alchemy of Bookselling

Aakash Gupta, Ajay Jain, Aditi Maheshwari-Goyal, Pulkit Tiwari, Vishal Pinjani, Priya Kapoor, in conversation with Rahul Dixit

A visit to a bookstore should open doors to a world of magic. Bookstore wizards speak up for the fine art of curation and display. This is a session that looks at how booksellers expand the circle of readers. 
 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

Educational publishing remains the commercial backbone of the Indian book industry. Some leading publishers discuss the prospects of growth in the current policy environment and the implementation of the NEP. They also explore areas of common interest between educational and trade publishers.
 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The vibrant hum of energy is heard across the landscape of Indian language publishing. What books are finding greater traction? Get a peek into the diverse worlds of Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi publishers.
 

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Leading publishers discuss the current taxation regime. What are the changes they would like to see? How are they grappling with the problem of pirated books? Are the legal remedies satisfactory? This session takes a close look at the hard questions. 
 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The book as an object of enduring beauty takes shape under the discerning eye of outstanding designers. An inspiring session where extraordinary talents talk about their creative process and the outcome that we get to hold and cherish.
 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Books signpost the zeitgeist of nations and seek out universalities across the world. Publishers from different countries share what inspires them to grow their lists and what the future holds for reading communities.
 

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

For an industry poised to grow, data on the book market in India remains quite scarce. The Nielsen Report provides some valuable insights on the size of the market, trends and the factors that will drive growth. Industry experts unpack key findings and advocate for the collection of more data across the spectrum of publishing. 
 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

142. Journeys across Boundaries

Naveen Kishore in conversation with Sanjoy.K.Roy

Presented by ABP Live

Seagull Books celebrated its 40th birthday in 2023. The iconic publishing house has created fine books across borders and boundaries. Naveen Kishore walks us through the extraordinary journey of Seagull, one full of leaps of faith, friendships and rewarding literary connections.
 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
JaipurBookMark

An outside-in view of publishing from the specialists in the OTT space. What can publishers do to leverage content, old and new, with the OTT industry? How do they build greater synergy? This is a session that opens windows to fresh ideas and exchange.
 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

India speaks in a thousand tongues. India reads in several scripts. Discerning literary voices from across the country reflect upon experiments in form and content. What is keeping readers, old and new, glued to the page or the screen?
 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Tamil publisher Kalachuvadu has consistently published Perumal Murugan's writing over the last twenty years. The latest JCB award for Fire Bird is but one testament to the creative synergy between them. What goes into the making of such a long standing literary friendship?
 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

The flourishing Indie publishing scene in the UK and India never ceases to surprise and delight, as it continues to throw up creative talents fearlessly treading new paths.  There is much fertile ground for ongoing exchange between Indie publishers from the two countries.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM
JaipurBookMark

Picture books draw first readers into unravelling the mysteries of image and text. How do publishers make the first happy step on the reading ladder turn into a giant leap of becoming a bookworm?

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM
JaipurBookMark

This session invites publishers from India and abroad to share information about their eclectic lists. The perfect platform to start professional matchmaking and do better business across borders.

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
JaipurBookMark

211. Festival Directors' Roundtable on Challenges in a Polarised World

Anja Bengelstorff, Claudia Kaiser, Deeba Salim, Jessie Friedman, Kitso Pelmo, Govind Deecee, Shinie Antony, Shubha Sanjay Urs, Janet DeNeefe, Hem Pant, Ras Bihari Gaur, and Hannah Curtis in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy

Join us for an insightful exploration of ideas as festival directors discuss curating festivals in a world which is getting increasingly polarised.

Thursday, 01 February

01 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music : Kalapini Komkali

Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Pandit Kumar Gandharva

Presented by BluOne Ink

01 Feb | 09:50 AM - 10:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The poet who wins every heart - Gulzar Sa’ab - continues to create magic with each new poetry collection, interweaving the allure of old favourites through verse. Translated by award winning translator and writer, Rakhshanda Jalil, Baal-O-Par is a definitive collection of Gulzar Sa’ab's poetry comprising the complete text of six volumes of poems. Appearing in bilingual form, with the original Urdu in Devnagri script  and the English translations on the facing pages, the collection presents a remarkable tribute to his lyrical and poetic journey. In conversation with former diplomat and celebrated writer Pavan K. Varma they take us through this masterpiece, offering a kaleidoscopic view of history, human experience and poetic expression.

 


 

Gulzar, Pavan K. Varma and Rakhshanda Jalil

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CHARBAGH

The 2023 Booker Prize-winning novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch is an exhilarating, propulsive, and confrontational portrait of a society on the brink. It follows one woman’s attempts to save her family in a dystopic Ireland sliding into authoritarian rule, offering an unflinching account of the erosion of free will and liberty. In conversation with Nandini Nair, Lynch examines the nuances of his writing and explores the story of a mother's fight to keep her family together.

 


 


 

Nandini Nair, Paul Lynch and Kevin Kelly

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Historian and writer Katherine Schofield's recent book, Music and Musicians in Late Mughal India, weaves through the lives of nine musicians to provide a new history of music, musicians and their audiences during the period in which North Indian classical music coalesced in its modern form. In conversation with musician and writer Vidya Shah and historian and author Rana Safvi, Schofield discusses the many ways in which Mughal culture responded to the political, economic and social upheaval of the transition to British rule.

 


 

Katherine Schofield, Vidya Shah and Rana Safvi

01 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM DURBAR HALL

The sacred terrain of the high Himalaya has a timeless tradition of spiritual and mystic quests. How do enlightened masters become an enduring and living presence for religious and spiritual communities? Celebrated academic and writer Andrew Quintman has written extensively on the Tibetan master and spiritual poet, Milarepa. Actor and writer Kelly Dorji is a practising Buddhist. His book, The Hidden Rainbow, makes an attempt to take us on a spiritual journey through Buddhist symbolism in the quest for inner peace and acceptance.
Together they discuss the literary representations of Milarepa's life and further consider the manifold ways in which those life stories move beyond the written page into artistic, ritual and lived dimensions. This session will include the launch of the paperback and  Hindi edition of Mystics and Sceptics: In Search of Himalayan Masters.

 


 

Andrew Quintman, Kelly Dorji and Namita Gokhale

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Co-authored by Raghuram Rajan and Rohit Lamba, Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future, examines some of the critical and crucial questions surrounding India's economic trajectory.  The book proposes a number of strategies for accelerating India's economic development through investment in human capital, expanding opportunities in high-skilled services, and fostering innovative manufacturing of new products. In conversation with Naushad Forbes, they discuss the nuances of India's economic growth while navigating the challenges of being central to a global economy.


 

Naushad Forbes, Raghuram C. Rajan and Rohit Lamba

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CHARBAGH

B. Jeyamohan is a Tamil and Malayalam writer and literary critic who explores mythology, philosophy and fantasy. Jeyamohan's vast and diverse literary oeuvre examines and interprets the essence of India's rich literary classical traditions. His prolific output also includes film scripts for Malayalam and Tamil cinema, including Ozhimuri, Kaanchi, Naan Kadavul, Kadal, 2.0, Venthu Thaninthathu Kaadu and Ponniyin Selvan. Writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran has translated Jeyamohan's Ezhaam Ulagam or 'The Abyss' into English. In conversation with writer Anjum Hasan, they discuss the multilayered narratives explored by Jeyamohan through his rich writing life and the many nuances of translation.


 

Anjum Hasan, B.jeyamohan and Suchitra Ramachandran

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege, speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

 

Devika Rege, Manju Kapur and Rachna Singh

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM DURBAR HALL

For some, imagination is a luxury in the modern age; something which is by turns elusive, difficult to employ and better left to others. But what does it mean to imagine? How do we go about it, and why is it so important that we imagine for ourselves?  Albert Read’s  insightful and life-affirming book, The Imagination Muscle, puts imagination back at the forefront of our lives. Read speaks to writer Amrita Tripathi on the boundless potential of the human mind and the genesis of ideas across time.


 

Albert Read and Amrita Tripathi

01 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

'Sanātana Dharma’, or ‘eternal truth’ is the philosophical and practical basis of what is generally known as Hinduism.  The Bhagavadgītā is a 700-verse Hindu scripture, which is part of the epic Mahabharata and a pivotal text in understanding Sanatana Dharma.  Celebrated writer, poet and teacher of Vedanta, Partho's recent book, This Is Sanatan Dharma, is an attempt to explain some of the fundamental principles and practices of  Sanātana Dharma. He takes Sri Aurobindo as his source of inspiration and guidance. Medical practitioner and writer Pariksith Singh’s work include The Veda Made Simple, Sri Aurobindo and Philosophy and Sri Aurobindo and the Literary Renaissance of India. Together they embark on a quest to explore these sacred traditions and texts and their continuing impact on our past, present, and future.

Pariksith Singh and Partho

01 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Cricket is the de facto national sport of India. Both the spirit and the practice of the game have changed with the years, but an obsessive interest continues to bind the country together across generations and regions. Celebrated cricketer and commentator Ajay Jadeja  was a member of the Indian cricket team across its many game formats and has also played the role of a coach and mentor. He has also previously been the Captain of the Indian cricket team.  Author, commentator, coach, and former cricketer, Venkat Sundaram’s recent book, Indian Cricket: Then and Now, is a collection of fifty articles by cricketers and leading writers on the sport, celebrates legendary cricketers and chronicles key moments in India’s cricketing history. Former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur’s incisive memoir, Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket, offers a ringside view of the transformational period of Indian cricket, and provides an intimate account of the conversation between players, their lives, and dressing room secrets.In conversation with entrepreneur and author of Gods of Willow, Amrish Kumar, they discuss their books, experiences, and anecdotes of a game that has  controlled the narrative of sports in many parts of the world for years. 

 

Amrish Kumar, Amrit Mathur, Venkat Sundaram and Ajay Jadeja

01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHARBAGH
01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM DURBAR HALL
01 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

An illustrious panel explores the struggle between historical reality and theoretical idealism, and the reality of the electoral process. Writer and academic Yascha Mounk's book, The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure, draws on history, social psychology, and comparative politics to discuss the ways in which common ground can be built for a homogenous society that appeases all. Former Chief Election Commissioner of India and writer S Y Quraishi's book, India's Experiment with Democracy : The Life of a Nation Through Its Elections, evaluates the fundamental principles that set the stage for our ideas of nationhood, citizenship and democracy. Girish Kuber is the Editor of Loksatta. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, they discuss the complexities of nurturing democratic practices in a world torn apart by war, strife and multiethnic conflict.

S.y. Quraishi, Yascha Mounk, Mandira Nayar and Girish Kuber

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM CHARBAGH


What is it like to be a Prime Minister and control the destiny of your country? Australia's former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, talks to author and former diplomat Navdeep Suri about  his time in office, and explores some of the key moments in recent history.

Malcolm Turnbull and Navdeep Suri

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Author Sonora Jha's recent novel, The Laughter, is an illuminating portrait of class, privilege, radicalisation and modern academia that forces us to confront our assumptions of the world. The narrative follows the story of a white male college professor and his dangerous obsession with a new South Asian colleague.The New York Times has called it “a no-holds-barred comic achievement.” In conversation with Susana Torres Prieto, Jha   examines the idea of the 'other' and the semantics of entitlement in a moving saga of lust and retribution. 

 

Sonora Jha and Susana Torres Prieto

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Writer and Naturalist Yuvan Aves' recent work Intertidal: A Coast and Marsh Diary, spread across two years and three monsoons, is a diary of deep observations of the coast and wetland, climate and self. Diving into the in-between space where land meets sea--and also where being meets world, the narrative explores interactions with the tiniest life forms in the midst of a landscape of beauty and fragility. In conversation with celebrated author Robert Macfarlane and acclaimed travel writer and  novelist Colin Thubron, Aves takes us on a journey beyond the binaries of man, animal, sea and the coast, into the world of harmonious coexistence.



