A weekend of inspiring conversations at the London edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival

Jaipur Literature Festival is now sold out

Weekend passes are no longer available. A small number of JLF Sunday Passes available on the door only for Sunday’s event so please do come along.

At the Library JLF Weekend Passes allow in-person access to any of the sessions on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June subject to venue capacity.
SEATING IN VENUES IS LIMITED AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO ARRIVE EARLY FOR THE SESSIONS OF YOUR CHOICE.

Many of the sessions will be simultaneously be live-streamed on the British Library platform. JLF Online Weekend Passes will allow access to all live streamed sessions, to watch either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links for sessions will be sent out by email shortly before each one commences.

We are delighted to announce the return of JLF – the London edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival – to the British Library. JLF animates the Library with words, books, music, food and camaraderie, as a packed programme of talks and discussions unfolds in our Piazza Pavilion, Mughal Courtyard and Durbar Theatre venues.

Friday 10 June

Inaugural Session
Address by Dame Carol Black, Namita Gokhale, William Dalrymple and Sanjoy Roy followed by

Love Marriage

Monica Ali in conversation with Jaishree Misra
Supported by the British Council.

18.00 – 19.15 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Monica Ali’s debut novel, Brick Lane, quickly became an international phenomenon. Love Marriage, the fascinating story of two very different families thrown together by a whirlwind engagement, is her first new book in a decade. An enthralling social comedy, it underscores the worlds of love and marriage, the strains and stories that emerge at the curious intersection of both. In conversation with Jaishree Misra, Ali reveals the truth of “who we are and how we love in today’s Britain”.

 

Saturday's speakers include Gurinder Chadha, Shashi Tharoor, Anita Rani in conversation with Nikita Gill, Irenosen Okojie, Mukulika Banerjee Colin Thubron, Anthony Sattin, Naushad Forbes, John Elliott, John Falconer, Geetanjali Shree, Arunava Sinha, Namita Gokhale, Tripurdaman Singh, Helena Kennedy, Chintan Chandrachud, Antony Beevor, Howard Jacobson, Kris Manjapra, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Karan Thapar, Sanjoy K Roy and Farrukh Dhondy.

Sunday's speakers include Ramchandra Guha , William Dalrymple, Namita Gokhale, Gwendolyn Riley, Pallavi Aiyar, Colin Thubron Anthony Sattin, Shrabani Basu, Karan Thapar, Anjana Menon, Selma Carvalho, AA Dhand, Sonia Faleiro Remo Fernandes, Sanjoy K Roy, Nikesh Shukla, Simone Sultana, Lyn Innes, Mukulika Banerjee and Arunava Sinha.

Programme may be subject to change. Please check back for latest updates.

Saturday Programme

10:00 Registration opens. Please pick up your wristbands for the day.

10:30 – 11:00 Piazza Pavilion

 

Morning Music: : Gurbani : Music Meditations

Amrit Kaur Lohia

Presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust

 

The Struggle and the Promise

Naushad Forbes in conversation with John Elliott
11.15 – 12.15 Piazza Pavilion
What is India’s future? Naushad Forbes is the co-chairman of Forbes Marshall and has written extensively on innovation in developing countries and higher education in India. In The Struggle and the Promise, Forbes examines critical questions concerning the mobilisation of India’s potential, essential innovations and practices for progress, and the promise of future balance and great leadership in the country. In conversation with author and foreign correspondent John Elliot, Forbes discusses the path to unlocking India’s true potential and claiming the reins of the world by example.

 

A Tale Tells Itself: Tomb of Sand

Geetanjali Shree and Arunava Sinha in conversation with Namita Gokhale
Presented by Rajasthan Tourism
11.15 – 12.15 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Hindi writer Geetanjali Shree’s acclaimed novel, Ret Samadhi, the recent winner of the 2022 International Booker Prize, is a magnificent story of renewal, rediscovery and exploration in the face of grim odds, damning conventions and irrevocable moments in history. It brings the brilliance of contemporary Hindi literature to a wider readership in its nuanced discussion of boundaries - whether in families, between religions and countries, or in conflicting schools of thought. Daisy Rockwell’s exuberant rendering of the novel in English, Tomb of Sand, has garnered worldwide appreciation. Geetanjali Shree; academic, journalist and the award-winning translator of over seventy books, Arunava Sinha; and writer and Festival Co-Director, Namita Gokhale, discuss Ret Samadhi and the larger landscape of translation.

