Even as arrangements are underway for the international kite and sweet festivals coinciding with Makara Sankranti, the city is set to host another major event, Hyderabad Literary Festival, representing the cultural and artistic ethos as well as the vibrant culture of Cyberabad.
The three-day multidisciplinary and multilingual event, starting on January 26, will feature participation of about 150 speakers — writers, artistes, scholars, film makers, journalists and publishers — representing a wide range of fields and it is expected to attract over 12,000 audience. Being organised by the Hyderabad Literary Trust, a group of people from diverse fields, the eighth edition will have Spain as the guest nation and Kannada as the language in focus.
Jnanpeeth awardee Chandrasekhara Kambara, film director Girish Kasaravalli, Ranga Sankara founder Arundhati Nag and other prominent Kannada personalities as well as a delegation of writers and artistes from Spain will be participating in the event being held at the Hyderabad Public School. “The festival is aimed at showcasing Hyderabad as centre of creative energy,” Tourism Secretary Burra Venkatesham said adding the HLF would not charge any entry or registration fee and all events would be open to all.
The event was being organised in association with the State government and with support of several academic institutions, literary and cultural organisations and publishing houses. He said the festival would bring some of the finest creative minds from within the country and abroad to the city.
It not only gathers local, national and global writers on one platform, but also would also act as bridge between writers and readers, artistes and audiences.
Over 100 authors and artistes including Aruna Roy, Sonal Mansingh, Chandan Gowda, Easterine Kire, R. Gopalakrishnan, Karuna Nandy, Perumal Murugan would attend the three-day event which would comprise of various events like conversations with authors, book reading, panel discussions, workshops, screenings, exhibitions, book launches and cultural programmes in addition to art on street.