 

Colin Thubron, Robert Macfarlane and Yuvan Aves

01 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that connects the dots between climate change, shifting resources and a new map for sustainability across urban and rural clusters and vulnerable communities who are impacted the most. Author and social entrepreneur Shashank Mani's book, Middle Of Diamond India, explores the ethos of the Tier 2 and 3 cities that form an integral backbone of the country.  Founder-Director of The Antara Foundation, Ashok Alexander's recent memoir, How the Light Gets in, takes a journey through the roots of the country, evaluating the conditions of mothers and children. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Susan Ferguson  Country Representative for UN Women India and has had a distinguished career in international development spanned by themes of gender equality and social justice.


 

Arun Maira, Ashok Alexander, Shashank Mani and Susan Ferguson

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

American writer and former copywriter, Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel Lessons in Chemistry, revolves around a frustrated chemist as she finds herself at the helm of a cooking show that sparks a revolution in 1960’s America. The novel’s protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, battles a sexist establishment and the perils of being a woman in a man’s world. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, Garmus discusses the electric impact of her poignant work and a world beyond one where women are tied to the kitchen.

Bee Rowlatt and Bonnie Garmus

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM CHARBAGH

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures across time come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.

 

Ben Macintyre, Katherine Rundell, Peter Moore, Sushma Jansari and Clare Wright

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Two brilliant women novelists, author and professor of literature Manju Kapur and writer Devika Rege speak of their recent fiction. In The Gallery, Kapur entwines the lives of four women as they unravel and negotiate the challenges of their different paths. Set against art, as poetry and property, the novel speaks of the loneliness and longing that immerses them and asks what it takes for a woman to stand up for herself.  Devika Rege’s award-winning debut novel Quarterlife set in the aftermath of a momentous general election, holds up an incisive mirror to India’s political consciousness. The arc of Rege’s narrative charts its characters as they step foot into the country’s turbulent and shifting landscape, both as vessels for its ideals and catalysts for a future that is always out of reach. In conversation with Rachna Singh, Kapur and Rege dissect the sources of their inspiration, and give voice to their words.

 

Arundhathi Subramaniam and Malashri Lal

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM DURBAR HALL

A session traverses the diverse culinary traditions, kitchens and hearths of South Asian cuisine. Steeped in memories, recipes and familial history, writer and cultural historian Tarana Husain Khan and writer and historian Rana Safvi take us on a delectable journey through the rich cultural and social traditions of Awadhi and Rampur cuisines and the ways in which it has transformed with time.


 

Rana Safvi and Tarana Husain Khan

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that discusses the core issues and changing realities of the North Eastern states, through the eyes of a journalist, a poet-politician, and an academic.  Together they explore the natural treasures and rich cultural diversity of the  region and the social, political and environmental concerns that continue to beset it.


 

Mmhonlumo Kikon, Hoihnu Hauzel and Veio Pou

01 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JaipurBookMark

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Acclaimed author Amish and his sister Bhavna Roy explore burning questions on the true meaning of idolatry in Idols: Unearthing the Power of Murti Puja, a companion volume to their bestselling Dharma. Together, they search for the essence of Ishta Devata and bhakti—that of a personal god and the path of devotion—through simple, insightful interpretations of myths and religious texts. In conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas, they discuss the symbolic and the deeper meanings of idol worship and the search for divinity within and outside us. 


 

Amish, Bhavna Roy and Satyarth Nayak

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that discusses the integration of mental health with general health policies, as well as the associations between illness and disability. The panelists also examine the treatment gaps, socio-economic conditions, and ground cultural realities in the process of assessment.


 

Amit Sen, Amrita Tripathi, Neha Kirpal and Shekhar Seshadri

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Journalism is considered the fourth pillar of democracy. Has the changed landscape of media communication and the barrage of new technologies impacted the understanding of the core values of journalism?

 

Anjan Sundaram, Anuradha Sarma Pujari, Mrinal Pande, Shelly Walia and Avinash Pandey

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

For years, it appears that Indians have concerned themselves with making their environs, and themselves, smell good.

With 18,500 varieties of aromatic plants, from the voluptuous allure of the rose to the musky tang of oud, the woody notes of sandalwood to the heady smell of jasmine and the lingering aroma of vetiver, fragrances unlock something at the very heart of India.

In conversation with author John Zubrzycki, writer and journalist Divrina Dhingra discusses her recent book, The Perfume Project: Journeys through Indian Fragrance, which investigates the idea of scent as a powerful trigger for memories and emotions, as well as a mode of self-expression and identity.

Divrina Dhingra and John Zubrzycki

01 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JaipurBookMark

In the tapestry of Indian language publishing, the threads of sexuality had limited colours for a long time. Recently, writings in Hindi, Rajasthani, and other languages are reflecting a gratifying new trend of exploring the spectrum of sexualities. How do publishers, authors, and commentators view this long-overdue harbinger of change?
 

01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM DURBAR HALL
01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
01 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM JaipurBookMark

The phenomenally successful Malayalam publishing company DC Books celebrated its 50th birthday in 2023. Listen to the inspiring story of the journey with Ravi Deecee in conversation with Karthika VK. 
 

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Comedian and actor Kanan Gill's debut novel, Acts of God, is an ode to comedic science fiction, blending together questions of human existence, the multiverse and life itself. In this conversation with Sarthak Kaushik, Gill dives into this post apocalyptic world and gives us a glimpse into his comedic and writing life.

 

 

Kanan Gill

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A session that examines the realities of war reportage and how literature is impacted by the intrinsic nature of war. Journalist and writer Roger Cohen earned a Pulitzer Prize and a George Polk Award with The Times teams, covering the Ukraine war. He has previously reported from various troubled zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Iran. Journalist and award-winning author Anjan Sundram has reported from the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. In conversation with President, international, The New York Times Company, Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, they take a piercing look at the ways in which strife has impacted their journey and craft.

 

Anjan Sundaram, Roger Cohen and Stephen Dunbar-johnson

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM DURBAR HALL

Louise Fowler-Smith's recent work, Sacred Trees of India, examines the fundamental threat posed by deforestation to ecological sustainability and the continuation of life on earth. Drawing on 10 years of fieldwork in India, Fowler-Smith expertly documents the sacred trees and groves of India and the traditions of tree-worship which present a powerful alternative to the Western capitalist commodification of nature. Environmentalist and filmmaker Pradip Krishen’s book Jungle Trees of Central India is a lavishly illustrated account of the trees found in the region.In conversation with Mridula Ramesh they discuss the nuances of a culture whose reverence for trees has helped them prevent outright ecological destruction.

 

 

Louise Fowler-smith, Mridula Ramesh and Pradip Krishen

01 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.



 

Anisha Lalvani, Anitah Aujayeb, Badri Narayan, Jonaki Ray, Sarbjot Singh Behl, Dushyant and Reena Menaria

Friday, 02 February

02 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music : Phil Scarff

Phil Scarff, Priyank Krishna and Anoop Banerjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz’s recent work, Trust,  is a riveting tale that challenges the myths shrouding wealth, and the fictions that often pass for history. Following the different versions of the story of a Wall Street businessman and his wife in the years leading up to the Great Depression,  the novel strikingly captures the human weakness for self deception. Winning the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction the novel will also soon be adapted into a TV series.  In conversation with art critic and writer Katie Kitamura, Diaz reflects on the concept of trust as both a moral quality and a financial arrangement, as though virtue and money were synonymous. 

 


 

Hernan Diaz and Katie Kitamura

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM CHARBAGH

Historian, writer and broadcaster Jerry Brotton’s work The Orient Isle reveals England’s relationship with the Muslim world and its influence on the commercial and political landscape of the England of Shakespeare. The individual stories covered form part of a rich tapestry of interaction that was ultimately directed by the geopolitics of the day. In conversation with historian, writer and festival's co-director William Dalrymple, Brotton examines the political, cultural and social imperatives that laid the ground for a shared history across the east and the west.


 

Jerry Brotton and William Dalrymple

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The fame of the Buddha stands in contrast to the shadowy figure of Yashodhara, the young wife he left behind in the palace. Shyam Selvadurai’s thought-provoking novel, Mansions of the Moon takes us back to India of the 6th century BC as he explores Yashodhara’s early years of marriage and the anguish that descends upon her when her husband abandons her. Another perspective comes from Vanessa R. Sasson whose evocative book, Yashodhara: A Novel, recounts the story of Buddha from Yashodhara’s perspective and in doing so, resurrects hidden aspects of Buddhist monasticism and the sangha. Her recent book is The Gathering: A Story of the First Buddhist Women.  In this session, Selvadurai and Sasson discuss their interpretations of Yashodhara’s life—her turmoil, her sacrifices and her spiritual enlightenment in conversation with poet and writer Arundhathi Subramaniam.

 


 

Arundhathi Subramaniam, Shyam Selvadurai, Stewart Wheeler and Vanessa R. Sasson

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Two prominent writers and public intellectuals, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Gurcharan Das, speak of their recently published memoirs and the stories behind the stories. Combining the personal and the political, they examine their eventful lives and the lessons and learnings along the way. Former diplomat and politician, Mani Shankar Aiyar’s Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years and its sequel, The Rajiv I Knew, are candid, thoughtful and witty recountals of his life in the foreign service and in politics. Author, columnist and former CEO of Procter & Gamble, Gurucharan Das’s recently published Another Sort of Freedom: A Memoir is a moving story that takes us through the twists and turns of his life from the chaos of Partition to failed first loves and unconventional career decisions. In this engrossing session, they speak with Mandira Nayar about their lives and read from their books.


 

Gurcharan Das, Mandira Nayar and Mani Shankar Aiyar

02 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM JaipurBookMark

The art and science of marketing books is changing. Specialist agencies, social media engagement and reviews on YouTube are just some of the ways that determine how books stand out in an attention deficit economy. Meet experts who are driving the change from the front.
 

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

What happens when the decisions of one character changes the course of the narrative arc?
What happens when an action has a domino effect? 

A session on protagonists and literary characters from whom the narratives stem. The authors and translators of the books shortlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature 2023 respond to questions about the voices they championed.


 

Manoj Rupda, Manoranjan Byapari, Somak Ghoshal, Tejaswini Apte-rahm and Vikramajit Ram

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CHARBAGH

In 1944, Rudolf Vrba became one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz — one of only a tiny handful who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. Against all odds, he and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope. In conversation with journalist Roger Cohen, Freedland delves into the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who even as a teenager understood that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death, a man who deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank, Oskar Schindler and Primo Levi, those rare individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust.


 

Jonathan Freedland and Roger Cohen

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


77 years after India attained freedom at the stroke of the midnight hour, the Indian economy has emerged as one of the largest in the world. An expert panel of stalwarts in the policy, business and finance field come together to discuss the future of Indian business and enterprise while evaluating the heritage and development of India's economic story. Amitabh Kant will unveil his latest book, The Elephant Moves: India’s New Place in the World at the end of this session.

Ajai Chowdhry, Amitabh Kant, Arun Kumar, Nidhi Razdan and Amit Kapoor

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Ramacharitmanas is the sixteenth-century epic poem composed in Awadhi by Goswami Tulsidas. In this popular version, Tulsidas made Lord Rama accessible to the common people.  Philp Lutgendorf’s publication of the seventh volume of The Epic of Ram, the English translation of the poem in 2023 coincides with the 450th anniversary of the epic’s traditional date of composition.

