January is a month that is much awaited by literature enthusiasts all across the globe because of Jaipur’s Literature Festival. Now in its 9th edition, the JLF sees an assemblage of men and women of words, artists of repute and literati at the much humble and very colourful venue Diggi Palace every year. JLF, in less than a decade, has carved a special niche for itself in the festival calendar of India.
The 9th chapter of Jaipur Literature Festival started on a very chilly morning, in traditional Dhrupad style, with the soulful voice of Gaayatri Kaundinya, the very talented Hindustani classical vocalist of the Baba Allauddin Maihar Senia Gharana. The inaugural ceremony saw an energetic display of drums and melodies by Master drummer Nathu Lal Solanki and Chugge Khan from Rajasthani manganiyar family. Chief Minister of Rajasthan inaugurated the Jaipur Literature Festival by lighting the lamp along with other dignitaries. A patron of the JLF, CM Raje in her brief yet powerful address recalled her early days of association with the festival. She recalled how she used to love blending with the word-loving people and how easily she used to get immersed in conversations of delight. She also showed her astonishment at Diggi Palace’s ability to take in and welcome multiplying crowds, year after year. She fondly recalled, “As a child I was fascinated about books. I remember reading under the covers with torch lights and flipping few pages of a book wherever I visited book stalls. One book could you somewhere and the another one takes you somewhere else. This happens at JLF every year. This is the only place, I feel, where you experience the whole world without moving an inch!”
CM Raje had a fangirl moment when she met the Booker prize winner, activist, poet and novelist Margaret Eleanor Atwood. Raje said it’s a delight to meet people whose books she has read and keeps reading. Raje also shared a personal trait by telling the audience how she cannot go to sleep without reading through a book, no matter how tired she is. She also had her share of laughs when Margaret Atwood, in her address, said, “They asked me to give the keynote. So either I am someone very important or some one very old. I think it is the latter”.
Vasundhara Raje shared that she feels “festivals such as JLF go a long way in positioning the host city as an attractive destination and at the same time, act as catalysts to the local economy. It is in the interest of the people and the government that such events be encouraged. Such events offer a platform to a host of performers and many budding practitioners, thereby supporting livelihoods and bringing dreams into reality. As an event, JLF is open to anyone who is interested – and this is a great equalizer.” She said that the Government is trying to learn from JLF and model its new festivals in a similar manner that is inclusive, modular and ready to evolve. She hoped that Udaipur International Music Festival, Photo Festival in Jaipur and Pushkar Sacred Music Festival grow into calendar events just as popular as JLF.
She tweeted:
Inaugurated the @JaipurLitFest – an amazing celebration of words! pic.twitter.com/Y0izeIKfmd
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) January 21, 2016
Such events offer platform to a host of performers & cross section audience, thereby supporting livelihoods & turning dreams to reality.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) January 21, 2016
Jaipur welcomes all to one of the greatest equalisers — #JLF16. Come, experience the world without moving an inch!
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) January 21, 2016
JLF is one event that brings people from cross sections of the society together. While one can heartily ask Ruskin Bond for an autograph, one can also engage in a discussion with Steve McCurry. And if nothing else, you can always go and sip chai under the sun, amongst people from all over the world, listen to their stories and tell them yours. Are you going to be visiting JLF 2016? Do share your experiences with us!
