What not to be missed at 12th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival 2019

Often referred to as ‘Kumbh’ of literature, ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival has scheduled its 12th edition between January 24-28, 2019. More than 300 speakers, belonging to diverse domains include renowned writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, sportspeople, and entertainers from across the world are coming this year. Gulzar, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Jeffrey Archer, Shabana Azmi are among the few to be present for book launches and panel discussions.

Indian writer Namita Gokhale, the co-director of the festival along with William Dalrymple, announced during a press meet last month that science and genetics, technology and artificial intelligence, climate change, classics, politics, war, intelligence espionage, entrepreneurship, and gender issues will be the highlights of this year’s festival. Wider topic like adapted screenplays, fiction, crime, mythology, films, art and activism will also be a part of the symposiums and discussions. During all its 11 editions the literature gathering has hosted more than 2000 speakers and thousands of literature adorers from all over the globe. Over it’s past 11 editions, JLF has been successful in bringing Nobel laureates and Man Booker recipients in a  face to face discussion with literary enthusiasts as well as first time authors. JLF goes beyond the literary discussions and creates an atmosphere of festivity with generous dollops of music, food and gala dinners.

What’s in store for the 12th edition of Zee JLF

JLF as a brand is known for its energy and festive atmosphere, over and above the debates and discussions. If you are thinking to visit this year, you can look forward to the following : 12th Jaipur Literature Festival includes – the ‘Jaipur Music Stage’ to get a pinch of World Music, ‘The Festival Bazaar’ to buy handpicked apparels, jewellery, and accessories, ‘Book signing and launches’ to get signed copies of the latest released paperback, with authors like Anuradha Roy, Shashi Tharoor, Gulzar. ‘Heritage Evenings’ to experience the indigenous Rajasthan culture, The Delegate Lounge for a privileged literary experience of JLF, ‘A Culinary Treat’ brimming with palatable delicacies, and ‘Art at JLF’ section to give a spectacle of Indian traditional arts and British contemporary visual artist Marc Quinn’s modern aesthetics should also be in your JLF bucket during these five days.

Who are visiting JLF this year?

The line-up of more than 300 speakers of Jaipur Literature Festival 2019, includes author Shobhaa De, Man Booker Prize nominee novelist and journalist Anuradha Roy, Meghna Gulzar and Gulzaar, actress Manisha Koirala, and women cricketer Mithali Raj. Intellectual luminaries like Man BookerPrize awardee Ben Okri, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction author Colson Whitehead, US National Magazine Award nominee Kanishk Tharoor, Nobel Prize in chemistry laureate structural biologist Venki Ramakrishnan, Bodley Medallist classist and author Mary Beard, biographer Jon Lee Anderson, and various other will also be a part of it.

The not-to-be missed book launches

A key attraction for visitors at Zee JLF is the book launches and signing events. For bibliophiles getting their hands on the first lot of copies, and getting them signed by the authors is a big priviledge. This year visitors can look forward to the launches of the latest works like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantment, Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd’s From a Shepherd Boy to an Intellectual, Navin Chawla’s Every Vote Counts: The Story of Elections in India, Namita Gokhale and Pushpesh Pant’s Raag Pahaadi.