 

The Amur River

Colin Thubron in conversation with Anthony Sattin
Presented by Aga Khan Foundation
12:30 – 13:30 Piazza Pavilion
The Amur River forms the highly contested border between Russia and China. It is the most densely fortified frontier on earth and represents the histories of both countries, as well as their unique relationship. Colin Thubron, the laureate of travel writing, follows the dramatic journey of the Amur, from its secret source to an expanse of almost 3,000 miles in his acclaimed book, The Amur River: Between Russia and China. In this astonishing account of an often perilous journey, among diverse peoples, climates and terrain, Thubron reveals the metaphorical depth of the Far East Asian river and an urgent history of global geopolitics. With celebrated author Anthony Sattin, Thubron discusses his masterpiece and an incomparable career in writing.

 

Mother's Boy: A Writer's Beginnings

Howard Jacobson in conversation with Alexandra Pringle
12:30 – 13:30 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Booker Prize-winning writer, Howard Jacobson, illuminates the course of his life, the beginnings “as well as the twists and turns” that led to his becoming a writer, in the candid and poignant memoir, Mother’s Boy: A Writer’s Beginnings. In an exploration of the idea of belonging, being both English and Jewish, through the growing pains of childhood, bittersweet memories and experiences as an adult, Jacobson allows a precious window into the mind, motivations and craft of a writer. Jacobson discusses the journey of understanding oneself and becoming “the writer you were meant to be” with publisher Alexandra Pringle.

 

Hampi through the lens of British Library collections

George Michell in conversation with John Falconer and Malini Roy
12:30 – 13:30 Mughal Courtyard
The kingdom of Vijayanagara established their capital city at Hampi, located along the banks of the Tungabhadra river in southern India in the mid-14th century. Nestled amongst the rugged topography of granite boulders and hills, the extensive palace and religious complex was built over 250 square miles. Although Vijayanagara was abandoned in 1565, many of civic and residential buildings, alongside the Hindu temples and Islamic tombs, are still extant and the site is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The British Library’s Archaeological Survey of India Photographic Collections and other archives provide a rich insight into this incredible place. An exhibition looking at Hampi will be on display at the British Library’s Front Entrance Hall from September 2022.

 

Russia: Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921

Antony Beevor in conversation with Simon Sebag Montefiore
13:45 – 14:45 Piazza Pavilion
Between 1917 and 1921 a devastating struggle took place in Russia following the collapse of the Tsarist empire. Many regard this savage civil war as the most influential event of the modern era. Using the most up to date scholarship and archival research, Antony Beevor, author of the acclaimed international bestseller Stalingrad, assembles the complete picture in a gripping narrative that conveys the conflict through the eyes of everyone from the worker on the streets of Petrograd to the cavalry officer on the battlefield and the woman doctor in an improvised hospital.

 

Eastminster, Westminster : Constitutions and their Faultlines

Tripurdaman Singh and Helena Kennedyin conversation with Chintan Chandrachud
13:45 – 15:45 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Despite shared constitutional heritage and political forms, India’s ‘Eastminster’ democracy has diverged widely from Westminster over the last 75 years. However, recent events such as Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and questions of free speech, dissent and civil liberties in both India and the U.K. have revealed a different picture.

 

Roots: All Our Stories

Irenosen Okojie and Tessa McWatt in conversation with Elaine Canning
A session that examines the conflicting notions of self and hybridity.
13:45 – 14:45 Mughal Courtyard
Nigerian-British writer, Irenosen Okojie, and Guyanese-born Canadian writer, Tessa McWatt, come together to discuss the many dimensions of identity in their work. Elusive histories, memory, migration and kaleidoscopic ancestries inform their literary explorations of self and society. Okojie is the author of Butterfly Fish and the AKO Caine prize-winning short-story Grace Jones. McWatt is the author of The Snow Line and memoir Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging. Together with writer and editor Elaine Canning, they explore the conflicts of displacement, belonging, and the roots of their writing.