Together with renowned writer, poet and cultural figure, Yatindra Mishra, and writer and academic Harish Trivedi, they focus on the history, significance and timeless nature of this epic text and its abiding impact on Indian culture in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

Philip Lutgendorf, Yatindra Mishra, Harish Trivedi and Pragya Tiwari

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

An engrossing session that has prominent voices from Assam and Odisha, Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Itirani Samanta, speaking of their work and its cultural and literary milieu. Sahitya Akademi award winner and journalist Anuradha Sarma Pujari is the editor of the newspaper Sadin and the magazine Satsori, and the author of ten works of fiction. Her novel, Hriday Ek Bigyapan, has been translated by Aruni Kashyap from Assamese as My Poems Are Not For Your Ad Campaign. 

Novelist, essayist and short story writer Itirani Samanta is the editor of the Kadambini and Kunikatha magazines, and director of Kadambini Media. Her novel, Sakuntala Ra Jhia has been translated from Odia as Shakuntala’s Daughter by Dipty Patnaik. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they discuss their multifaceted literary engagements with their mother languages and the sources and inspirations of their work.

 



 

Anuradha Sarma Pujari, Itirani Samanta and Rachna Singh

02 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JaipurBookMark

Veteran feminist publishers Urvashi Butalia and Ritu Menon in conversation with R Sivapriya to celebrate this milestone.
 

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Yascha Mounk,Badri Narayan and Sreenivasan Jain  explore the interwoven landscapes of identity, ideas, and the individual. Navigating demographic, ethnic, gender and religious factors that polarise a population, an informed panel examines the juxtapositions of our times.

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CHARBAGH

Travel writing is among the most ancient forms of literature. It allows invaluable social, cultural and political insight. It can signify personal journeys and growth, the intricate histories of places and peoples, and even the power and limits of the mind. Colin Thubron, Nicholas Shakespeare, Sam Miller, Yuvan Aves and Divrina Dhingra discuss their work, inspirations and choice of genre with writer, historian and Festival Co-Director, William Dalrymple. 

 


 

Colin Thubron, Nicholas Shakespeare, Sam Miller, Yuvan Aves, Divrina Dhingra and William Dalrymple

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

An important session which navigates the  frameworks of history, law and the social expectations of an evolving society towards persons facing physical and mental disabilities. In this discussion, an engaged panel evaluates governmental policy initiatives and practical measures to provide accessible facilities and support systems for those struggling with disabilities, and the challenges faced by their caregivers.


 

Anil Aneja, Debashis Paul, K. Srilata, Najmi Waziri and V.r. Ferose

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM DURBAR HALL

What does the face of power look like? 

Who gets commemorated in art and why? 

And how do we react to the statues of politicians who we deplore?

What did Roman Emperors really do? 

Leading classicist and cultural commentator Mary Beard’s recent books, Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern and Emperor of Rome explore Roman power from different angles: how Roman art has shaped the Western world’s understanding of power for over two millennia; and what the day-to day nature of their power was. Examining ancient imperial imagery, modern visual imagination and little-known ancient texts, Beard explores the image and reality of Roman emperors, especially the ‘Twelve Caesars’,  from the ruthless Julius Caesar to the fly-torturing Domitian, to understand their ancient and modern significance. In conversation with historian and author Peter Frankopan, she discusses changing identities, the clueless or even deliberate misidentifications and the challenges of modern assumptions about ancient imperial power.

 

 

 

Mary Beard and Peter Frankopan

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

At a time when change appears to be the only constant, a session that evaluates the swiftly transforming world around us and human strategies of survival, adaptation, and growth. A diverse panel speaks of their individual approaches to dynamic flux, and how imagination, skill and resilience help them ride change.

Albert Read, Arun Maira, Amit Sen and Koël Purie Rinchet

02 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Lexicographers are unsung heroes who toil to expand the universe of languages. Translators, linguists, readers and writers all owe them a huge debt. What drives them to take on this gargantuan task which is never finished? This session explores all these questions and more!
 

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Gulzar Sa’ab is the most beloved of all Indian poets and lyricists. His humour, sensitivity, and empathy tug at the heartstrings across generations. Yatindra Mishra's new book Gulzar Sa’ab takes us on a journey through his life and times.  Based on meticulously recorded conversations, recorded over two decades, translated into English by Sathya Saran, Mishra's book is a tribute to the genius of Gulzaar Sa’ab.

Gulzar, Sathya Saran and Yatindra Mishra

02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHARBAGH
02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM DURBAR HALL
02 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The magnificent big cats of the jungle ecosystem, such as the great Bengal Tiger, have inspired writers of both fiction and nonfiction for generations.  News anchor and environment reporter Gargi Rawat’s recent book, Tiger Season, is a fictional account of an environmental journalist's tryst with tiger conservation, love, and the great outdoors. Writer, novelist and nature activist Arefa Tehsin was appointed the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Udaipur district by the government of Rajasthan and has pursued nature conservation through her books and articles. Together, they discuss the mystique of tiger tales and the story of conservation efforts in Rajasthan.


 

Arefa Tehsin and Gargi Rawat

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The Amur River forms the highly contested border between Russia and China. It is the most densely fortified frontier on earth and represents the histories of both countries, as well as their unique relationship. Colin Thubron, the laureate of travel writing, follows the dramatic journey of the Amur, from its secret source to an expanse of almost 3,000 miles in his acclaimed book, The Amur River: Between Russia and China. In this astonishing account of an often perilous journey, among diverse peoples, climates and terrain, Thubron reveals the urgent history of this river of the far east and its links to global geopolitics. In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan.

Colin Thubron and Peter Frankopan

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM CHARBAGH

Bestselling historian Ben Macintyre’s latest nonfiction book, Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle, is a true story of the most infamous prison in history. Colditz gained international infamy as a prison of war camp during World War 2 for Allied officers who had repeatedly attempted to escape from other camps. Set in the time of World War 2, Macintyre presents a biography of the prison itself, the world detainees built within it and their thrilling escape. In conversation with writer Narayani Basu, Macintyre takes us on a deep dive through real life espionage within the walls of a German prison.

 


 

Ben Macintyre and Narayani Basu

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist Charles Glass' recent book Soldiers Don't Go Mad, is a poignant history of the friendship between two great war poets, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, alongside a narrative investigation of the origins of PTSD and the literary response to World War I. Bound together by brotherhood, poetry and mental illness, it explores the story of the soldiers and doctors who struggled with the effects of industrial warfare on the human psyche. In conversation with author and journalist Mukund Padmanabhan, Glass takes an immersive look at the healing power of art in the face of the destructive nature of war.

Charles Glass and Mukund Padmanabhan

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM DURBAR HALL

As societies evolve, so must systems of learning; education and innovation are indispensable to changing realities and lying-in-wait challenges. Experts in education in its many shifting dimensions come together to discuss the future of education and the ways in which it can be tied to wider social welfare and public good.

Professor Charlie Jeffery is the Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of York. He believes that education can render social and economic welfare. Co-CEO of Archie Comics, Nancy Silberkleit, has worked extensively on the ways in which graphic novels can be used as a valuable tool to encourage literacy and a love for reading among children. Academic and writer Sital Kalantry is an associate dean at Seattle University School of Law. Priyank Narayan is a seasoned entrepreneur and an educationist. He is the Founder of IndiaPreneurship, an organisation focused on showcasing entrepreneurial opportunities in India to the world.

They will be in conversation with Sanjoy K Roy.

 

 

Charlie Jeffery, Nancy Silberkleit, Priyank Narayan, Sanjoy K. Roy and Sital Kalantry

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Award-winning Calcutta born writer Shumona Sinha's translated work, Down With the Poor!, written in French as Assommons les pauvres!, takes a multilayered look into France's modern day refugee crisis. Translated into English by Teresa Lavender Fagan, the narrative attempts to understand the circumstances and rage of a woman who attacks a refugee in the Paris Metro over the course of one night. The story won the Valéry Larbaud Award in France, was on the short list for the Renaudot Award, won the Internationaler Literaturpreis in Berlin, and was adapted to theatre in Germany and Austria. In conversation with translator and writer Arunava Sinha, she attempts to explain the political undertones of her story and the simmering violence seeping through the pages.

Arunava Sinha and Shumona Sinha

02 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Podcasts bring a unique connection between voice and text. High quality podcasts connect with listeners with an intimacy that fosters trust. How are podcasts making more listeners into readers?  This is a session that examines the deepening symbiosis. 
 

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The first novel is always the most difficult. Three super successful first timers speak to literary critic Merve Emre about the trials and tribulations of writing first fictions and read from their work.


 

Bonnie Garmus, Devika Rege, Koël Purie Rinchet and Merve Emre

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

India is a country of many contradictions. Balancing between being the world's fastest growing economy and burgeoning technological prowess, we also see a land of poverty with the masses struggling to survive. A distinguished  panel comes together to evaluate policy and strategies towards inclusive development and growth. Former member of the Planning Commission of India and writer Arun Maira has written extensively on  transformational change, leadership and both nation and business building for India's future. His recent book, Shaping the Future: A Guide for Systems Leaders, follows the three disciplines of System Being, Systems Thinking, and Systems Acting, that lay down a framework for future leaders. Padma Vibhushan awardee Raghunath Mashelkar has been an influential thought leader in shaping science, technology and innovation policies in post-liberalised India. In conversation with co-chairman of Forbes Marshall and author of The Struggle And The Promise: Restoring India's Potential, Naushad Forbes, they present a conceptual roadmap for India's future, suited to its diverse social, economic and cultural needs.

Arun Maira, Naushad Forbes and Raghunath Mashelkar

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Two committed writers talk about their recent books, the themes of which navigate hope, dissent and despair. Prominent political theorist and scholar of multiculturalism and secularism in non-western societies, Rajeev Bhargava, in his new book, Reimagining Indian Secularism (History for Peace) interrogates the abuse and the deliberate distortion of Indian secularism by its opponents. His earlier collection of essays, Between Hope and Despair, explored the idea of an inclusive, pluralist India, raising pertinent questions on India’s collective ethical identity. Noted political economist and social commentator Parakala Prabhakar’s recently published The Crooked Timber of New India: Essays on a Republic in Crisis investigates the idea of ‘New India’ against the backdrop of rising religious majoritarianism and authoritarianism. Together, they will be in conversation with Mohit Satyanand.

Rajeev Bhargava, Parakala Prabhakar and Mohit Satyanand

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Sensitisation towards an equitable social, cultural, and economic environment that helps provide equal opportunities to women is essential for a just and progressive society. A distinguished panel discusses how to facilitate an increase in women's decision-making power and their access to opportunities and resources, creating an egalitarian platform to reduce the gap in accessibility between men and women. 


 

Chetna Gala Sinha, Harini Rana, Kanta Singh and Urvashi Butalia

02 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JaipurBookMark

As more readers across the world reach out for translations, they also receive attention and recognition in book awards. An erudite panel discusses the reach and impact of books that cross linguistic and cultural borders.
 

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

A thoughtful session that looks at the world and India's place in it. As a culture, India has retained its core identity despite our centuries of invasions, migrations and societal change. What is the core essence behind this continuity and what are the factors that have nurtured it.  Manmohan Vaidya is the Sah Sarkaryawah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the author of We and the World Around. Badri Narayan is a Sahitya Akademi award winning poet, essayist and professor at the School of Social Sciences, JNU and works on the political understanding and constructs of Northern India. Writer, politician and former diplomat Pavan K Varma  has written extensively on India and Indian civilisational values. In conversation with journalist Mandira Nayar, they discuss the idea of India and its place in a changing world.

Badri Narayan, Mandira Nayar, Manmohan Vaidya and Pavan K. Varma

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Many feminisms and perspectives, both current and prevalent across cultures and societies, have perhaps provided a greater flexibility to the women's movement. Issues such as women rights, intersectional feminism, ethnic marginalisation, social hierarchies and economic deprivation all take on many forms and have to be understood in their multiplicity. This session brings togethers writers and activists from across the world to speak of their immediate contexts and the wider search for equity and justice.


