Kottayam: Authors will dwell on the art of fine writing as moderators, critics, and connoisseurs, will intently listen to them and put forth questions to decipher the complex syntheses of writerly minds.
Over 200 writers, cutting across languages and genres, and hundreds of connoisseurs will converge at Kozhikode and cover everything from delineation to diction at the second edition of Kerala Literature Festival scheduled to be held from February 2-5.
The festival, organized by DC Kizhakkemuri Foundation in association with Kerala government and a host of sponsors, will see discussions, debates and seminars on contemporary issues. The program will be held on Kozhikode beach.
Directed by eminent poet-critic K. Satchidanandan, the festival will host writers and thinkers including Romila Thapar, Ramachandra Guha, Sadhguru, Gopal Guru, Sudhir Kakar, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Anand, T. Padmanabhan, Sashi Tharoor and Manu Pillai among others. Sessions by Pakistani novelist Qaisra Shahraz and Norewegian journalist-writer Runo Isaksen are also the highlights of the event.
Satchidanandan said the literary festival assumed significance at a time marked by dearth of communication and shrinkage of cultural spaces.
“Now, Kerala does not have a regular literary festival. Being a state so famous for literature and literary culture, Kerala should have a major literary festival that it deserves. Now, there is huge lack of communication. Also there is a shrinking of free cultural spaces. We have lost the cultural spaces where artists and writers could interact very well. Earlier, traditional spaces like temples were secular spaces, but they have all been taken over by the right wing forces now. So, we need a free space where people can discuss and share ideas without being afraid of being abused,” Satchidananadan told Onmanorama over phone from Kozhikode.
He said the festivals will see a convergence of at least three generations of Malayalam writers. “Unlike last year, this time we will have writers from about 10 foreign countries, which gives the festival an international dimension,” he said.
A film festival curated by C.S. Venkiteshwaran and a literary festival for students will also be held along the festival.
Those interested can register for the event at branches of DC Books and Current Books and at www.keralaliteraturefestival.com