· Third edition of India’s first litfest for regional languages will be held onFebruary 25-26 at NCPA, Mumbai
· Discussion on script-free languages like Bhojpuri, Ahirani, Konkani, Khasi, and Santhali
Mumbai – February 7, 2017: The LIC-Gateway Litfest, the largest platform of Indian language writers in the country, will line up over 50 renowned writers from 15 regional languages for its third edition, scheduled on February 25 and 26 at NCPA, Mumbai.
The theme for this year’s edition is `contemporary face of Indian literature’ focusing on five select Indian languages – Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi and Malayalam and featuring the top writers from these languages to critically evaluate the latest trends in these literary streams and also position them at the national level.
The roaster of writers include Jnanpith laureates Kedarnath Singh and Reghuveer Chaudhari, and a number of national and state akademi award winners. Film-maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, poet and DMK leader Kanimozhi, and Bengali writer Subodh Sarkar will also be among the long list of acclaimed literary figures.
The pioneering national festival to celebrate the writings in regional languages and to put them on par with English and Hindi is being organised by Kaakka, a Mumbai-based quarterly Malayalam magazine, and communication consultancy P4C (Passion 4 Communication).
A panel discussion for writers from script-free languages such as Bhojpuri, Ahirani, Konkani, Khasi, and Santhali will be among highlights of this edition’s fest that will also have book launches, book exhibitions and poetry recitals.
Anjali Menon (Kerala), Anju Makhija (English), Bratya Basu (Bengali), Chandana Dutt (Mythili), Damodar Mauzo (Konkani), Desmond Kharmawaflang (Khasi-Meghalaya), Desraj Kali (Punjabi), Haladhar Nag (Kosali), Hemant Divate (Marathi), KR Meera (Malayalam), Kumar Ketkar (Marathi), Laxman Gaikwad (Marathi), M Mukundan (Malayalam), Malika Amar Sheikh (Marathi), Mangesh Kale (Marathi), Mihir Chitre (English), Mini Krishnan (English), Parichay Dass (Bhojpri), Ramesh Suryawanshi (Ahirani), S Prasannarajan (English), Sachin Ketkar (Gujarati/Marathi), Salil Wagh (Marathi), Salma Rukkaiah (Tamil), Sanjeev Khandekar (Marathi), Sharankumar Limbale (Marathi), Shafi Shauq (Kashmiri), Thilothama Majumdar (Bengali) and Vasanta Balan (Tamil) are among those attending the two-day literary meet.
“The last two editions brought together over 100 eminent writers from almost all Indian languages to discuss, deliberate and share views on the latest trends in Indian literature, cutting across the languages. It could create a wide-reaching impact as the most prominent confluence of language writers,” said festival director Mohan Kakkanadan.
“Another added attraction this year is a debate competition for the college students, looking to inculcate the love for Indian literature among the future generation. It is the celebration of literary India, fostering camaraderie among the writers spread across the country,” said festival executive director M Sabarinath.
A discussion on the topic, “Indian cinema is not Bollywood”, will be attended by prominent Marathi filmmaker Neena Kulkarni, Tamil filmmaker Vetrimaaran and Malayalam filmmakers Anjali Menon and Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
Oxford University Press editor Mini Krishnan, Penguin editor Ambar Sahil Chatterjee, and Vani Prakashan editor Aditi Maheshwari will speak on the topic of publishing and translation.