 

Bee Rowlatt, Clare Wright, Marta Breen and Urvashi Butalia

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM DURBAR HALL

The legacy of Indian fashion is a vibrant tapestry, seamlessly weaving together elements of the past and present, tradition and modernity. Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani’s creations navigate these histories, from the impact of globalisation and colonisation on attire to the revival of long-forgotten techniques. His book, Journey to India Modern, written with investigative journalist Alia Allana, reveals the paths he takes for his craft, and the significance of his luxury design studio in today's world. In conversation with writer Shivani Sibal, Tahiliani shares insights into his explorations in fashion around the globe, his efforts to merge stories across time and space, and the questions he seeks to pose through his designs.

 


 

Shivani Sibal and Tarun Tahiliani

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two exceptional writers explore the nuances of the written word and the world of fiction. Anjum Hasan’s latest novel, History's Angel, follows the journey of a mild-mannered school teacher at a time in India's history when Muslims are seen as either hapless victims or live threats. The poignant narrative deftly highlights the power of ideas and the peril of majoritarianism. Tania James’ recent novel, Loot, is a luminous tale of history that explores the far reaches of empire and human desire. The narrative follows the journey of a young woodcarver as his art catches the attention of Tipu Sultan—his journey mirroring the transformation of nations and dynasties ravaged by war across India and Europe. In conversation with Anish Gawande.


 

Anish Gawande, Anjum Hasan and Tania James

02 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JaipurBookMark

As AI storms into various aspects of our lives, publishing is no exception. What does the future hold with AI entering the domains of editing, translation and audio books? How will AI impact legal contracts and the understanding of originality in IP? This session attempts to read the new shapes on the horizon.
 

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM DURBAR HALL

02 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that engages with Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, Braj bhasha and Spanish in translation of poetry and epic texts. Venerated scholar Oscar Pujol studied Sanskrit at Banaras Hindu University. He has also authored the first Sanskrit-Catalan dictionary. His Spanish translation of  The Bhagavadgītā was published in 2023. 

Mridul Kirti has translated highly respectable Hindu scriptures such as the Samaveda and Ashtavakra Gita, written in Sanskrit. into Hindi and Brij Bhasha. They will be in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari Goyal.

Aditi Maheshwari Goyal, Mridul Kirti and Oscar Pujol

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

The Freedom to Dream is the most precious of all freedoms. Samsung explores the power of innovation and digital artistry to enable new levels of joy through the intuitive skills of its very latest model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series. An inspiring panel of artists, writers, musicians, historians, mathematicians and entrepreneurs discuss the many ways in which one can educate, create and conceptualise thought in a constantly transforming world.

Marcus Du Sautoy, Vidya Shah, William Dalrymple, Mukesh Bansal, Kanan Gill, Albert Read and Sanjoy K. Roy

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Acclaimed author and journalist Mrinal Pande’s novel, Sahela Re, pays tribute to the declining gharanas of Hindustani classical music  as she attempts to record, in her words, “The last cry of a lost aesthetics, an art form, a way of life.” Pande’s protagonist, Vidya, collects old letters, photographs and gramophone records on a tantalising quest to unearth the stories and traditions of a time when the practice of music was likened to sacred worship.

Writer, columnist and cultural icon Yatindra Mishra has worked extensively on the heritage of Indian music. His books include biographies of Lata Mangeshkar and Begum Akhtar among others. In conversation with academic and writer  Katherine Schofield, Pande, herself a trained Hindustani classical musician, and Mishra, speak of the history and memory of this music, the unspoken codes of artistes’ lives, and the links between their stories and the legacy of Indian classical music.

Katherine Schofield, Mrinal Pande and Yatindra Mishra

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM DURBAR HALL

Three prominent Indian poets share their work and inspirations, and talk to each other about metre, rhyme, and the muse. Naveen Kishore’s hypnotic verses in his new collection Mother Muse Quintet, an ode to the birth mother and the mother tongue, emerge fog-like from the depths of memories and dreams, and swirl, like time itself, in a slow timeless vortex of loss and longing, death and life. Ranjit Hoskote’s eighth collection of poetry Icelight transits between audacious exploration and contemplative retreat as it archives lost worlds and relationships, and curates poignant versions of the past, the present, and the future. Arundhathi Subramaniam’s recent anthology Wild Women: Seekers, Protagonists, and Goddesses in Sacred Indian Poetry weaves together haunting voices of, by, and for women across the Indian subcontinent as it traverses the sacred feminine and invites us to reclaim an explosive inheritance of female power, rapture, and wisdom. Introduced by Anisha Lalvani for a session of free flowing conversation and verse.  This session will include the unveiling of Ranjit Hoskote’s latest collection of essays, To Break and To Branch, a tribute to celebrated poet, playwright and painter,  Gieve Patel.


 

Anisha Lalvani, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Naveen Kishore and Ranjit Hoskote

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Author John Boyne's recent book, All the Broken Places, is a powerful sequel to his bestselling work, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The narrative is a devastating yet poignant account of a woman who must confront the transgressions of her past, and a present in which it is never too late for courage and redemption. In conversation with literary critic and writer Merve Emre, Boyne discusses the tragedies of the past and the inevitable shadows they cast upon the future.

 

 

John Boyne, Kevin Kelly and Merve Emre

02 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JaipurBookMark

Be it to preserve memory or to keep alive the soundscape of different languages, the drumbeat of creativity powers the work of committed publishers from various countries. Tune in to this thoughtful panel of publishers  hailing from lands as diverse as Mauritius and Tibet.
 

Saturday, 03 February

03 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: The Trio One World

Presented by the Embassy of Switzerland | Presented by BluOne Ink

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Pulitzer Prize winning writer Kai Bird speaks to historian and writer Jonathan Freedland on his writing life and  literary journey. Co-authored with the late Martin J. Sherwin Bird famously wrote, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, which acted as inspiration for the Chirstopher Nolan’s film, Oppenheimer. He is also known for his writings on United States-Middle East political relations, and his biographies of political figures such as Jimmy Carter.  

Kai Bird and Jonathan Freedland

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM CHARBAGH

 

“Every Ramayana is different, every Mahabharata is different,” says author, columnist and screenwriter Anand Neelakantan. Recounting Indian epics from their antagonists’ perspectives, he crafts striking interpretations of the tales, laying bare a world of immense possibility and inexhaustible retelling. The author of thirteen books, including the famed Bahubali Trilogy, Neelakantan is a storyteller whose diverse tools involve novels, television shows, audio books and films. In this session, Neelakantan, in conversation with Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Puranas speaks about the unyielding power of myths and the multitude of stories they carry within.

Anand Neelakantan and Satyarth Nayak

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


Amitabh Kant, Mukesh Bansal and Neelkanth Mishra  explore the timely theme of cherishing our planet and our place in the cosmos. As India makes strides in reaching out to explore our planetary systems and beyond, our vision as a species expands and our horizons widen. Even as the consciousness of ‘One World’ dawns, greed and hubris divide the world, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, writers, technocrats and future space professionals explore the exciting potential of a global economy within the burgeoning space ecosystem. A stimulating and visionary ‘Future Now’ session examining our changing world.

 

Mukesh Bansal, Vishnu Som, Amitabh Kant and Neelkanth Mishra

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM DURBAR HALL

A session exploring the artistic genius of our  country’s foremost modern artist, Raja Ravi Varma. Two of Ganesh V. Shivaswamy's six-volume series, Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint, navigates through the life, artistic style and ever lasting impact of Raja Ravi Varma's creative journey. In conversation with Asad Lalljee.

 

Ganesh V. Shivaswamy and Asad Lalljee

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


A powerful session of readings and recitations which platforms extraordinary poetic talent within the oral tradition of indigenous literature.

Badri Narayan and Vasamalli. K

03 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM JaipurBookMark

A visit to a bookstore should open doors to a world of magic. Bookstore wizards speak up for the fine art of curation and display. This is a session that looks at how booksellers expand the circle of readers. 
 

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Charu Nivedita's Conversations with Aurangzeb, originally in Tamil, boasts a sprawling narrative of a hundred and forty-five thousand words. Translated by Nandini Krishnan, the novel cleverly combines history and satire to provide a sharp social commentary.  In conversation with podcaster and writer Eric Chopra, Nivedita and Krishnan talk about the process of collaborating to 'transcreate' a narrative in which the spirit of an erstwhile emperor speaks through an Aghori, spilling his views on themes such as myth, cinema, language, society, and politics.



 

Charu Nivedita, Nandini Krishnan and Eric Chopra

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CHARBAGH

Historian and archaeologist Josephine Quinn's recent work, How the World Made the West, is an expansive history of the origins of the West spanning 4000 years. Questioning the idea of ‘civilisations’ within history, Quinn presents an intriguing idea of how it was contact and connections, rather than distinct and isolated civilisations, that drove historical change.  In conversation with historian and writer Peter Frankopan and classicist and writer Mary Beard, Quinn calls for a reassessment of the idea of the ‘West’ and takes a deep dive into a shared history lost in time.


 

Josephine Quinn, Mary Beard and Peter Frankopan

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The landscape of modern love has changed, adapting and evolving to our times. A diverse panel of writers examines the transforming terrain of romance, desire and commitment. Columnist and writer Seema Goswami’s popular column ‘Spectator’ examines contemporary life and society. Author Shivani Sibal’s debut novel Equations looks at family, social change and class divides. Writer and translator Anish Gawande is the curator of Pink List India — an archive of Indian politicians supporting LGBTQIA+ rights. Together they discuss the refuge of love in a world of ceaseless turbulence and shift with Maria Goretti.

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Books can be burned, banned, and branded dangerous, but the often unexpected and subversive ideas that they contain cannot be suppressed. Mridula Garg is a reputed and prolific Hindi writer and a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award. Her novel Chittacobra was branded obscene and led to her arrest. Kalpana Raina is a patron of translation across diverse languages and has recently co-translated For Now It Is Night  - stories by the late Hari Krishna Kaul. Former diplomat Navdeep Suri has translated the words of his grandfather Nanak Singh, whose poems, Khooni Vaisakhi and Zakhmi Dil had been banned and censored after Jallianwala Bagh and the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha. Merve Emre is the Shapiro-Silverberg Professor of Creative Writing and Criticism at Wesleyan University and the director of the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism. Novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy is the editor of Our Freedoms and has written extensively on free speech. In an important session, they speak of books that  were suppressed and silenced, and how they survive obliteration and censorship.

 

Kalpana Raina, Merve Emre, Mridula Garg, Navdeep Suri and Nilanjana S. Roy

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The regions around the Indian Ocean are connected through ancient traditions of island nations and their cultures. This session brings together diverse voices from countries that share a common heritage of oceanic experience in their linguistic, literary and poetic identities. Anitah Aujayeb is a Mauritian poet, historian and multilingual educator. Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. Shyam Selvadurai, is an acclaimed novelist from Sri Lanka. Indian poet and Diplomat Abhay K’s  book length poem Monsoon , weaves the biodiversity, cuisine and heritage of IndianOcean islands and the Indian subcontinent into one poetic thread.


 

Abhay K., Anitah Aujayeb and Ibrahim Waheed

03 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JaipurBookMark

Educational publishing remains the commercial backbone of the Indian book industry. Some leading publishers discuss the prospects of growth in the current policy environment and the implementation of the NEP. They also explore areas of common interest between educational and trade publishers.
 

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 

A session on the idea of justice and how the Supreme Court of India strives to face the challenges of a changing world.

Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice S. Muralidhar has also practised law in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court for nearly two decades. Justice Madan B. Lokur is presently a Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji, was appointed the Additional Solicitor General of India, and has also been a Judge at the Delhi High Court  and a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Sital Kalantry and Aparna Chandra's co-authored book, Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India, builds on deep research to observe the challenges and trials faced by the Supreme court and its processes. The narrative provides an overview of the Supreme Court and presents data-driven suggestions for improving its effectiveness. In conversation with  former Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and Telangana High Court, Chief Justice Chauhan, an illustrious panel weaves through the past, present and future to provide a holistic account of the highest court of justice.