 

Sustaining the Creative Economy

Piali Ray, Gayatri Rathore, Skinder Hundal and Roly Keating in conversation with Sanjoy Roy
15:00 – 16:00 Piazza Pavilion
The creative economy is an evolving concept which is based on the interplay between human creativity, knowledge, skills and technology. Creative industries are among the most dynamic sectors in the world and are critical to the sustainable development agenda. They stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship, cultural diversity, and provide opportunities for developing countries to leapfrog into emerging, high-growth areas of the global economy. A distinguished panel explores the trade of creative goods and services, effective practices and unique experiences, and the power of ideas and imagination in efforts towards a sustainable, inclusive future.

 

Pride, Prejudice & Punditry: The Essential Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor in conversation with Pallavi Aiyar
15.00 – 16:00 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Award-winning writer and politician Shashi Tharoor is the author of 22 books of fiction and non-fiction. His unerring sense of humour lightens the substance of his work, which includes a powerful indictment of colonialism, a philosophical appreciation of the Hindu religion, and hard-hitting political critiques. The recent Pride, Prejudice & Punditry is a collection of essays and pieces that range from the political to personal. In conversation with author and journalist Pallavi Aiyar, Tharoor discusses his ideas, insights, convictions and the many levels at which he engages with the world.

 

On the Himalayan Trail: Recipes and Stories from Kashmir to Ladakh

Romy Gill in conversation with Shrabani Basu
15:00 – 16:00 Mughal Courtyard
Writer and chef Romy Gill's recent cookbook, On the Himalayan Trail: Recipes and Stories from Kashmir to Ladakh, tells the story of Kashmir and Ladakh's distinctive cuisine, sharing over 80 extraordinary recipes that can be recreated in your own home kitchen. In conversation with author Shrabani Basu, Gill unfurls the heart and soul of Kashmiri and Ladhaki food and cuisine.

 

Voices of Faith: Poetry to Lure the Divine

Guillermo Rodríguez in conversation with Arunava Sinha and Vayu Naidu
Presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust
16:15 – 17:15 Piazza Pavilion
A session that examines the expression of the personal and the universal in Indian bhakti poetry and by the Spanish mystic, Saint John of the Cross. The dialogue between Indian devotional bhakti poets and the sixteenth century Spanish mystic reveals the universality of poetry as a means for devotees, on culturally diverse spiritual journeys, to ‘partake’ with the Absolute. A recitation of poems by Akkamahadevi (12th century), Ksetrayya (17th century), and St. John of the Cross (16th century), will illuminate the mysterious ties between the physical and the incommensurable, the word and silence, and the universal expressions of faith and longing.

 

Devil's Advocate

Karan Thapar in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy
In the revealing memoir, Devil’s Advocate, Karan Thapar dives deep into his early life, the worlds of famous friends and foes, and defining encounters in the course of his career. An acclaimed journalist, television presenter and commentator, Thapar shares unique anecdotes, insights, and stunning facts about some of the most influential people in the world. In conversation with Managing Director at Teamwork Arts, Sanjoy K. Roy, Thapar discusses his life and work, no holds barred.

 

Russia: the Regalia of History

Simon Sebag Montefiore in conversation with Tripurdaman Singh
16:15 – 17:15 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Bestselling writer and historian, Simon Sebag Montefiore is among the world’s leading experts in Russian history. His books, The Romanovs, Catherine the Great & Potemkin, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar and Young Stalin have captured its epic proportions - the rise and revolutionary fall of the Romanovs, the intimate lives of tsars and tsarinas, their ideas of empire, and changing political figures and systems of government. Montefiore has argued that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “a gamble motivated by a desire to restore Russian glory”, a vision embedded in its sweeping past. In conversation with author and academic, Tripurdaman Singh, Montefiore examines Russia’s present ambitions through the lens of a layered history.

 

Voices of Faith: Poetry to Lure the Divine

Mukulika Banerjee in conversation
16:15 – 17:15 Mughal Courtyard
An illuminating session that ties agrarian values of citizenship and active engagement to the making of a democracy and its formal institutions. Social anthropologist Mukulika Banerjee’s book, Cultivating Democracy: Politics and Citizenship in Agrarian India, presents a remarkable ethnographic study of Indian democracy. Drawing on her long engagement with the micro-politics and day-to-day of two villages in West Bengal, she reveals their impact on the macro-politics of state and nation. Banerjee discusses the roots of cooperation, civility, solidarity and vigilance in agrarian life.

