Delhi's homegrown lit fest begins Friday (Curtain Raiser)

An impressive line up of heavyweight authors, including the likes of William Dalrymple, Ashok Vajpayee and Taslima Nasrin, are set to participate in the Delhi Literature Festival starting here Friday.

Aiming to promote literature and provide opportunities to young authors, this annual carnival of literature has gained prominence in Delhi's cultural calendar ever since its inception in 2013. Award-winning authors, leading figures from political and cultural spectrums, diplomats and publishers gather annually to share their perspectives.

Panel discussions, book launches, poetry recitations and interactive sessions dominate the itinerary for the three-day-long literary extravaganza.

The inaugural session will take place on Friday evening at which Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, MPs Manoj Tiwari and Meenakshi Lekhi, writer Ashok Vajpeyi and Shrikant Sinha, CEO Nasscom Foundation and Indian Public Library Movement will be in conversation.

The atmosphere is sure to get heated up immediately after the inaugural session as a session titled, "Demonetisation: Intent, Implementation and Impact" will explore the agenda that continues to receive mixed response from people.

The second day of the festival will host sessions like "Public Institutions and their Role in Preserving and Promoting Oral Knowledge" and "Making It Big: The Inspiring Story of Nepal's First Billionaire". The focus, however, will be on Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who will address a session on "Branding for Make In India".

The last day of the festival will witness the participation of leading figures like historian William Dalrymple, who will discuss his latest book on the Kohinoor and Taslima Nasrin, who will be making a public appearance shortly after being snubbed by a Muslim group at Jaipur Literature Festival.

Nasrin will be in conversation with Barkha Dutt and will discuss her latest memoir "Exile".

The concluding session "Rise of Nationalism, a Global Phenomenon" will see Canadian writer Tarek Fatah explore the subject with Sruthijith KK, Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post India.

The Delhi Literature Festival will be held at the Dilli Haat, opposite INA Market and will conclude on February 12.

--IANS

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