Yours Versus My Nationalism

Being on the Wrong Side of the 'Patriotism' Divide

Hindol Sengupta, Rana Ayyub, Shahid Siddiqui and Sunil Alagh

Prakriti:Nature

How We Viewed Nature in Ancient Times and how We See it in the Modern Age

Spot The Mukhbir

Role of Informers in Fiction and Reality

Neeraj Kumar, Ravi Subramanian and Vivek Agrawal

Women in Indian Politics - Role of Female Politicians in Shaping 21st Century India

Nupur Sharma, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Tuhin Sinha

Naya Bharat, Nayi Pehchaan - Rajneeti ke Naye Ayyam

Abhay Kumar Dubey, Panini Anand and Tarun Vijay

In Crisis We Act

After That, It is Back to Status Quo

Dinesh Trivedi, Gurcharan Das, Josy Joseph & Pavan K Varma

On 1st July, India completes 25 years since the historic reforms were introduced in 1991 following the payment crisis. Despite all reforms, the poor of India continue to be not only poor, but deprived of basic amenities. Lack of administrative reforms is seen to be a key reason slowing down progress of reforms. Corruption is another.

Do we need another crisis to act?

My Lords, I Rest My Case!

From Legal Literature to Literature in Law : Changing Contours of Judicial Opinion

Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Justice A.K. Sikri and Sanjay Hegde

Legal literature in the form of judicial opinion has long been seen as an almost distinct literary genre. While deciding pure questions of law from the Bench, judges have churned out some of the most evocative pieces of literature. The last few years, however, have seen an increasing number of judgments quoting from poets and writers across board, sometimes in a manner where real legal issues are lost in rhetoric. Does this trend bear testimony to the power of literature or does it foretell the death of purity in judicial opinion. A distinguished panel of judges and lawyers deliberates.

A talk

by Ravi Subramanian

Jaane Kahan Gaye Voh Din

Will the Era of Epic Lyricists and Singers Ever Return?

Akshay Manwani, Rajshekhar and Yatindra Mishra

Fifty Shades Of Desire

The Delicate Balance of Writing Erotica in the Land of the Kamasutra

Abhay Kumar Dubey, Ananth Padmanabhan, Mohsin Sayeed and Shinie Antony

Much before Anais Nin, Marquis de Sade and Fifty Shades of Grey, we had the Kamasutra. Yet today, erotica as a genre is barely there in an industry which is dominated by mythofiction, romance and thrillers. Why are we so squeamish about erotica as readers? What is it about erotica that makes us reluctant consumers of it? A discerning panel discusses the challenges faced in writing and publishing erotica for an Indian audience.

Ye Shauk Puraane

Documenting Food Heritage

Ajay Mago, Efrat Dvir and Maria Goretti

Coming Up Short-Ly

Meghna Pant, Rabi Thapa and Shinie Antony

This session will discuss how short stories are a powerful medium of entertainment and shaping human behaviour.

Rise Of The Private Collector

Has the Notion of Collecting as a Serious Engagement finally Come of Age in India?

Aditya Arya, Sumant Batra, Tarun Thakral and Vikram Sampat

"There are two types of collectors,” the Turkish Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Orhan Pamuk wrote in his 2009 opus, The Museum of Innocence: “The Proud Ones, those pleased to show their collections to the world; and The Bashful Ones, who hide away all they have accumulated.” This session will discuss what strives and motivates the collectors and why many are gradulating their collections into private museums, and the challenges they face in the process.

#HaveASafeJourney

How Stories are set to change Notions about Road Safety

Piyush Jha and Tuhin Sinha

#HASJ short story contest stems out of our firm belief that literature can serve as an effective medium to connect and engage with people for promoting awareness, particularly among the youth. Stories can cause deep influence and impressions, both for writers and the readers. Stories written, pointing out the negligence and casual approach towards road safety norms leading to major upheavals and loss not only for family members of victims and accused, but also for communities and the country, would touch hearts. Stories of braveries, humanity and other inspirational stories often compel people to think more deeply than an advertisement in a newspaper. It also has a long shelf life. There is a pressing need to apply this literary art in promoting awareness about road safety.

Epilogue: YES BANK Kumaon Literary Festival

Presentation of KLF Lifetime Achievement Award by His Excellency Shri K. K. Paul Governor, Uttarakhand

FON AWARD

The Woods Are Lovely

Role of Literature in the Environment Movement and Social Causes

Anjana Basu, Hartman de Souza, James Champion & Rabi Thapa

A discussion around the withering green heritage and the extra attention that our forests, sanctuaries and wild life need.

Indian Fourth Estate - The Dangerous Divide

Dinesh Trivedi, Maya Mirchandani, Sudheendra Kulkarni & Tarun Vijay

It is no longer merely a sharp differences of opinion among journalists. The confounded definition of nationalism appears to have led to a sharp divide within the media. The perception is that many establishments seem to have blurred the line between nation and government or for that matter between government and political dispensation. While some claim that a few media houses are programmed to toe the line of a nationalist government, others claim with equal confidence that another section media is conspiring against the government or a political dispensation. An aggressive social media that entertains no notions of a nuanced argument is increasingly also fueling the confrontational stance. The media, increasingly, appears to mirror this tone, speaking in black-or-white binaries rather reflecting shades of opinion.

This session will discuss what standing up for journalists’ duty and freedom means.

1914: The Idiosyncratic Fictions of Jean Echenoz

Jean Echenoz in conversation with Nitin Sukh