 

They: What Muslims and Non-Muslims Get Wrong About Each Other

Sarfraz Manzoor in conversation with George Alagiah
17:30 – 18:30 Piazza Pavilion
Sarfraz Manzoor examines the roots of the social and cultural divisions that plague Britain today - at a session based on his crucial work, They: What Muslims and Non-Muslims Get Wrong About Each Other. An acclaimed writer, journalist and broadcaster, Manzoor presents a multidisciplinary and profoundly personal study of the relationship between Muslims and Non-Muslims in modern Britain. In conversation with journalist and television news presenter George Alagiah, Manzoor reveals the cause of “the chasm of mutual distrust” and offers hopeful visions of a time when it will be overcome.

 

Right Sort of Girl: Anita Rani on Finding her Voice

Anita Rani in conversation with Nikita Gill
17:30 – 18:30 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
Award-winning broadcaster, Anita Rani, is one of the most recognisable faces on British television. She shares priceless lessons on life, positivity, and ambition in her book, The Right Sort of Girl. Humorous, honest and inspiring, it is the coming-of-age story of a woman “trying to navigate her Indian world at home and the British world outside her front door”. In conversation with writer Nikita Gill, Rani reveals the process of chronicling her remarkable experiences, how they helped her find her voice and become a true powerhouse.

 

DJ Nerm

18:30 – 20:00 Piazza

 

Sunday Programme

10:00 Registration opens. Please pick up your wristbands for the day.

Morning Music: Ashish Dharamadhikari

10:30 – 11:00 Piazza Pavilion

 

The Road Home

Anjana Menon and Selma Carvalho in conversation with Jaishree Misra
11:15 – 12:15 Piazza Pavilion
In The Road Home, two writers lead us to their roots, in Goa and Kerala. Selma Carvalho’s debut novel, Sisterhood of Swans, depicts the troubled coming of age of a second-generation Indian immigrant in London. Carvalho is the author of Baker Butcher Doctor Diplomat: Goan Pioneers of East Africa, A Railway Runs Through: Goans of British East Africa and Into the Diaspora Wilderness. Her writing explores themes of migration, feminism, morality and the subject of the Goan diaspora. Journalist and writer, Anjana Menon, flew home to Thrissur, Kerala, as the Covid-19 crisis loomed large. She intended to be home only for a month or two but stayed seven and in this time her book Onam in A Nightie: Stories from a Kerala Quarantine was born, composed of episodes of everyday life. Carvalho and Menon discuss the process of capturing Goa and Kerala, the sanctuary and symbolism of home in conversation with writer Jaishree Misra.

 

Rebels and the Raj

Ramachandra Guha in conversation with William Dalrymple
11:15 – 12:15 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
In Rebels against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom, historian and writer, Ramachandra Guha, chronicles the unexplored narratives of seven people who fought for the end of imperial rule between the late 19th and early 20th century. Motivated by idealism and genuine sacrifice, each connected to Gandhi and representing diverse schools of thought, they risked fatal punishment for their activism, even as they made invaluable contributions to India's Independence struggle. In conversation with writer, historian and Festival Co-Director, William Dalrymple, Guha unveils these remarkable figures of India's history and their profound impact in the fields of journalism, social reform, education and environmentalism.

 

Foremothers: Of Matriarchs and Memories

Bee Rowlatt, Gwendoline Riley and Namita Gokhale in conversation
12:30 – 13:30 Piazza Pavilion
Foremothers are the crucible of our worlds. Award-winning writer and Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale’s recent novel, The Blind Matriarch, unravels the facets of an Indian joint family, its history and the inner lives of members, against the indistinct, yet omnipresent gaze of the eponymous matriarch who carries the torch of many generations and destinies. Writer and journalist Bee Rowlatt’s acclaimed biography, In Search of Mary, follows an extraordinary trail through Norway set over 200 years ago by the legendary writer, philosopher and advocate for the rights of women, Mary Wollstonecraft . Celebrated novelist Gwendoline Riley’s gripping work, My Phantoms, explores dysfunctional familial bonds, stories of separation, resentment, and phantoms of the past that haunt a strained mother-daughter relationship. A session that looks across generations, at history, the pages of fiction and lived experience.

