The eloquent expression has perpetually woven its enchantment within Auroville's realm. Named in honor of the philosopher Sri Aurobindo, who donned the roles of poet, playwright, and journalist, it is only befitting that this experimental township in Puducherry now plays host to its very own literary fiesta. The Auroville Literature Festival, as outlined by Anu Majumdar, one of its coordinators, is designed to emulate the essence of other renowned literary galas across India. "Yet", she expounds, "it will also bear its distinctiveness," adding, "Our aspiration is for it to blossom into an annual tradition".
Scheduled to unfold within the International Zone of Auroville this month, the festival aligns itself with the 150th commemoration of Sri Aurobindo's birth. The event will spotlight dialogues on his literary creations, including the unveiling of a revised tome, enriched by a prelude scripted by Rabindranath Tagore, alongside a screening of an animated vignette tracing his life.
Anu shares, "Seventeen Indian and seven international wordsmiths have graced our roster." She further elaborates on sessions exploring works translated from Tamil and Malayalam. "During the inauguration, the wordsmith Namita Gokhale will discourse on the art of writing and the universe of literary festivals," Anu discloses. This tête-à-tête will be facilitated by Sanjeev Chopra, director of the Valley of Words International Literature and Art Festival in Dehradun.
"Several authors are engaging through virtual channels; these digital dialogues will run parallel to the in-person sessions," she highlights. "The festival unfolds across three vantage points: Bharat Nivas, Savitri Bhavan, and Unity Pavilion."
Among the luminous occasions is a discourse led by literary agent Kanishka Gupta, delving into the journey to book publication. In "Myth, Magic, and Moustache: The Expanses of a Tale," eminent Malayalam writer S Hareesh will engage in discourse with Tamil poet R Meenakshi. Noteworthy speakers encompass Arimalam Padmanabhan, a Tamil scholar and musicologist based in Puducherry; George Szirtes, a British poet and translator; Jennifer Down, a writer hailing from Melbourne; Karen Jennings, a South African literary figure; Nandini Sengupta, an esteemed writer, and journalist; Peggy Mohan, a Trinidad-born author, and linguist; Jayanti Ravi, a scientist and writer; Shreya Sen-Handley, an accomplished author; and Ranjit Hoskote, a versatile poet and translator, among others.
"Each evening of the festival will be adorned with cultural performances, including a dance theater display by Surya Performance Lab," Anu adds. "Moreover, gastronomical delights from Auroville's renowned bakeries and eateries will grace the food stalls, alongside crafts stalls showcasing regional artisanal creations."
The Auroville Literature Festival receives the support of the Auroville Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The event is slated from August 25th to 27th within Auroville's International Zone. Entry stands open and complimentary, although prior registration is mandatory.
