India Ink asked writers, publishers, literary agents and fans of the five-day Jaipur Literature Festival what events they are most looking forward to this year. Here are their responses:
Samanth Subramanian, the Indian correspondent for The National and the author of “Following Fish: Travels around the Indian Coast.”
Friday, January 25
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: “The Writer and the State” — Ariel Dorfman, Frank Dikotter, Ian Buruma, Selma Dabbagh and Sudeep Chakravarti in conversation with Timothy Garton Ash
I once directed a play written by Ariel Dorfman, which was relentless in probing issues of guilt and revenge. Ian Buruma’s “The Wages of Guilt” was my first model for the book I’m currently working on. I’m very keen to hear what they both have to say about the state and its relationship to art.
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: “What is a Classic?” — Anish Kapoor, Elif Batuman, Tom Holland, Christopher Ricks and Ashok Vajpeyi in conversation with Homi Bhabha
A wonderfully multidisciplinary panel, featuring a sculptor, a nonfiction writer, a poet, a literary critic and a literary theorist, all putting their minds to answer a question as old as time.
Sunday, January 27
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: “The Global Soul and the Search for Home” — Pico Iyer, Abraham Verghese, Laleh Khadivi, Akash Kapur and Sadakat Kadri, moderated by Aminatta Forna
My favorite book of 2012 was Pico Iyer’s “The Man Within My Head,” and I’m always interested in the animating question of our restless age: if we are everywhere at once, where do we belong?
Namita Devidayal, journalist with The Times of India and author of “The Music Room” and “After Taste”
Thursday, January 24
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: “The Man Within My Head” — Pico Iyer in conversation with Akash Kapur
Where Pico Iyer unravels the mysterious closeness he has always felt with the writer Graham Greene – their old-school education and their lifelong restlessness. I am an enormous fan of both writers. In this session, Pico Iyer talks to Akash Kapur on how literature can impact the reader’s inner life.
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m: “Kinships of Faiths: Finding the Middle Way” — the Dalai Lama in conversation with Pico Iyer
The eternally inspiring and loving Dalai Lama in conversation with Pico Iyer, his friend and biographer.
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: “Cutting for Stone” — Abraham Verghese in conversation with Rick Simonson
Abraham Verghese, whose memoir “My Own Country” had a profound impact on me, talks about his life between writing and medicine.
Besides these, I am always excited about my two favorite evening events — the Random House party and the Penguin party.
Priyanka Malhotra, chief executive of Full Circle, official book partner for Jaipur Literary Festival
We have been coming to the festival for the last four years, and this year there are more authors attending the festival than ever before. Some authors that I’m looking forward to hearing are Pico Iyer, Victor Chan, Ranjini Obeyesekere, Mahasweta Devi, Ambai, Elif Batuman and so many more.
Friday, January 25
6 p.m.-7 p.m.: “The Jewish Novel” — Linda Grant, Howard Jacobson, Gary Shteyngart and Andrew Solomon moderated by Jonathan Shainin
Saturday, January 26
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: “Republic of Ideas” — Patrick French, Ashis Nandy, Ashutosh, Tarun Tejpal and Richard Sorabji in conversation with Urvashi Butalia
Monday, January 28
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: “The Art of Historical Fiction” — Linda Grant, Madeline Miller, Philip Hensher, Lawrence Norfolk in conversation with Jeet Thayil
Mita Kapur, chief executive of Siyahi, a literary agency
Thursday, January 24
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: “The Global Shakespeare: — Christopher Ricks, Tim Supple, Elif Batuman, Chandrahas Choudhury and Anjum Hasan, moderated by Supriya Nair
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: “Beyond the Khyber: The Future of Afghanistan” — Edward Girardet, Jason Burke, Lucy Morgan Edwards, moderated by Faisal Devji
5 p.m.-6 p.m: “Colliding Worlds: The Quest for Justice” — Binayak Sen, Ilina Sen, Harsh Mander and Rohini Nilekani in conversation with Surina Narula
6 p.m.-7 p.m: “The Novel of the Future” — Mohammed Hanif, Howard Jacobson, Nadeem Aslam, Linda Grant, Lawrence Norfolk and Zoe Heller in conversation with Anita Anand
Friday, January 25
11: 15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: “Laughing, Weeping, Writing” — Manu Joseph, Mohammed Hanif, Gary Shteyngart and Deborah Moggach in conversation with Ashok Ferrey
12:30 p.m.-1:30pm: “What is a Classic?” Anish Kapoor, Elif Batuman, Tom Holland, Christopher Ricks and Ashok Vajpeyi in conversation with Homi Bhabha
Chiki Sarkar, publisher of Penguin Books India
Each year, I make sure we launch one debut writer for Jaipur Lit Fest. This year it’s a brilliant young writer called Anjan Sunderam, who everyone from Pico Iyer to Pankaj Mishra has been raving about. He’s been hailed as a young Kapuscinski and his book, “Stringer,” is about a year and a half he spent in Congo. He’ll be at a few events, and I’ll be his loyal groupie.
Saturday, January 26
3:30pm-4:30 p.m.: “Out of Africa” — Aminatta Forna, Anjan Sundaram and Mary Harper in conversation with Kwasi Kwarteng
Sunday, January 27
12:30pm- 1.30pm: ‘Dispatches’ Anjan Sundaram, Jason Burke, Lucy Morgan Edwards and Edward Girardet in conversation with Madhu Trehan
I’m a great admirer of Elif Batuman’s writing for The New Yorker and am currently reading and loving her marvelous book on Russian literature called “The Possessed.” It combines erudition, passion and also wit, charm and quirkiness – not qualities you usually associate with a book of literary essays. I can’t wait to see what she’s like on stage.
Thursday, January 24
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: “The Global Shakespeare” — Christopher Ricks, Tim Supple, Elif Batuman, Chandrahas Choudhury and Anjum Hasan, moderated by Supriya Nair
Friday, January 25
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m: “What is a Classic?’ Anish Kapoor, Elif Batuman, Tom Holland, Christopher Ricks and Ashok Vajpeyi in conversation with Homi Bhabha
Sunday, January 27
10 a.m.-11 a.m.: “Natasha’s Dance: Adventures with Russian Books” — Orlando Figes and Elif Batuman in conversation with John Kampfner
When I looked through the program, my eye was immediately caught by the James Bond session. I love the Bond books and spent a summer reading them all and am really looking forward to this one.
Friday, January 25
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: “007: Ian Fleming and the Making of James Bond” — Andrew Lycett and Sebastian Faulks introduced by Zac O’Yeah
India Ink: Pocket Guide to the Jaipur Literature Festival
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India Ink: Pocket Guide to the Jaipur Literature Festival
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India Ink: Pocket Guide to the Jaipur Literature Festival
