A 'Spring Fever' for literature enthusiasts

Spring Fever has been defined as a feeling of restlessness and excitement felt at the beginning of spring. And publishers Penguin Random House India attempt to capture the feeling through what else but a festival of literature.
Now in its 8th year, the 'Spring Fever' festival, pegged by the publishers as 'Delhi's oldest literary and cultural festival' is scheduled here between March 15-20.
Among the highlights this year is a preview by Ramachandra Guha of his new book "Democrats and Dissenters". The historian will talk about the challenge of contemporary history at the event, organisers said.
Sunil Khilnani is set to discuss 50 influential Indian who shaped our history from his new work "Incarnations: India in 50 lives".

Journalist and former Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, will be in discussion with politician Shashi Tharoor, diplomat TCA Raghavan and scribe Hindol Sengupta on the topic "Pakistan is in the eye of the beholder."
The legacy and teachings of late former President APJ Abdul Kalam by his advisor Srijan Pal Singh are also featured in the festival.

Bollywood is represented by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shilpa Shetty, Twinkle Khanna, Emraan Hashmi and Sonali Bendre Behl.
While Siddique is scheduled to talk about his journey in cinema and his life in his forthcoming book, Shetty will participate in a discussion on the "The Great Indian Diet."

Hashmi, who has a forthcoming book and Behl, who has recently penned a tome "The Modern Gurukul" would take part in a session on parenting.
Twinkle Khanna will talk about her book "Mrs Funnybones."
The event will also host Gulzar, a festival regular, who is scheduled to be in conversation about books, literature and poetry.
The 'Spring Fever' event would also have an open air library featuring a wide range of Penguin titles.
Previous editions of the festival had featured Amitav Ghosh, Ruskin Bond, Vikram Seth, William Darlymple, Ravinder Singh, Gurcharan Das and Mira Nair among others, organisers said.
Apart from book launches and panel discussions around interesting and relevant topics, the festival is also set to host every evening musical performances by popular artistes.