Over 80 authors from across the globe including Pulitzer prize-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, Suketu Mehta and American comic writer G Willow Wilson will attend the second Jaipur Literature Festival at Boulder, US.
The three-day-long festival scheduled to be held from September 23-25 in Colorado, US will feature 50 sessions with world-renowned authors, speakers and musicians from across the globe, the organisers announced today.
"In these critical times, the penetrating, intercultural dialogue exchanged at this festival of ideas speaks deeply to individuals and gives rise to the joy of community," organisers said.
The literary festival will be hosted by the Main Boulder Public Library and will be open to public free of cost.
The opening act, which will be held at the Canyon Theatre, will see a musical performance by London based sarangi player and vocalist Amrit Kaur Lohia followed by a solo theater performance.
The range of discussions will include 'Treasures of the Dragon Kingdom' by the Queen of Bhutan, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck; how the language of digital image in the form of graphic novels is challenging letters and text giving rise to "a new democracy of expression".
Wilson will touch upon themes of feminism and Islam through her graphic novel 'Ms Marvel' about a female superhero among others.
A conversation on democracy, the electoral process and political choice from the forthcoming US presidential elections, the recent Brexit referendum to the complex voting patterns in India will feature renowned economists Robert Blackwill, Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Rajya Sabha MP and economist Jairam Ramesh.
A session recounting the victories and horrors of the Vietnam War will be presided over by the 2016 Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen. He will discuss its consequences with Vietnamese-American writer Andrew Lam.
African American Marcia Douglas and American poet Jovan
Mays will talk about persistent undercurrents of racism in the US that have surfaced consistently in disturbing and heartbreaking ways over the past two years.
"The session 'Black Lives: A Dream Deferred?' will look at these issues, choices and the struggle for equality faced by the community," organisers said.
Nicholas Carr, who writes on technology and Gopi Kallayil from Google will speak on the use of technology to expand the human experience.
A session on women at war, the environmental consequences of diminishing bee population and workshops for children and families will also be part of the festival.
Weekend programs address topics including 'Engaging with the Arts and Storytelling,' 'Stories My Grandmother Told Me, Whats your Story?', 'Creating Collage Art That Tells A Story,' 'The Sound of Music/Sunaad,' 'Stories in Motion,' and 'The Resistance and Resilience of Heartwork'".
A host of ancillary events will also be organised running up to the final festival.
