Ashok Vajpeyi to discuss intolerance at Kolkata lit fest

Veteran poet Ashok Vajpeyi will discuss the intolerance issue at the third Kolkata Literature Festival beginning here on February 4, organisers said.

Vajpeyi was among the 40-odd writers who returned their awards to the Sahitya Akademi in protest against what they called intolerance in the country.

Vajpeyi, veteran actor-director Amol Palekar and Bengali novelist Sanjib Chattopadhyay will inaugurate the festival that forms part of the 40th edition of the Kolkata Book Fair.

"In the session 'Intolerance in Tolerant India', Vajpeyi, Chattopadhyay, Tridip Shurud and Kavita Punjabi will join as panelists," said one of the festival organisers Tridib Chatterjee, who is the honorary general secretary of Publishers and Booksellers Guild.

Chatterjee mentioned about a 'Connect Amitabh' segment centred on megastar Amitabh Bachchan. However, he remain tightlipped on the event.

Noted blind storyteller Giles Abbot from the UK will also be present.

The book fair will be inaugurated on January 25.

The fair will be held from January 26 to February 7. Bolivia is the theme country this year.