Nehru's contributions, India's cultural heritage to highlight AKLF

Enlightening discussions and literary walks centred on India's cultural heritage, as well as commemoration of the 125th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, will be the highlights at the sixth edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) beginning Jan 14.

Spanning five days, the literary forum will host eminent personalities from various fields including Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, British playwright Hanif Qureishi, conservationist Saad Bin Jung of the Pataudi royal family, British journalist John Elliot and American travel writer Michael Buckley.

Noted authors from Norway, Sweden, Australia, France, Pakistan and Bangladesh will engage audiences on a variety of topics, the organisers told a media meet Monday.

In line with its tradition of holding the sessions at iconic monuments across the city, the inaugural session on cultural heritage will be conducted at the Indian Museum in sync with its bicentenary celebrations.

The concluding session Jan 18 will be at the National Library revolving on "Has India kept her tryst with Destiny?"

"The themes of cultural heritage will run through the entire festival," said festival director Anjum Katyal.

Woven in between are discussions on history of Bangladesh, Indian masterpieces, wildlife tales, Indian and China's fragile ecosystems, crime writing and Bollywood.

Prominent book launches include the release of "Honour and Fidelity: India's Military Contribution to the Great War" by Captain Amarinder Singh while Tharoor will unveil his book "India Shastra".

Indian speakers include actress Tisca Chopra, author David Davidar, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Pia Padukone, stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant and writers from northeast.

On the sidelines will be a separate literary event for school goers.

A literary heritage walk will take one through some historically important spots in British-era Chowringhee and Park Street.