Books, B'wood and more in store as Jaipur Lit Fest kicks off

Nobel laureates to local writers, award-winning authors to debut novelists, Bollywood bigwigs to music artistes, the historic Diggi palace in Jaipur is all set to overflow with authors, publishers and book lovers from across South Asia as the annual literary jamboree, the Jaipur Literature Festival, kicks off tomorrow.
The five-day festival, which has become a major event on the literary calendar ever since its inception in 2006, has an interesting line up of debates and discussions while music and Bollywood, too, are to feature prominently on the programme this year.
"Since the early days of JLF, much has changed in the literary firmament.

"In these transformative years, the physical book itself has morphed and mutated into new and unexpected digital dimensions.
"The festival is fuelled by the need and compulsion to share narratives, to listen in to and comprehend each other's stories," said Festival Co-Director, Namita Gokhale.
"Every year we try to bring literary, intellectual and cultural energies alive at Jaipur.

"It's absolutely magical over there as it is a democratic, spontaneous and well-packed extravaganza, which has something for every visitor," she added.
Echoing her views, writer and Co-Director, William Dalrymple, said, "JLF is a unique celebration of writing that has grown into something bigger and more wonderful than anything we could ever have hoped for when we first conceived of it a decade ago.

"This year, we have so much to offer, it is difficult to know where to begin."
With a line up of around 240 authors from backgrounds ranging from international relations, history and environment, to human nature, regional literature, art, photography, Bollywood, theatre and travel, the festival will cover a wide slice of the literary world.