Madan B. Lokur, S. Muralidhar, Sital Kalantry, Aparna Chandra and Raghavendra Singh Chauhan

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CHARBAGH

Namita Gokhale, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, reminisces about her debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, first published in 1984, which has remained a cult classic over the years. In conversation with journalist Pragya Tiwari, podcaster and writer Eric Chopra and founder of A Suitable Agency, Hemal Sodhi, Gokhale also talks of the trajectory of her literary life, her 23 published books, and her new novella, Never Never Land.

Namita Gokhale and Hemali Sodhi

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Complex and crucial health issues often have simple core solutions. The many levels of  devastation caused by the vagaries of climate change include drought and flood situations where the lack of access to proper sanitation can cause immense damage. A session that flags the need and necessity to commit to core health through sanitation, hygiene and  cleanliness.

This session will include the launch of the Dettol Hygiea Android game. Join the battle of hygiene and let's bust some germs with the Dettol Hygiea Android game by Dettol Banega Swasth India on its 10-year anniversary. The launch will be led by EVP South Asia, Gaurav Jain; Director of External Affairs and Partnerships South Asia, Ravi Bhatnagar; and Deputy CEO of MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, Sanjeev Dham.

 

 

Amitabh Kant, Amita V. Joseph, Pariksith Singh and Gargi Rawat

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Award-winning biographer Nicholas Shakespeare's recent work, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, offers us a fresh portrait of the man behind James Bond and his enduring legacy. The evolution of what Bond represents about ideas of masculinity, the British national psyche, and global politics has shifted over time, as has the interpretation of the life of his author. However, Fleming himself was more mysterious and subtle than anything he wrote. Historian and writer Matthew Parker's book Goldeneye: Where Bond was Born, provides an intimate peek into Fleming's stay at Goldeneye in Jamaica, the space in which the Bondverse materialised. Together, they pay homage to the man behind 007.


 

Matthew Parker and Nicholas Shakespeare

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Both Diana Evans, half-Nigerian and half-English, and Ivy Ngeow, born and raised in Malaysia, live in London and tell stories about the urban middle-class through the lens of mixed-race ethnicities. Set in South London, against the backdrop of Barack Obama’s historic win in the 2008 US presidential elections, Evans’s third novel, Ordinary People, is the story of two couples who find themselves at a moment of reckoning as they deal with midlife relationship crisis, the demands of parenthood and the loss of loved ones. Ivy Ngeow’s recent novel, The American Boyfriend, is a thrilling tale of how Phoebe, a single mother with a dead-end job in Southwark, lands herself in trouble when she goes to Florida with her two-year-old toddler to meet her long-distance boyfriend. Together, they will be in conversation with academic Veio Pou, as they talk about their books and discuss how their writerly experiences are shaped or not by their hybrid cultural identities.

Diana Evans, Ivy Ngeow and Veio Pou

03 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JaipurBookMark

The vibrant hum of energy is heard across the landscape of Indian language publishing. What books are finding greater traction? Get a peek into the diverse worlds of Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi publishers.
 

03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Writer Devdutt Pattanaik's recent book, Bahubali: 63 Insights into Jainism, explores the stories, symbols, rituals and ideas associated with one of India's most ancient faiths. Steeped in philosophy and with accompanying illustrations, the book follows the journeys of  the Tirthankars who were known to be the perfect beings, showing the path of truth and liberation to humanity while examining the lesser-known tenets of the faith. Introduced by  Satyarth Nayak, author of the national bestseller, Mahagatha - 100 Tales from the Purana, the master storyteller weaves together knowledge, ritual, social imagery and reality.

Devdutt Pattanaik and Satyarth Nayak

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM CHARBAGH

India is a federation of states and union territories, and the relationship between the centre and the states is crucial. This relationship is interpreted differently and often contentiously through diverse lenses and perspectives. An illustrious panel, including  former Chief Election Commissioner of India Navin Chawla; and former Governor of Rajasthan Margaret Alva, Indian Lawyer Pinky Anand speak to author and academic Varghese K George about the fine balance between the centre and the state and the constant juxtaposition between the two.

Navin Chawla, Margaret Alva, Pinky Anand and Varghese K. George

03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
03 Feb | 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM DURBAR HALL
03 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM CHARBAGH

Novelist and playwright Damon Galgut’s The Promise is the sharp and meditative winner of the 2021 Booker Prize. It conveys the play of power in relationships - with self, society, state - against the backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa. A white family, nettled by changing society, wrangles over a farm and a delayed promise. As South Africa churns with a violent past, turbulent politics, and the rumbles of change, Galgut weaves together the stories and struggles of relationships from both. Galgut’s other works include A Sinless Season, The Good Doctor, and Arctic Summer. In conversation with writer Anish Gawande.

 


 

Anish Gawande and Damon Galgut

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A riveting session that looks at aspects of subcontinental engagement in the Great War through the eyes of three writers.

Mukund Padmanabhan’s The Great Flap of 1942 describes the panic caused by the Japanese threat to India during the Second World War. His Majesty’s Headhunter by Mmhonlumo Kikon provides an inside perspective on the epic siege of Kohima. In conversation with  Vishnu Som they speak of different facets of military history, and discuss impacts and outcomes.

 


 

Mmhonlumo Kikon, Mukund Padmanabhan and Vishnu Som

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM DURBAR HALL

The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 was a glorious moment in the history of the Jewish people; however, for the Palestinian inhabitants of the land, the development was a catastrophe. After several regional wars and decades of conflict, the two State solution espoused by the international community remains a distant dream. Since Israel's occupation in 1967 of  Gaza and the West Bank, expanding Jewish settlements in the latter have further reduced the land available for a Palestinian State and exacerbated tensions. Today, as the world watches the wave of violence and destruction following the horrific Hamas attack of October 7, an informed panel discusses the complicated history of the conflict, the present developments and their likely impact on the region. 

Antony Loewenstein, Charles Glass, Kai Bird, Navtej Sarna and Suhasini Haidar

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Historian Matthew Parker’s latest book, One Fine Day: British Empire on the Brink, is a critical historical exploration of the British Empire at both the peak of its global reach—and the moment it began to topple. On  29 September 1923, the British empire reached its peak, geographically speaking. As the Palestine mandate, administered by Britain, came into force. Through the prism of this single day from Jamaica to London to a tiny Pacific island, Parker captures the pinnacle of British imperialism in vivid detail. In conversation with writer and historian David Veevers,  Parker examines a moment of palpable change leading up to the sun setting on the British Empire.

 


 

David Veevers and Matthew Parker

03 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Leading publishers discuss the current taxation regime. What are the changes they would like to see? How are they grappling with the problem of pirated books? Are the legal remedies satisfactory? This session takes a close look at the hard questions. 
 

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

How do you take a work of prose and turn it into a screenplay? Celebrated writers Bonnie Garmus, Kai Bird, Ben Mcintyre and Nicholas Shakespeare discuss the process behind transforming the written word for the screen and the nuances of the craft, with film, television and literary agent Charles Collier.

 

 

Bonnie Garmus, Kai Bird, Ben Macintyre, Nicholas Shakespeare and Charles Collier

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM CHARBAGH
03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 

An engaged conversation observes the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic, and diplomatic implications and complexities.

 

Sumant Sinha, Malcolm Turnbull, Arunabha Ghosh and Mridula Ramesh

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM DURBAR HALL

The Chola empire reigned over the southern reaches of the peninsula, covering the Krishna-Godavari delta in northern Andhra Pradesh and extending their influence towards South East Asia at the height of its power. They unified peninsular India south of the Tungabhadra River and maintained this territorial unity for three centuries, from 907 to 1215. An expert panel comes together to evaluate the key figures who played a crucial role in establishing Chola supremacy and the cultural, political, economic, and social paradigms that facilitated this expansion.


 

Anirudh Kanisetti, Kamini Dandapani and William Dalrymple

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

An engaged conversation observing the current global climate crisis and its impact on India's primary energy needs and dependence on fossil fuels. Exploring the opportunities and trends driving the energy transition in the country, they discuss the shift to sustainable sources of energy while evaluating its larger political, economic and diplomatic implications and complexities.

Vivek Shanbhag, Raj Kamal Jha and Anil Aneja

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JaipurBookMark

The book as an object of enduring beauty takes shape under the discerning eye of outstanding designers. An inspiring session where extraordinary talents talk about their creative process and the outcome that we get to hold and cherish.
 

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Can like-minded nations stay together to protect a rule-based global order?  Can countries of the QUAD move beyond geopolitical compulsions and political hubris to rise towards a future of common goals and interest? Journalist Suhasini Haider discusses the QUAD and beyond with American Ambassador to India, H.E. Eric Garcetti; Former Prime Minister to Australia, Malcolm Turnbull; High Commissioner of Australia to India Philip Green; and the former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, Shyam Saran.

 

 

Eric Garcetti, Malcolm Turnbull, Shyam Saran, Suhasini Haidar and Philip Green

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM CHARBAGH

03 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM DURBAR HALL

The territorial imperative drives most species on the planet. Aggression is wired into the human psyche; the hotspots of war and violence in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Palestine stand testament to irrationality and violence. An engaged panel discusses the whys and wherefores of these conflicts and how reason, rationality and peace could prevail.

 

 

Anjan Sundaram, Antony Loewenstein, Olesya Khromeychuk and Shivshankar Menon

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

With an enhanced focus on translation among publishers and a growing tribe of translators from languages, big and small, the larger literary canon is being enriched in multiple ways. Currently, the translations for the international market emerging from India are mostly in English but there is growing interest from other languages. The session will explore questions such as: What are publishers in the West looking for from the translated literature of non-English languages? What are translators' learnings in this context?


 

Arunava Sinha, Daisy Rockwell and Daniel Hahn

03 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Books signpost the zeitgeist of nations and seek out universalities across the world. Publishers from different countries share what inspires them to grow their lists and what the future holds for reading communities.
 

03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM DURBAR HALL
03 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Susheela Raman and Sam Mills, in the company of William Dalrymple, bring their latest project to the Jaipur Literature Festival stage, performing the visionary poetry of William Blake. Blake has been an inspiration for countless poets, artists and philosophers.

Alongside their brilliant, original settings of Blake in song, William Dalrymple recites his words, becoming ‘The Voice of the Devil’ from Blake’s classic ‘Marriage of Heaven and Hell’. Two centuries after his death his sublime and provocative work reinvents itself for each new era.

Susheela Raman, Sam Mills and William Dalrymple

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT


Artificial intelligence and data science have transformed our understanding and application of knowledge in various fields. The intersection of AI with climate and environmental challenges provides transformative opportunities to accelerate and optimise affordable clean energy and reduce the planet's carbon footprint.  A session that takes a comprehensive look at the positives and negatives of using AI to mitigate climate change and other scientific questions while addressing the challenges ahead.

 

David Sandalow, Marcus Du Sautoy, Anirudh Suri and William O’connor

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM DURBAR HALL

Language and communication derives from the interplay of words and images, sounds and symbols. In a session that celebrates the power of graphics, a panel comes together to discuss the ways in which publishers and authors are reimagining context, references and illustration for today's technological generation and its ever-reducing attention span. 

  



 

Kelly Dorji, Nancy Silberkleit, Sarnath Banerjee and Somnath Batabyal

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A multi vocal poetry reading where different languages, rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility.


 

Anisha Lalvani, Bhuchung D. Sonam, Ibrahim Waheed, Maria Goretti, Mukul Kumar and Renu Roy

03 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JaipurBookMark

For an industry poised to grow, data on the book market in India remains quite scarce. The Nielsen Report provides some valuable insights on the size of the market, trends and the factors that will drive growth. Industry experts unpack key findings and advocate for the collection of more data across the spectrum of publishing. 
 