 

New Media: The Slipstream of Information

Shashi Tharoor, Mahua Moitra and Andrew Whitehead in conversation with Rita Payne
12:30 – 13:30 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
The evolving role of new media is the subject of much study, scrutiny and self examination. At a time when freedom of reach has become as important as freedom of speech, a diverse panel explores the role and responsibilities of the media and the new communications in our times.

 

Black Ghost of Empire

Kris Manjapra in conversation with Yasmin Khan
12:30 – 13:30 Mughal Courtyard
In the revelatory historical indictment of the afterlife of slavery in the Atlantic world, Black Ghost of Empire: The Long Death of Slavery and the Failure of Emanicpation, Kris Manjapra unearths the disturbing truth of the Age of Emancipations (1780 - 1880), the neglected yet crucial roles of Black aboloitonists and rebellions, and the catacombs of a glossed history that affect the world even today. An acclaimed academic and writer, Manjapra explores the intersection of transnational history and the critical study of race and colonialism. In conversation with academic and author Yasmin Khan, he discusses the supposed death of slavery and modern paradigms.

 

Bangladesh: The Birth of a Nation

Leesa Gazi and Simone Sultana in conversation with Arunava Sinha The Bangladesh
13:45 – 14:45 Piazza Pavilion
Liberation War in 1971 birthed a vibrant new democracy. 50 years after the momentous event, a panel which examines the cultural, social and historical dynamics that have formed the roots of this nation and their vision of its future. British-Bangaldeshi writer, actor and filmmaker, Leesa Gazi’s father was a freedom fighter. Her documentary award-winning documentary film, Rising Silence, is about the women that were sexually assaulted during the Liberation War and the novel Hellfire is an uncomprosing critique of patriarchal norms and generational cycles in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi-British economist and photographer, Simone Sultana’s family too supported the Liberation Movement and moved to London to escape persecution during the War. In conversation with prolific writer, translator and academic, Arunava Sinha, they take a deep look at the past, present and future of Bangladesh.

 

Travel Session

Supported by the British Council.

13:45 – 14:45 Durbar Theatre (and live online)

Pallavi Aiyar, Colin Thubron, Tharik Hussain and Anthony Sattin in conversation with William Dalrymple
Travel writing is among the most ancient forms of literature. It allows invaluable social, cultural and political insight. It can signify personal journeys and growth, the intricate histories of places and peoples, and even the power and limits of the mind. Pallavi Aiyar, Colin Thubron, Tharik Hussain and Anthony Sattin discuss their work, inspirations and choice genre with writer, historian and Festival Co-Director, William Dalrymple.

 

The Last Prince of Bengal

Lyn Innes in conversation with Shrabani Basu
13:45 – 14:45 Mughal Courtyard
The Nawab Nazim was born into one of the most powerful royal families in India’s history, with a kingdom that ranged from the great Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Seen as a threat by British authorities, he was forced to abdicate in 1880, marking a significant historical turn and changed fortunes for his secret English family. Lyn Innes tells the bitter-sweet history of her great-grandfather and ancestors who journeyed from royalty to relative anonymity in the captivating book, The Last Prince of Bengal: A Family's Journey from an Indian Palace to the Australian Outback. In conversation with author and journalist Shrabani Basu, Innes discusses the intimate story of a family connected to sweeping events in Indian, British and Australian history.

 

Hawk and Hyena: What Really Happened to the Serpent

Farrukh Dhondy in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy
15:00 – 16:00 Piazza Pavilion
“My name is Charles Sobhraj, you might have heard of me”, said the notorious ‘serpent’ or ‘bikini killer’ in 1997 to writer and television mogul, Farrukh Dhondy. Over the next years, Dhondy made the serial killer’s acquaintance, tracked his movements across the world, his degraded and violent life, and the most sensational series of events. His recent book, Hawk and Hyena: What Really Happened to the Serpent, pieces together the radical true story of Charles Sobhraj. In conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy, Dhondy discusses the process of depicting a nearly unimaginable narrative, his motivations as a storyteller, and the intersections of life, death, murder, morality and punishment.

 

Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain

Sathnam Sanghera in conversation with Yasmin Khan
15:00 – 16:00 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
A session that explores the reality and legacy of the British Empire. Sathnam Sanghera’s latest book, Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, is a brilliant commentary on the painful history large parts of the world share. Sanghera’s narrative focuses on the importance of accepting Britain’s imperial past in order to understand its present and future. In conversation with academic and writer, Yasmin Khan, Sanghera explores why the existence of the British Empire is often 'forgotten' in Modern Britain and underscores the importance of confronting a deeply troubled past.

