JLF from Jan 30, to feature over 600 literary luminaries

Jaipur: As the five-day annual literary jamboree is set to kick off from January 30, topics spanning strident geopolitics, including in the US, and upheavals of war and conflict will jostle with sessions on food, poetry, and cinema.Unveiling details of the 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, organisers said the extravaganza will feature over 600 luminaries, including Nobel laureates, Booker Prize, Pulitzer and Sahitya Akademi winners, policymakers, and acclaimed writers.Sanjoy Roy, festival organiser, announced this year eminent Hindi poet Badri Narayan will be conferred with the Kanhaiya Lal Sethia Award for poetry. Badri Narayan, a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2022 for his acclaimed collection "Tumdi ke Shabd," is renowned for his evocative poetry interwoven with folk imagery and profound sociological insight.Speaking on the festival, Roy said the show will be a celebration of ideas, creativity, and inclusivity, solidifying its position as a global literary phenomenon. Over the years, JLF has played the role of brand ambassador for tourism in the state. Apurv Kumar, Managing Director, Clarks Group of Hotels, which hosts the event, said, "The Festival has been a beacon of cultural and intellectual unity, born from Jaipur's rich heritage. As we seek to get repeat tourists to the state, we have high expectations from the show."The lineup of speakers this year includes Abhijit Banerjee, Amitabh Kant, Andrew O'Hagan, Anita Anand, Anna Funder, Amol Palekar, Anirudh Kanisetti, Barnaby Rogerson, Benjamin Moser, Cauvery Madhavan, Claudia De Rham, David Hare, David Nicholls, Esther Duflo, Fiona Carnarvon, Geetanjali Shree, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, Gideon Levy, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Ijeoma Oluo, Imtiaz Ali, Ira Mukhoty, Irenosen Okojie, and Javed Akhtar, among others.Continuing with its inclusivity agenda, the festival will again host sign language interpretation sessions. Meanwhile, the Jaipur BookMark (JBM), the publishing conclave that celebrates its 12th year, will focus on translations, storytelling innovations, and AI's role in publishing.