Sunday, 04 February

04 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: Dr. Kamala Shankar

Presented by Utsad Imamuddin Khan Dagar, Indian Music Art & Culture Society. | Presented by BluOne Ink

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Winner of the 2023 International Booker Prize, Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov’s compelling dystopian fiction Time Shelter introduces us to an eerie world where people seek refuge in artificially recreated pasts. Translated into English by Angela Rodel, Gospodinov’s enigmatic tale unravels a curious aspect of the human psyche which uses nostalgia to deal with sadness and despair. In conversation with Nandini Nair, he talks about his book and the personal and political experiences which shaped this unique read.

 


 

Georgi Gospodinov

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM CHARBAGH

The wise and witty Sudha Murthy's writing covers a variety of themes and genres. Her recent book, Common Yet Uncommon, is a heartwarming picture of everyday life and the quirks and foibles of ordinary people. In conversation with editorial and publishing consultant Meru Gokhale, she speaks of her stellar and extraordinarily successful life and what keeps her rooted with her feet firmly on the ground. 

Meru Gokhale and Sudha Murty

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Our planet needs therapy. Anger spills over into political judgement and international cooperation. A high-powered panel of diplomats and thinkers consider strategies of mindfulness and discuss the checks and balances that are needed to encourage peace in a fraught world.

Ajay Bisaria, May-elin Stener, Diana Mickeviciene and Navtej Sarna

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Many people think climate change primarily implies warmer temperatures, but temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, every little change has the capacity to influence other aspects. Weaving through history and current politics, an illustrious panel evaluates the lessons from our past to better understand the impact of the climate crisis in our present and future.

 

 

 



 

Gargi Rawat, Jeff Goodell, Peter Frankopan, Siddarth Shrikanth and Gloria Berbena

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

The Festival Reading Room finds inspiration in the range of voices and narratives across platforms. A session that brings together author and columnist Arefa Tehsin and academic and author Saras Manickam as they speak of their inspiration and the quest of the written word.

 

 

Arefa Tehsin, Saras Manickam and Bulbul Sharma

04 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM JaipurBookMark

Seagull Books celebrated its 40th birthday in 2023. The iconic publishing house has created fine books across borders and boundaries. Naveen Kishore walks us through the extraordinary journey of Seagull, one full of leaps of faith, friendships and rewarding literary connections.
 

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Vedic monk Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is the author of the bestselling memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. A graduate of Stanford University with a PhD in psychology, Sadhviji has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganga at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, for more than twenty-seven years where she gives spiritual teachings, writes, serves as a unique voice of female leadership and oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, for which she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by President Biden. In an inspirational session with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, she discusses her spiritual practices and wisdom teaching.



 

Puneeta Roy and Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CHARBAGH

Celebrated television presenter and writer Richard Osman’s best-selling crime series, The Thursday Murder Club, a series which has sold well over 3 million copies, follows four unlikely friends as they meet up once a week in their peaceful retirement village to investigate unsolved murders. The series includes The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed and The Last Devil to Die. In conversation with Somnath Batabyal, Osman takes a deep dive into this unorthodox septuagenarian world of murder, mystery and mayhem.

 

Richard Osman and Somnath Batabyal

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Journalist, literary critic and novelist Nilanjana S Roy's recent novel Black River, writes of a society that unravels in the midst of class divides, religious strife and gendered violence. Exploring themes of friendship, love and grief, Black River is a tender and reflective search for justice interwoven with the politics of religion and the loss of home and country. In conversation with journalist and entrepreneur Pragya Tiwari, Roy discusses the murky storyline, fast-paced narrative, and the grim unfolding of a murder in a village rife with devastation. 


 

Nilanjana S. Roy and Pragya Tiwari

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Leonardo da Vinci's reputation as an inventor and scientist, and the complexity of his creativity and personality, have sometimes almost overshadowed the importance of his aims and techniques as a painter. Museum curator and art historian Luke Syson is the Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge. His highly acclaimed  Leonardo da Vinci – Painter at the Court of Milan exhibit  attempted to  understand the complex nature of one of the most sought after names of the Renaissance period. In conversation with celebrated writer Tim Parks, Syson takes a deep dive into the art and times of Da Vinci.


 

Luke Syson and Tim Parks

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Two outstanding women who lead by example speak about empowering the next generation with physical and mental strength. Writer and academician, Pardis Mahdavi’s new book, Book of Queens, is the untold story of generations of Middle Eastern horsewomen and their efforts to defend their homelands from the Taliban and other terrorist outfits. Emmy winning journalist, activist and founder of the anti-sex trafficking NGO, ‘Apne Aap’, Ruchira Gupta’s recent book, I Kick and I Fly, revolves around the escape of a girl from Bihar from being sold into the sex-trade because of the timely intervention of the owner of the local hostel for ‘at-risk girls’, someone who also helps her reassess the value of her body through Kung Fu. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about their work and women who defy conventional narratives of femininity.

Rachna Singh and Ruchira Gupta

04 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JaipurBookMark

An outside-in view of publishing from the specialists in the OTT space. What can publishers do to leverage content, old and new, with the OTT industry? How do they build greater synergy? This is a session that opens windows to fresh ideas and exchange.
 

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Writer and literary chronicler Perumal Murugan's recent novel, Fire Bird, translated from Tamil into English by Janani Kannan, is the winner of the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature. The transcendental work draws from Murugan's own life experiences of displacement and movement, and explores the fragility of our fundamental attraction to permanence and our futile efforts to attain it. In conversation with publishers Kannan Sundaram and Manasi Subramaniam, he takes a poignant look into the human desire for roots and belonging in an ever changing world.

 

Kannan Sundaram, Manasi Subramaniam and Perumal Murugan

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CHARBAGH

Celebrated writer Katherine Rundell’s work, The Golden Mole: And Other Living Treasure, is a lavishly illustrated tribute to endangered animals across the world. A session which gives us a chance to be awestruck and lovestruck with the beauty of our world in all its fragility and strangeness. In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

Katherine Rundell and Yuvan Aves

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

A joyous session, where three food writers discuss their adventures with Indian cuisine. Food writer, restaurant consultant, and founder of ‘Karen’s Gourmet Kitchen’, Karen Anand’s Masala Memsahib introduces us to the local cuisines, eating practices, and fascinating culinary histories of five Indian states, as she recounts her fabulous adventures with food and intersperses them with delicious recipes. Swedish detective novelist, travel writer, and founder-director of Bangalore’s Semi-Deluxe Writing Programme, Zac O’Yeah’s recently published Digesting India is a wildly entertaining and fast-paced story of a traveller’s discovery of unique dishes and food habits, as he sets to explore the culture and diversity of India through culinary experiences. Video jockey, food vlogger, and author Maria Goretti’s From My Kitchen to Yours: Food, Love and Other Ingredients celebrates how she lives her life and presents a six-course meal layout for each month with delectable easy-to-make recipes from across India. In conversation with Amrita Tripathi, they talk about their books, and engage in a fun-filled session on all that tickles our taste-buds. 

Amrita Tripathi, Karen Anand, Maria Goretti and Zac O'yeah

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM DURBAR HALL

 

COP28 closed with an agreement signalling the 'beginning of the end' of the fossil fuel era. An informed panel discusses the possible paths to a timely and equitable transition. This is a much-needed session on global solidarity and determination to move beyond policy into tangible outcomes.

Hervé Delphin, Philip Green, May-elin Stener, Jeff Goodell, Sumant Sinha, Shyam Saran and Alex Ellis

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

How do you grasp another life and pin it to a page? What does it take to immerse yourself completely into someone else’s story, to comb through history and bring it alive? Biographers of luminaries and figures as illustrious and complex as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad  and Indira Gandhi come together in a panel to discuss what it means to bring these personae to life, compellingly and authentically, and the challenges they face in doing so.



 

Abhishek K. Choudhary, S. Irfan Habib, Pratinav Anil and Narayani Basu

04 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JaipurBookMark

India speaks in a thousand tongues. India reads in several scripts. Discerning literary voices from across the country reflect upon experiments in form and content. What is keeping readers, old and new, glued to the page or the screen?
 

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Intertwining corporate avarice and the intergenerational empire behind the opioid crisis in America, a gripping and foreboding session that unravels the infestation seeped into the pharmaceutical industry. Writer and journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s explosive book and winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for 2021, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, traces the family's ambitions and ruthless methods and their role in the OxyContin epidemic. A disturbing narrative on American morality and ambition, the saga investigates the owners of Purdue Pharma and their complete disregard for human health. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari.

 

Patrick Radden Keefe and Pragya Tiwari

04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHARBAGH
04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM DURBAR HALL
04 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

 

The inimitable Shashi Tharoor offers us time-tested aphorisms of our age. His latest book The Less you Preach, the More you Learn: Aphorisms for our Age, co-authored with Joseph Zacharias, gives short and pithy life lessons on coping, surviving and succeeding. The bestselling author persuasively shares ways in which we can conquer frustration, insecurity and improve relationships with our friends and family.

Nidhi Razdan and Shashi Tharoor

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM CHARBAGH

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. The synthesis of the sciences allows us to interpret our world from the sub-atomic to the edge of the universe. Yet we continue to battle each other as human greed and hubris destroy the fragile balance of our planet. A crucial session that addresses geopolitics, the burdens of history, planetary consciousness and the urgent need for cooperation between governments, continents, and cultures.


 

Eric Garcetti, Philipp Ackermann, Shombi Sharp, Shyam Saran, Suhasini Haidar, Ajay Bisaria and May-elin Stener

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Uncontrolled and erratic, the online world can be a fearful and uncertain ecosphere for young users to navigate safely. Author and columnist Neha J. Hiranandani has written articles on parenting for The Indian Express and Vogue India. Her new book, ‘iParent’, leads parents of the digital generation through the world of cyber-safety for their kids. Shivani Sibal is a parent and the author of the novel Equations, which explores family, social change and class divides. Parent, writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, Marcus du Sautoy, is the author of several books including, his recent book Around the World in 80 Games explores how mathematics and games have always been deeply intertwined. In conversation with Priyanka Khanna they discuss the stark differences in digital environments across generations, guidelines for parents coping with these, and how a world of devices may be handled with caution.


 

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Award-winning journalist and seasoned political commentator Neerja Chowdhury's recent book How Prime Ministers Decide

explores the tenures of six prominent Prime Ministers of independent India and dissects the pivotal decisions that shaped the course of Indian history. Weaving through first hand interviews, anecdotes and eye-opening accounts, the narrative sheds light upon the world of power and human fallibility. In conversation with Mandira Nayar, Chowdhury shares her deep insights into the inner workings and often opaque processes behind these events, and reflects upon what they indicate in the larger context.

 


 

Neerja Chowdhury and Mandira Nayar

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Three accomplished writers who chronicle and creatively reinterpret India’s rich repertoire of myths. Author and academic Koral Dasgupta has written the evocative Sati series, which explores the Pancha Kanyas from the Hindu epics with a feminine consciousness. The latest in the series, Mandodari, recounts the struggle of Ravan’s wife as she confronts myriad challenges, and tries to balance love and ethical duties. Author, screenwriter, and former anchor Satyarth Nayak’s best-selling book Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas compiles some of the greatest mythological tales, including many lesser known stories. Beginning from the Satya Yuga and ending with the arrival of the Kali Yuga, Nayak’s illustrated edition seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the psyche of gods, demons, and humans. Editor and writer Saksham Garg’s novel, Samsara: Enter the Valley of the God, takes us on a fantastical journey through the realm of the gods hidden in the heart of the Himalaya. Together they discuss the process of returning to ancient texts and the hoary past, and present them to contemporary readers. 

