Writer Namita Gokhale helms new book show on Doordarshan

Writer Namita Gokhale, who has spearheaded mega literary events like the Jaipur Literature Festival and is now hosting a new television show devoted to contemporary literary issues on Doordarshan.
"Kitaabnama: Books and Beyond" scheduled to be aired weekly beginning August 25 features books, readings and interviews with writers from English and Indian languages, as well as guest appearances from global names and voices.
"In recent years, there has been a renaissance in Indian literature, across the national languages. The proliferation of literary festivals, including the success of the Jaipur Literature Festival, has demonstrated the need and desire of audiences to connect to books and writers and to resonate with the world of ideas," Namita said in a statement today.

Famed lyricist and screenwriter Prasoon Joshi has penned and put to music the title song for the show set to be telecast on DD Bharti and DD National.
Initial episodes feature celebrated names including Ashok Vajpeyi, Amish Tripathi, Geetanjalishree, Mahesh Dattani, Mahmood Farooqui, Uday Prakash, Urvashi Butalia, Advaita Kala and Lord Meghnad Desai.
"'Kitaabnama' is among the positive steps that Doordarshan has recently taken to reach out to the soul of India - when many others compete for the ears and eyes. Literature is the 'second opinion' that all nations have to seek for their own health, both mental and physical," Jawhar Sircar, CEO,Prasar Bharti said.