Now its 12th year, there were more than 30 talks and 50 authors participating in this unique cultural exchange…
HANIF KUREISHI was the big draw and delivered handsomely – leaving many who attended the whole of the Jaipur Literature Festival at the British Library in London, to declare him, simply the best!
at the British Library pic: ©Marcin Nowak
He spoke with memorable wit, profound insight and intelligence, as he shared details about his life in a session named ‘Shattered‘ – after the book he has written since his near fatal accident.
He is totally dependent on others, confined to a wheelchair and is the subject of daily care and assistance.
He revealed he was getting married for the first time… (See here for the main story) .
Indian authors Shobha De, and Javed Akhtar charmed had fun with their audiences, teasing and joking – but also had serious points to make about pluralism, human and minority rights.
Indian MP and prolific author Shashi Tharoor was another major draw for those familiar with the Indian politics and literary scene and joined in the fun – in the lighter opening session on Friday (June 15) about Wordplay – discussing Indian (Hindi/Sanskrit) words and English.
Coming just a day after the terrible Air India plane crash on Thursday (June 12), there was a more sombre mood and a minute’s silence helped focus minds on what is important. India High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was understandably absent – despite being on the original listing.
There was also the luminous presence of International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq throughout the festival as a both a contributor and audience member.
Her short story collection, ‘Heart Lamp‘ in Kannada (the state language of Karnataka in India) and translated into English by Deepa Mashti was another packed session and followed Kureishi’s on Saturday (June 16).
Her stories are about the daily inequities women endure silently – Mushtaq gives them a voice; and the Booker award is shared between the writer and the translator.
On the Sunday (as well as the Opening evening session) – attended, De was the pick of the female voices.
One of India’s most successful novelists and commentators – her message was one of defiance, fun and cute provocations.
Speaking to broadcaster and film writer Yasser Usman, she showed that it is perfectly possible to be liberal, humane and not fall into a line many do blindly because of physical threats, financial implications or simply to give your nearest and dearest calm lives!
De has been lambasted and threatened online over her liberal opinions and opposition to those “who shall not be named” but continues to plough a furrow which is Hindu, open-minded, cultured, inclusive, cheeky and entertaining.
The same might be said of Indian MP Shashi Tharoor who was in London following his participation in an Indian government organised delegation sent to explain India’s position on terrorism following the recent conflict between it and Pakistan.
To the consternation of the much of the official Opposition in India, and a Pakistani liberal who challenged him at the session with the international panel about endorsing the Indian government, he was unequivocal.
Tharoor responded: “The battle isn’t India v Pakistan, or Hindu v Muslim, it’s about Terrorism as an instrument of State Policy.”
Javed Akhtar, Indian multi-hyphenate and Bollywood screenwriter lyricist and poet, was lively, engaging and hugely appreciated in the session, Urdu in India and India in Urdu, alongside much respected lawyer and Urdu specialist author Dr Saif Mahmood (‘Beloved Delhi: A Mughal City and Her Greatest Poets‘).
www.asianculturevulture.com’s Devika Banerjee writes – Born into a long line of Urdu poets in his family, the 80-year-old Indian national treasure was in a spirited mood and enlightened a packed auditorium.
He spoke with humour and great depth about the history of the Urdu language, in India.
Akhtar emphasised that the Urdu language began in India and is firmly embedded within Indian cultural and literary traditions. It is a serious mistake to consider it as the language used only by Islamic communities from South Asia.
Just as many Hindu poets have made significant contributions to Urdu literature throughout its history, he pointed out, he too astounded film directors and producers when he, a Muslim (though not practising and is one of India’s most prominent atheists), wrote film lyrics singing the
praises of the Hindu deity Lord Krishna in Urdu.
In the What’s In A Name session, Sheela Banerjee, the author of a book with same title, discussed interesting parallels between the way South Asian parents approached naming their British-born children with older Jewish Ashkenazi (Central European) communities – very loosely represented by former Children’s Laureate and prolific author, Michael Wayne Rosen.
Moderator and academic Somnath Batyabal told the audience why he called his British-born son, Ruhi.
Rosen explained how he came to be given the second name – Wayne, his father had an American friend he much admired.
Banerjee told the audience how the British on arrival in Bengal found the names there largely unpronounceable – Banerjee is Bandyopadhyay.
What was striking was how much people – regardless of ethnicity – want to fit in and get on and give their children the tools to do so – sometimes by giving them names that will be easy on the English tongue.
Closing the festival for 2025 in London with customary panache and verve was JLF festival co-director William Dalrymple.
He spoke eloquently as he always does on his latest book, ‘The Golden Road‘ and how Indic ideas travelled the world – from Rome to the Indonesian archipelago – and from the time of The Buddha (3rd Century BCE) and especially during the rule of Emperor Ashoka (200 years after The Buddha).
at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith
Continuing to promote art and culture more generally and declaring the venue of the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith to be a future haven for South Asian culture – whether it be Bollywood premieres or hosting artists from Pakistan – was billionaire London-based businessman Anil Agarwal.
He welcomed guests to a post JLF festival reception there and main JLF producer Sanjoy Roy, of Teamwork Arts, reminded everyone how he, personally, had come full circle – as an independent producer bringing Indian artists to the UK, his international journey (JLF has several international editions now) had begun at the Riverside some 25 years ago.
The Studios, which essentially is an arts centre on the River Thames, is now run by Agarwal’s charity arm.
The three-days of JLF at the British Library were sold out affairs and evidently show that there is a solid appetite for ideas, books and literary personalities who are from South Asia or want to connect with it.
Links
https://jlflitfest.org/london/about
Previously
ACV covered the Jaipur Literature Festival 2014-18 and in video in 2015- 2016
https://www.instagram.com/p/DK97QhzNYe4/