 

Koral Dasgupta, Saksham Garg and Satyarth Nayak

04 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Tamil publisher Kalachuvadu has consistently published Perumal Murugan's writing over the last twenty years. The latest JCB award for Fire Bird is but one testament to the creative synergy between them. What goes into the making of such a long standing literary friendship?
 

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Historian and writer Peter Frankopan’s latest book The Earth Transformed: An Untold History is a revolutionary new history that reveals how climate change has dramatically shaped the  development—and demise—of civilisations across time. Spanning centuries and continents, Frankopan explains how nature has always played a fundamental role in the writing of history and evaluates the fall of civilisations at the behest of Mother Nature.  In conversation with Yuvan Aves.


 

Peter Frankopan and Yuvan Aves

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM CHARBAGH

Our planet is changing in extreme ways. With ocean levels rising and temperatures soaring, governments and industries across the world have begun taking systemic steps to mitigate the challenges brought on by climate change. A panel championing the leadership, solutions and ambitious action that are driving the transition to a more sustainable, equitable, climate-resilient global economy.

Mridula Ramesh, Siddarth Shrikanth, Sumant Sinha, Amitabh Kant, Gabriel Filippelli and William O’connor

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Virginia Woolf is recognised as a major twentieth-century author, a great novelist and essayist and a key figure in literary history as a feminist and a modernist. Author and literary critic, Merve Emre’s The Annotated Mrs. Dalloway, presents her illuminating commentary on Virginia Woolf’s  groundbreaking novel, Mrs Dalloway, in a lushly illustrated hardcover edition. The narrative is considered to be a pivotal work of literary modernism and one of the most significant and influential novels of the twentieth century. In conversation with Anish Gawande, Emre explores Woolf’s aesthetic and political ambitions while diving into the nuances of her characters.

Anish Gawande and Merve Emre

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM DURBAR HALL

 

Where does fiction come from? What is the process of its creation? How do you make up characters and situations that are believable? And why should the reader care? Five of the world’s acclaimed novelists, Damon Galgut, Hernan Diaz, Tim Parks and Katie Kitamura, share their insights on the art of creating a novel in conversation with Nandini Nair.

Damon Galgut, Hernan Diaz, Tim Parks, Katie Kitamura and Nandini Nair

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta and Commodore Gurnam Singh and speak to Commodore Srikant Kesnur on the critical role played by the Navy during the 1971 Indo - Pak War.

Gurnam Singh, Santosh Kumar Gupta and Srikant Kesnur

04 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JaipurBookMark

The flourishing Indie publishing scene in the UK and India never ceases to surprise and delight, as it continues to throw up creative talents fearlessly treading new paths.  There is much fertile ground for ongoing exchange between Indie publishers from the two countries.

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Uncommon Love, a heartwarming biography written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, recounts the early years of Sudha and Narayan Murthy’s courtship, their marriage and parenthood, and the founding years of Infosys. The narrative gives us personal insights  into the  struggles  and ideals of the Murthys before they became the icons of business success and philanthropy.  Together with Priyanka Khanna, they explore the interwoven fabric of business and family and the values that have held them both together.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Priyanka Khanna and Sudha Murty

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM CHARBAGH

Sprawled across a quarter of the world’s land mass that claimed nearly seven hundred million people, Britain’s empire was the largest in human history. An illustrious panel evaluates the establishment of this superpower and  explores the ways in which communities across the world resisted and defied both the Empire and the East India Company.


 

David Veevers, Shashi Tharoor and Jerry Brotton

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Navdeep Suri and Navtej Sarna, both writers, translators, and former diplomats, speak about the essence of Punjabiyat in this session, invoking its spirit of emotional generosity and compassion through the works of their forebears. Suri’s recently published translation of his grandfather Nanak Singh’s Khoon de Sohile (Hymns in Blood) is a grim reminder of the violence and trauma that religious conflict can bring in its wake.  The sequal to this will be the recently launched, Agg di Khed(A Game of Fire). His earlier translations include Singh’s long poem, Khooni Vaisakhi, on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sarna’s Savage Harvest is the translation of his father Mohinder Singh Sarna's collection of short stories on the Partition of India. His own novel, Crimson Spring, is also a poignant recounting of the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh bloodshed. Together, in conversation with academic Sarabjot Singh, they return to the past to examine the enormous legacy of their respective forefathers and the formative role they played in Punjabi literature.



 

Navdeep Suri, Navtej Sarna and Sarbjot Singh Behl

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM DURBAR HALL
04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

Libraries ignite the first spark for the love of books and reading. The JCB Foundation's deep commitment to literacy and to literary outreach is reflected in the Community Library Project which embodies the idea of ‘Reading Is Thinking’. A committed panel talks about the vision of an accessible library network for all.


 

Asad Lalljee, Mridula Koshy, Rituparna Neog and Usha Mujoo Munshi

04 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JaipurBookMark

Picture books draw first readers into unravelling the mysteries of image and text. How do publishers make the first happy step on the reading ladder turn into a giant leap of becoming a bookworm?

04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM CHARBAGH
04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM DURBAR HALL
04 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK
04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Actor Irrfan Khan's transformative oeuvre took Indian cinema by storm. From his National School of Drama days to his nearly decade-long stint in television and his work in path-breaking movies such as The Namesake, Life of Pi, Maqbool and Hindi Medium, Irrfan's special quality of stardom touched all his viewers. Film critic and writer Shubhra Gupta's, Irrfan: A Life in Movies, is a collection of conversations with his contemporaries and their memories of their time with the legend.  In conversation with his beloved wife and theatre actor Sutapa Sikdar and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, they dive into the art, craft and life of Irrfan with Sathya Saran.


 

Sathya Saran, Shubhra Gupta, Sutapa Sikdar and Vishal Bhardwaj

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM CHARBAGH

In conversation with former civil servant, journalist, and long-time Indian cricket administrator and umpire, Amrit Mathur, cabinet minister at the Industry & Commerce, Youth Affairs & Sports Department and Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore; owner of Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals, Manaj Badale; and Sports Expert and United Nations Ally for Women in Sport, Harini Rana discuss the future of sports in India and its role in education and nation building.

Rajyavardhan Rathore, Harini Rana, Manoj Badale and Amrit Mathur

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

From c. 324 BCE to c. 185 BCE, the Mauryas controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent with efficiency and administrative finesse. Following key moments through Mauryan history, an expert panel discusses the enigmatic ruler Chanragupta Maurya, his successors and how colonial and post colonial writing has dramatically transformed our understanding of one of the first pan-Indian dynasties.


 

Anirudh Kanisetti, Devika Rangachari, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran and Sushma Jansari

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM DURBAR HALL

An important session upon the transformative power of gender-inclusive language in challenging and reshaping societal norms towards more equitable and inclusive perspectives. The panel will also discuss the broader implications of this approach, highlighting its potential to inspire change in social attitudes and contribute to a more accepting and diverse society. It will also focus attention on the critical role of representation in breaking stereotypes and fostering a culture of empathy and understanding.

Aasha Kapur Mehta, Lakshmi Puri, Susan Ferguson and Nupur Garg

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session that brings together writers who transit easily between languages and believe in linguistic and cultural dialogue as a desirable cosmopolitanism. B. Jeyamohan writes in both Tamil and Malayalam, and Shumona Sinha is a Bengali who writes in French.  Polyglot Ibrahim Waheed is a Maldivian writer, poet, academic and television show host. In conversation with writer and translator Suchitra Ramachandran, they speak of the many languages, cultures and literary spaces they inhabit and discuss how they negotiate them

B.jeyamohan, Shumona Sinha, Suchitra Ramachandran and Ibrahim Waheed

04 Feb | 05:30 PM - 06:20 PM JaipurBookMark

This session invites publishers from India and abroad to share information about their eclectic lists. The perfect platform to start professional matchmaking and do better business across borders.

Monday, 05 February

05 Feb | 09:00 AM - 09:40 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Morning Music: Saptak Chatterjee

Presented by BluOne Ink

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Delhi has always played an integral role in the geographical, social, and political landscape of the Indian subcontinent. Swapna Liddle’s recent book, Broken Script, delves into the intricate struggle between the last two Mughal emperors and the East India Company— one wielding considerable symbolic authority, the other a fast-growing military and political power. Historian and writer Rana Safvi’s trilogy on Delhi— Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi; The Forgotten Cities of Delhi; and Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi — takes a nuanced look into the city's magnificence through its forts and buildings, living monuments to the grandeur and strife of the past. In conversation with historian, Festival Co-Director, and author of The Last Mughal, William Dalrymple, they explore the gallis of the old Mughal capital.

Swapna Liddle, Rana Safvi and William Dalrymple

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM CHARBAGH

Writer, mathematician and Professor of Public Understanding of Science, Marcus du Sautoy’s recent book Around the World in Eighty Games traverses the globe while exploring the genesis of games and what makes them fascinating. Drawing on the mathematics of chance, game theory, gamification, gaming strategies and computer games, Sautoy’s captivating book reveals the secrets behind the invention of engrossing games in cultures around the world.  In this conversation, he discusses the mathematical insides of board games, card games and dice games in a riveting session that unlocks their eternal and universal appeal.

 


 

Marcus Du Sautoy and Sanjoy K. Roy

05 Feb | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Author, academic and singer Reba Som's recent memoir, Hop, Skip and Jump, is a travelogue of her experiences as a Foreign Service Officer's wife, spanning the many decades she spent through multiple postings and environments. Civil Service Officer Rajan Kashyap's memoir, Beyond the Trappings of Office, follows his journey through his student years into the civil services, giving us a peek into the inner workings of a department that remains the backbone of our country. In conversation with media professional and energy healer Puneeta Roy, they take us through their journey as an integral part of the Indian socio-cultural fabric

Rajan Kashyap, Reba Som and Puneeta Roy

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN
05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM CHARBAGH

The relationship between the human species and their pets constitutes a deep and meaningful bond. A panel of animal lovers come together to celebrate the inseparable healing bond between humans and their animal best friends and the comical, nostalgic and heartwarming ways in which they impact our lives and bring families together even long after they are gone. 


 

Sanjay Jha, Bhuchung D. Sonam, Gunbir Singh and Hemali Sodhi

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

As we seek respite from the relentless pace of modern lives, two poets present poetry of and for our times depicting different aspects of our restless world.

 


 

Anisha Lalvani, Harish Bhat and Malashri Lal

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM DURBAR HALL

Diplomat and award-winning Australian writer Felicity Volk’s Desire Lines is a heart-rending and passionate story of love which compels us to confront the lies we tell ourselves to survive. Set against landmarks of twentieth century Australian history, her novel unravels the uneasy relationship society has with its own truth-telling in politics, history, and war. In conversation with diplomat Barry O’Farrell, Volk discusses the nuances of her narrative and her writing life.

 


 

Felicity Volk

05 Feb | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

 

Veteran writer, Mridula Garg, and literary activist and translator, Kalpana Raina, speak of the trajectory and narrative arc of their literary journeys.. Mridula Garg with her penchant for breaking gender stereotypes has a recent Hindi novel, Ve Nayaab Aurtein, which experiments with narrative structure, as it weaves stories out of memories and distorts social taboos with delightful ease. Known for her entrepreneurial support to translators, Kalpana Raina’s co-translation of Hari Krishna Kaul’s stories, For Now, It is Night, brings out different shades of hurt and loneliness in  the lives of Kashmiri Pandits. A thoughtful and engaging session where Garg and Raina read from their works and speak of their inspirations, in conversation with publisher Aditi Maheshwari.

