The magic begins in Jaipur

Actor and playwriter Girish Karnad, left, in conversation with British playwriter David Hare during the Jaipur Literature Festiva,l in Jaipur on Friday. Photo: AP

The mild disappointment over the absence of writer Salman Rushdie notwithstanding, the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012 got off to a bright start here on Friday morning. Not even the heavy presence of security personnel and strict police vigil could dim the colourful environs of the Diggi Palace, the festival venue.

Traffic snarls on all the roads leading to the venue, long queues of school and college students at the check-in counter, the fragrance of hot tea served in “huller,” the smell of books and newspapers, and the omnipresence of young cheerful volunteers completed the familiar scene for the regular festival goers.

“We uphold the freedom of expression,” said Sanjoy Roy, the organiser who had been struggling with the issue of Mr. Rushdie's visit till a few hours back, perhaps reflecting the sentiments in the gathering. His co-organiser and author William Dalrymple too hinted at the absence of Mr. Rushdie when he said. “It is not just one particular writer. We have 262 other authors here.”

“This is an essential platform for all of you and this has been happening with all your support,” Mr. Roy said. “This year has been a stellar year of fantastic authors.”

The controversy over the Rushdie visit, which finally got buried with the author himself informing the organisers on Friday of his decision not to make the trip given the said threat perception in India, apparently made Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to keep off the opening ceremony. The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk, did the honours lighting the traditional lamp to mark the opening of the five-day event.

“The magic begins. Each year the world visits Jaipur and Jaipur visits the world this time,” said Namita Gokhale, festival organiser, who shared the dais with fellow organisers Mr. Roy and Mr. Dalrymple. “This is an incredible magical festival,” she said, pointing out that “in this crowd of storytellers, critics, poets, publishers, readers and listeners each one is another's story.”

Mr. Dalrymple said the festival had been growing by the year and managing it had become a big task. “But then it is getting easier to manage too,” he said, referring to the popularity and acceptance it had gained in a short period of six years.

The organisers remembered the person, Faith Singh, who started it all in the Pink City some nine years ago by conceptualising the Jaipur Virasat Festival of which the lit fete was a part. Ms. Faith Singh said it was the Edinburgh Festival from which she had drawn inspiration.