Kolkata Literary Meet to debate on 'intolerance'

With a theme focusing on India, this year's Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet will be held from January 21 featuring discussions on the "rising intolerance" in the country.
With over a hundred speakers taking part in more than 60 sessions, the six-day literary fest will take place in the lawns of the historic Victoria Memorial.
On the closing day, a session titled 'Let My Country Awake' will have poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar and renowned author Ruskin Bond discussing with television journalist Barkha Dutt on where the country stands between the extreme positions on the intolerance debate.
Another session will have noted Bengali poet Mandakranta Sen who has returned her Sahitya Akademi Young Writers Special Award to protest against communal attacks in the country.

She will speak on her decision to return the award while young Bengali poet Srijato will talk of his poetry of protest.
Noted writer Nayantara Sahgal who has returned the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award will also speak in one of the sessions about her life.

The literary meet director Malavika Banerjee said India is their theme this year and they have discussions on contemporary issues like intolerance and women related issues.
"Ten sessions are about women and their lives," she said.
Star authors participating in the meet include Ruskin Bond, Amitav Ghosh, Amish Tripathi, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra.

Adding to the glam quotient of the festival would be actors Tabu, Sharmila Tagore, Zoya Akhtar, Nandana Sen and Rahul Bose. Thespian Soumitra Chatterjee will also be atteding the festival.
Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, who was at the centre of a controversy involving former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, will be participating in a discussion on cross-border journalism.
Participating politicians include former Congress minister Jairam Ramesh and Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien.