The final day of The Hindu Lit for Life had discussions on a myriad of topics from politics to business, from books to films.
The Hindu Young World Goodbooks Award was also be presented today. At the Children's Fest, there were three workshops lined up for the day — on theatre, poetry and dance.
Live updates:
Ritu Khoda and Vanita Pai win The Hindu Young World Good books Award. They won in the best author category for the book - Eye spy Indian art.
The Hindu Young World Good books Best Illustrator Award goes to Priya Kuriyan for her work in "Princess easy pleasy".
Select quotes from the fashion designer:
I only do things I want to do. When you do something you really want to, it doesn't tire you.
Wear Khadi. It is your fabric.
Have a dream and follow it. Be yourself and discover yourself and do what you feel is the right thing to do.
Some of the quotes from the session:
I wish I had time to say more but all there is left to say is there in my book.
The only advice Ranbir asked me was how should he sing on screen. The trick I told him was to get the pitch right.
I confess. I was not a dancer. I have two left feet. I just practiced really hard at it.
These kids of today don't need any acting tips, yaaar! They give you tips.
For Kapoor and Sons , I sat in a chair for 5 hours for my prosthetic make up. I think it was my passion for acting that kept me interested.
The Violence of Poverty - Katherine Boo, Jayanthi Natarajan, U Vasuki. Moderated by A S Panneerselvan
Post neo liberalism, focus shifts on to land acquisition: Vasuki
A.S. Panneerselvam shifts attention on to time poverty and it's impact on women.
Double burden, feminisation of poverty, happening all over the world. Happens in a heart rending manner in India: Jayanthi Natarajan
Jayanthi Natarajan talks of a woman who rises at 4/5 am, does the work at home, walks several km to go to work, comes back home late night, no time to sleep or take care of herself.
This kind of poverty diminishes families, diminishes women.: Jayanthi Natarajan
Idea that household work should be shared by men. Access to water, public health, air pollution - all women's issues, says Katherine Boo
How is it being a fifth generation entrepreneur?
Murugappan says his group has great respect for non-family professionals. He says the group even encourages gen-next to work outside the group.
On why not many billionaires from the State figure in the Forbes list, Murugappan says entrepreneurs here do not pursue billionaire or unicorn status.
To Mr. Karmali's poser if Tamil Nadu is lagging behind, Ms. Ravindranath answers.
Chennai has played key role in development of IT sector. All major projects of TCS had routes in Chennai. And yes, Chennai is a non-sexy part of IT industry, she says.
A packed house is listening to Sudish Kamat, who is teaching the art of reading a a fim.
Highlights
At times, good films can be irresponsible in nature.
Earlier, the angry young man was the hero and was always against the establishment. Today, he could be the villain for doing the same. Heroes and villains change with the plot.
All stories are political, irrespective of whether they were intended that way or not. Even a tweet is political.
A film should produce a series of emotional beats in you. It should make you feel something.
The next panel discussion is on Success Mantras of Southern Business. The panellists are - M.M. Murugappan, Vice Chairman, Murugappa Group; Rajiv Lochan, CEO, Kasturi & Sons; and eminent business journalist Sushila Ravindranath. The session is moderated by Naazneen Karmali.
Sushila Ravindranath begins the session on a lighter note, She says Tamil Nadu entrepreneurs don't want to get noticed speaking at sessions.
Murugappan remarks he is always fearful of journalists. "It is a Murugappa Group tradition," he says.
Rajiv Lochan says entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu had willingness to listen. He cites examples of KSL, Apollo and Cognizant, who were his client when he was with McKinsey.
Moderator Nazneen Karmali asks whether entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu missed big ticket deals when compared to their peers in Andhra Pradesh.
Shubhashree talks about why short stories are important, while talking about the latest anthology of Tamil short stories that she has translated.
"It's a perfect vehicle to record struggles and complexities of our lives. We reveal our anxieties, desires, ghosts and nightmares. In this book, the culture of the Tamil society over the years is also relived. It is actually tracking the entire story of Tamil history," says Nandini Oomman at The Women's Story-telling Salon workshop.
Criminal defamation
While there is a group of supporters here for free of expression, out there is a group against freedom of expression and they have supporters for them too: writer Perumal Murugan
Kasturi & Sons Limited chairman N. Ram draws attention to freedom of expression of newspapers, cites order of Supreme Court over criminal defamation.
There are certain sections of law, which are misused by officials, says The Hindu Editor Mukund Padmanabhan; draws attention to pressure faced by district correspondents of newspapers by Collector, SP.
Publisher Karthika points out how publishing images of Kamasutra don't face opposition but publishing sentences describing nudity face objections.
"Our judicial process in defamation cases is worser than the punishment," says Jayanthi Natarajan
Literacy vs. knowledge
"We have literacy but not knowledge," points out Mr. Ram regarding debates in India. Perumal Murugan echoes this. "Our Society hasn't evolved to debate issues. We have the literacy but we have not socially reformed," says Perumal Murugan.
"Freedom of expression should be used very responsibly and sensitively," says Ms. Natarajan adding, "Free speech in newspapers hurts me everyday."
On journalism, eteran journalist N. Ram says: "Tamil Nadu has a scientific approach and method to corruption. Journalism has to come to the forefront." Questioning why investigative hournalism is not exposing these practices, Mr. Ram recalls the Privilege Motion brought in Tamil Nadu Assembly against The Hindu and calling for the arrest of its editors.
Offence as expression
Meanwhile at the panel discussion the topic moves to offence. Is offence an expression and when someone takes offence, is that person exercising his/her freedom of expression?
Causing offence is an essential ingredient of freedom of expression, feels Mr. Padmanabhan.
"The right to get offended has become a fundamental right in our country," quips Mr. Ram.
But Ms. Natarajan differs. "Having the right to offend is the most elitist concept," she argues. "Everyday I'm offended by people as a woman," she says.
The Women's Story-telling Salon begins with Anusha Yadav introducing herself: "I am an extremely curious person. I want to know other person's business, science of gossip. What we gossip about is a reflection of what we are. More dodgy the person is, I am more curious. Because that validates some dark side of me."
Ironically a workshop that has 'Women' in its title has more male audience!
There is another workshop underway in Studio 2, by film critic and director Sudish Kamath on 'How to read a film?'
Perumal Murugan on Freedom of Expression:
"I really doubt, from my experience, whether Freedom of Expression really exists in our society," the writer says.
"Our society is still caste based," he observes adding that "In this caste ridden, hierarchical society there is no space for freedom of expression for views."
"Even if space is given, it is not taken seriously," he says.
"Before equality comes respecting fellow human beings," says Perumal Murugan.
And the first session for the day starts. Struck Dumb: Why states seek to muzzle freedom of expression? The panel discussion will feature former Union Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, The Hindu 's Editor Mukund Padmanabhan, KSL Chairman N Ram, writer Perumal Murugan, and publisher Karthika V K. It will be moderated by senior journalist Salil Tripathi.
Ms. Natarajan kick off the discussion on a positive note saying "Freedom of Expression is alive and well and will never be muzzled in India."
Writer Perumal Murugan, who until recently was in a self-imposed exile after he was forced to remove certain portions of his book, contradicts her. "I really doubt, from my experience, whether Freedom of Expression really exists in our society," he says.
Ms. Karthika, who recently quit as publisher of HarperCollins India says, "In the world of publishing we have to worry about self censorship not freedom of expression."
Mr. Padmanabhan warns against overstating state of press unfreedom.
Welcome to the live updates from India's sharpest literature festival. As always, panel discussions will be held simultaneously from three venues — Sir Mutha Concert Hall, The Hindu Pavilion and The Showplace.
In addition to this there are two workshops — on story telling and film appreaciation.
Here is the schedule for the day
| 10.00 am – 10.50 am | Struck Dumb: Why states seek to muzzle freedom of expression – Jayanthi Natarajan, Mukund Padmanabhan, N Ram, Perumal Murugan, Karthika V K. Moderated by Salil Tripathi |
| 10.55 am – 11.45 am | Bringing Big Themes To Book – Mark Kurlansky, Akshaya Mukul, Josy Joseph. Moderated by Arunava Sinha |
| 11.55 am – 12.45 pm | Success Mantras of Southern Business – M M Murugappan, Rajiv Lochan, Sushila Ravindranath. Moderated by Naazneen Karmali |
| 12.50 pm – 1.45 pm | Imaging and Images of Women – Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Girish Kasaravalli. Moderated by N Manu Chakravarthy |
| 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm | Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored – Rishi Kapoor in conversation with Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri |
| 3.35 pm – 4.35 pm | The Fire of a Restless Mind – Ritu Beri in conversation with Vivek Karunakaran |
| 4.50 pm – 5.40 pm | Standing on an Apple Box – Aishwarya Dhanush in conversation with Sudhish Kamath |
| 5.55 pm – 6.45 pm | Bharati: the Known and the Unknown – A R Venkatachalapathy and Y Manikandan. Moderated by P Athiyaman |