Aditi Maheshwari Goyal, Kalpana Raina and Mridula Garg

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Sharmistha Mukherjee’s remarkable biography Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers offers a fascinating glimpse into the illustrious life of Pranab Mukherjee, former politician and the thirteenth President of India. Based on his diary entries, personal stories narrated to Sharmistha, and her own research, this sweeping narrative combines the personal and the political as it invites us into the lives of the Mukherjees and uncovers hitherto unknown facets of Pranab’s political career, his unfulfilled ambitions, and his private conversations with prominent politicians. In conversation with Vir Sanghvi, Sharmistha talks about her workaholic and devoutly religious Baba who narrated events in the spirit of adda at the dinner-table and who never tried to impose his faith or beliefs on her.

 



 

Sharmistha Mukherjee and Vir Sanghvi

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM CHARBAGH

As the boundaries of gender and identity blend and dissolve, writers and activists speak of who they are, the journeys of becoming, and the power to initiate change. 


 

Eric Chopra, Ishani Kar-purkayastha, Shyam Selvadurai and Anish Gawande

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

 2024, the ‘International Year of Camelids,’ recognises camelids and their essential role in protecting hostile ecosystems and providing livelihood for millions of families around the world. Scientist Ilse Köhler-Rollefson is the author of Camel Karma, a narrative that traces her quest to save Rajasthan’s camels while sharing insights into connections with the Raika people and their enduring relationship with species. Her recent work, Hoofprints on the Land, is a fascinating and lyrical description of the working partnerships between people and animals. Yuvan Aves writes, teaches, learns, and lives where the landscape merges with mindscape. He is a multi-award winning writer, nature-educator and environmental defender, and the managing trustee of Palluyir Trust for Nature Education and Research. Together, Rollefson and Aves discuss the camel cultures of the world, the welfare and preservation of these animals, and the crucial role they play in questions of food security, climate change and biodiversity.

 

Ilse Ulrike Köhler-rollefson and Yuvan Aves

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Silk, prized for its lightness, luminosity and beauty, is also one of the strongest biological materials ever known. Writer and broadcaster Aarathi Prasad’s Silk is a cultural and biological history from the origins and ancient routes of silk to the story of the biologists who learned the secrets of silk-producing animals, from the moths of China, Indonesia and India to the spiders of South America and Madagascar and the molluscs of the Mediterranean. In conversation with the festival's co-director, historian and author William Dalrymple.

Aarathi Prasad and William Dalrymple

05 Feb | 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


A bold and path breaking novel, Belinge, by Sahitya Akademi Awardee Bharat Ola, is a transformative take on transgender identities. Written in Rajasthani, the tragic narrative breaks across stereotypes to examine the story of a child born in a small village in Rajasthan and the puzzles and dilemmas of non conformity and the journey to selfhood.

Bharat Ola, Era Tak and Nand Bharadwaj

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Award-winning journalist Sohini Chattopadhyay's recent book,  The Day I Became a Runner, presents the compelling stories of eight female athletes and spans the entire history of independent India. It is an inspiring alternative account of the Indian Republic chronicled through the lens of its women athletes and the wide range of social and geographical backgrounds. In conversation with novelist Amrita Tripathi, they discuss the poignant ways in which these women challenged patriarchal norms and created a sisterhood of runners.

Amrita Tripathi and Sohini Chattopadhyay

05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHARBAGH
05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT
05 Feb | 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM DURBAR HALL
05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Acclaimed author and historian Vincent Brown's groundbreaking geopolitical thriller Tacky′s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War takes on the Atlantic slave trade with a subversive and powerful reconstruction of the history of insurgency, rebellion, victory, and defeat. With a keen emphasis on the seminal uprising that upended the dominant imperial rule of the British Atlantic world, eventually becoming known as the Tacky’s Revolt and ultimately leading the way for abolition, the book explores the contentious climate of oppression and slavery, offering an alternative perspective of the events that occurred, with an unflinching look at the brutal and inhumane methods of oppression and the resilience of those that resisted. In conversation with historian Matthew Parker, author of The Sugar Barons, Brown unpacks the complex narratives binding the conflicting histories of Europe, Africa and America.

Matthew Parker and Vincent Brown

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM CHARBAGH


Philosopher and writer Amia Srinivasan in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari evaluates the ideas of ‘freedom of speech’ while weaving through the dichotomies of academic, political and social freedom. As we take a look at a world increasingly divided between the left and the right, Srinivasan examines how one's political and sociological standing may have influence or implications across academics, industries and policy.

 

Amia Srinivasan and Pragya Tiwari

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Tracing the fear, unease, and murky paths that lie within the faultlines of society, noir and detective fiction unearth its discomforting realities. Literary critic and writer Nilanjana S Roy’s recent novel, Black River, is a riveting murder mystery weaving through class divide, violence against women and religious strife in the heart of Delhi. Simon Rowe is the author of Mami Suzuki: Private Eye and Pearl City: Stories from Japan and Elsewhere, among others.. He has lived in western Japan for more than 25 years, contributing stories about Japanese life and culture. Together in conversation with author Tarun K Saint they discuss the method and art of crime writing, and how it unmasks society as it disentangles its truths and hidden anxieties.



 

Nilanjana S. Roy, Simon Rowe and Tarun K. Saint

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM DURBAR HALL

At a time when literary pursuits span different forms and formats of narrative possibility, and genres merge and intersect, two writers, with unique tones of voice and storytelling techniques, speak of their experiments with language and literary conventions. Belgian writer, screenwriter, librettist and journalist Gaea Schoeters’s latest novel Trofee, is the story of Hunter White, a wealthy American share trader, who goes to Africa to shoot a rhinoceros. Her debut work, a travel book titled Girls, Muslims and Motorcycles, was followed by three novels and the interview-collection Het Einde. Schoeter’s received special mention at the European Union Prize for Literature in 2022.

Indian writer, columnist and director of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival, Shinie Antony’s new novella, Can’t, features a storyteller in her seventies teaming up with a teenage poet to travel the world while the recently published Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith is an imaginary biography of Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Artist and writer Bulbul Sharma’s recent work, Sunbirds in the Morning is a delightful narrative which recounts her observations of birds and animals she encountered throughout the COVID19 pandemic days. In conversation with Rachna Singh, they talk about the variety and range of their writing, and discuss the literary forms they choose to tell their tales.

 

 

Bulbul Sharma, Gaea Schoeters, Rachna Singh and Shinie Antony

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

John Zubrzycki’s recent book, Dethroned: Patel, Menon and The Integration of Princely India, is a riveting account of the absorption of the Princely states into the Indian union post-1947. Zubrzycki expertly juggles a fascinating cast of characters, from Mountbatten to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and from V.P Menon to Jawaharlal Nehru, to present a captivating account of the chess game that saved the subcontinent from fragmentation. In conversation with writer and historian Sam Dalrymple and historian Narayani Basu, author of V.P.Menon - The Unsung Architect Of Modern India,  Zubrzycki takes us through the integration of Princely India.

John Zubrzycki, Sam Dalrymple and Narayani Basu

05 Feb | 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM JaipurBookMark

Join us for an insightful exploration of ideas as festival directors discuss curating festivals in a world which is getting increasingly polarised.

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Katie Kitamura’s novel Intimacies, longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, delivers a profound commentary on a world distorted by moral dilemmas. Weaving a labyrinthine story of an interpreter at the World Court whose life unravels between her boyfriend’s betrayal and her work with an apprehended president accused of crimes against humanity. In conversation with Bee Rowlatt, she discusses a multifaceted narrative and the intimate boundaries between love, truth and violence.


 

Katie Kitamura and Bee Rowlatt

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM CHARBAGH
05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

Former top cop and BCCI anti-corruption chief, Neeraj Kumar’s recently published A Cop in Cricket exposes the seamier side of the sport, providing an eye-opening insider’s account of the shocking nexus which threatens the integrity of the sport. Police officer and social activist, Amod K. Kanth’s Khaki on Broken Wings: Cases that Shocked India is the second volume of the Police Diaries series. He speaks of some of the heinous crimes that dominated national headlines, the omnipresent mafias, the loopholes within the criminal justice system, and the exploitation of the prison and correctional services. Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar’s recent memoir, Madam Commissioner, is a candid account of her thirty-six years in Indian law enforcement. In a gripping conversation with former diplomat and writer Vikas Swarup, they speak about real-life experiences and share the inside stories of their lives in the police force.

 

Amod K. Kanth, Meeran Chadha Borwankar, Neeraj Kumar and Vikas Swarup

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM DURBAR HALL

What apparatus facilitated the transportation of Indian architecture, religion, and languages to Southeast Asia? Which centres in India contributed ideas to Anuradhapura, Angkor Wat, and Borobudur, leading to the creation of some of the world's greatest temples and monuments? Art historian Naman Ahuja's latest work, Phanigiri, offers a rich context for understanding the new discoveries of extraordinary ancient sculptures at this Buddhist archaeological site in Telangana. Ahuja also examines how Southern Indian sites were connected with Roman, Egyptian, Gandharan, and Southeast Asian centers. Sureshkumar Muthukumaran's work centers on interactions between peoples in ancient Eurasia, with a focus on examining long-distance connectivity.

Naman P. Ahuja, Sureshkumar Muthukumaran and William Dalrymple

05 Feb | 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK


Oscar Pujol received his doctorate in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and has had a life-long engagement with India. James Mallinson is the Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford and an authority on medieval Hatha Yoga practices. In conversation with Swati Chopra, they discuss their fascination with and commitment to the Sanskrit language and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that it contains.

James Mallinson, Oscar Pujol and Swati Chopra

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN

Academic and writer Joya Chatterji's recent work, Shadows at Noon, navigates decades of research and scholarship to explore key strands of South Asian history in the twentieth century. Weaving through themes of nationalism, migration, food, and the search for self, the narrative follows the story of Partition and Independence, and the formation of the modern nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari, Chatterji delves into the cultural, political, and social makeup of the region, examining the threads that unify us all.

Joya Chatterji and Pragya Tiwari

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM CHARBAGH

Imogen Edwards-Jones’ novels The Witches of St. Petersburg and The Witch’s Daughter take the reader into the mysteries and occult practices of imperial Russia. The Witches of St. Petersburg is a historical fiction saga about black magic in the Russian Court at the turn of the last century, based on the true story of the Montenegrin Princesses who married into the Russian Court and introduced Rasputin to the Tsar and Tsarina. Its sequel, The Witch’s Daughter, recounts the adventures of Princess Militza’s daughter, Nadezhda, as she encounters dangerous situations post Rasputin’s murder and falls in love with Prince Orlov under the most extraordinary and unusual circumstances. In conversation with acclaimed academician Susana Torres, whose research interests include study of the rise and fall of empires, and the rhetoric of power, Imogen talks about her books and her epic tales of women who rise from the ashes of an empire engulfed in bloody revolution.

Imogen-edward Jones and Susana Torres Prieto

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM HAWTHORNDEN FOUNDATION MUGHAL TENT

The Enlightenment was an age of endeavours. As Britain was consumed by the impulse for grand projects, in 1768 the Royal Navy bought a Whitby collier for an expedition to the South Seas. No one could have guessed she would become the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. Her name was Endeavour. Historian and writer Peter Moore’s book, Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World, presents a vivid biography of the most significant ship in the history of British exploration. In conversation with historian and broadcaster Clare Wright.


 

Peter Moore and Clare Wright

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM DURBAR HALL

Written by Likla and designed by Rohina Thapar and Shambhavi Thakur, Eye Spy: Indigenous Arts, is a magical collection of folk and tribal art traditions across India. Bringing together the magic of eight indigenous painting traditions, the illustrative narrative explores the genesis, stories, techniques and artists that have kept these traditions alive across the country.

 

 


 

Likla Lall, Shambhavi Thakur and Anubhav Nath

05 Feb | 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM JAN MICHALSKI FONDATION BAITHAK

A session exploring the legacy of 17th-century Mewar's Laghu-Chitra tradition.


 

Rima Hooja and Chandra Prakash Deval

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM CHARBAGH

05 Feb | 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM DURBAR HALL
05 Feb | 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S9 SERIES FRONT LAWN