Waldman finds balm in Jaipur for Trump ‘pain’

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje with writer William Dalrymple and JLF director Sanjoy Roy during the inaugural session of the Jaipur Literature Festival on Thursday.

The tenth edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) began at Jaipur’s Diggi Palace on Thursday.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje spoke on the occasion, reminding audiences about the State’s tradition of generous hospitality. Ms. Raje said: “When so many people from across the world return to their countries, they say ‘Wow, what an experience that was!’ That’s what we hope to leave all of you with.”

Before Ms. Raje’s speech, the audience — already packing the front lawns of Diggi Palace — were treated to a versatile performance by the Shillong Chamber Choir, spanning Bollywood classics from the ’50s to the Bill Withers classic

You Are My Sunshine .

Poets Gulzar and Anne Waldman delivered keynote addresses. Mr. Gulzar spoke about the writer’s reluctance to engage with the world outside the terms of their writing.

“ Main aksar ghazal sunaa ke nikal jaata hoon, toh sukhi rehta hoon. Par mujhe kayi cheezon se dar lagta hai, usme se yeh ek hai. Uss ooncheen kursi par baithtaa hoon jismein paanv zameen par nahi rehte .” (I often recite a ghazal and leave, which is how I stay happy. I’m afraid of many things, and this is one of them. Sitting on this high chair where my feet don’t touch the ground.)

Ms. Waldman, an American poet and performer, expressed her gratitude at joining the festival just ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. President. “The gathering of so many writers and book lovers makes me feel comfortable. I have found heaven here before the terrible inauguration ceremony in my country.”

She reiterated that American writers and artists shall continue to protest in Washington.

During her address, she launched into her song Anthropocene Blues . Her performance was punctuated by chants, refrains and even a sharp scream at one point, followed by silence to gauge the response of the crowd.

Among the other notable sessions on the first day, American author Paul Beatty spoke to Meru Gokhale (editor-in- chief, literary fiction at Penguin Random House India).