 

Nomads

Anthony Sattin in conversation
15:00 – 16:00 Mughal Courtyard
Nomadic peoples are often relegated to the margins of historical study. In the ground breaking book, Nomads: The Wanderers Who Shaped Our World, award-winning journalist and writer, Anthony Sattin redirects ideas of civilisation and the course of history to the ‘outsiders’. In this saga of mobile cultures and empires that espoused plurality, tolerance, the freedom of conscience and movement, the arts and sciences, and unyielding respect for the natural world, he ties global history and contemporary iterations to the power of nomadism. Sattin discusses his remarkable work and transformative ideas of the past and present.

 

Murder, They Wrote

AA Dhand, Shrabani Basu and Sonia Faleiro in conversation with Nikesh Shukla
16:15 – 17:15 Piazza Pavilion
Three British-Asian writers come together to discuss the innards of detective fiction and crime writing. Bestselling writer A A Dhand’s crime fiction series, the Harry Virdee, novels follow the story of the eponymous British-Sikh detective in Bradford’s West Yorkshire city. A character informed by the Bradford race riots of 2001, Virdee navigates the webs of cultural identity, violence and exploitation. Sonia Faleiro’s book of true crime, The Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing, longlisted for the 2022 ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction, examines the mysterious deaths of two teenage girls, underpinned by caste and gender violence. Author, journalist and historian, Shrabani Basu’s latest book, The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer: Arthur Conan Doyle, George Edalji and the Case of the Foreigner in the English Village is a fascinating account of how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle personally investigated the case of a falsely implicated Indian lawyer. A session that examines how society and its faultlines find a voice in noir writing in conversation with celebrated writer Nikesh Shukla.

 

The Company Quartet

William Dalrymple in conversation with Shashi Tharoor
16:15 – 17:15 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
William Dalrymple’s multi-award-winning histories, The Anarchy, White Mughals, Return of a King and The Last Mughal, comprise the essential collection, The Company Quartet. A culmination of two decades of meticulous research and masterful narration, The Company Quartet tells a comprehensive story of British Imperialism and the conquest of India. How did a dangerously unregulated private company come to be the first global corporate power? In conversation with bestselling writer and politician, Shashi Tharoor, Dalrymple unravels two hundred years of colonial history, covert political machinations and bloody resistance - the rise and fall of the East India Company.

 

Voices of Faith: The Spirit of Sufi Poetry

Saif Mahmood in conversation with Mohini Gupta
Presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust
16:15 – 17:15 Mughal Courtyard
Join author, translator and raconteur Saif Mahmood in a conversation with translator and academic Mohini Gupta, on a journey traversing the cultural landscape of Sufi poetry in the subcontinent. This session will bring out the essence of Sufi poetry and thought through readings and discussions, and invite the audience to appreciate the inherent beauty and complexities of the genre.

 

Your Story Matters

Nikesh Shukla in conversation with Nikita Gill.
17:30 – 18:30 Piazza Pavilion
Nikesh Shukla’s writing focuses on race, racism, identity and immigration. Author of the acclaimed Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home and the novels Coconut Unlimited and Meatspace, he shares his wealth of experience as a writer, how to tell your story in your own unique narrative voice, in the empowering guide Your Story Matters: Find Your Voice, Sharpen Your Skills, Tell Your Story. Shukla is one of the most passionate voices on issues of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the arts. He shares essential advice and discusses his own life and inspirations, ground breaking career, the power of stories and the chance to tell them in a conversation with writer, poet and performer Nikita Gill.

 

Being Remo

Remo Fernandes in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy.

Legendary musician Remo Fernandes is an icon of his generation.
17:30 – 18:30 Durbar Theatre (and live online)
His personal and professional triumphs and challenges come together in the kaleidoscopic book, Remo: The Autobiography of Remo Fernandes. In this “story of brave dreams and musical passions”, Remo takes us along an exhilarating journey, from distributing home-produced albums on a scooter in the 80s to becoming a national sensation. In conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy, Remo discusses his deeply compelling, honest and vivid memoir, and a life in pursuit of his greatest loves - music, art, writing and home, Goa.

 

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