Program

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 stands out as a turning point in the bloody history of the British Empire and India's struggle for Independence. On that fateful day of April 13, 1919 , General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful crowd inside a community park in Amritsar and killed almost a thousand unarmed civilians. 22-year-old Nanak Singh survived the bloodshed and wrote a searing ballad, Khooni Vaisakhi, which was soon banned by the British. Nanak Singh went on to become one of the best known writers of Punjabi language and his diplomat grandson, Navdeep Suri, has translated the poem into English. Join Navdeep as he pays a tribute to the massacre of innocence and the spirit of resilience.

Celebrated writer and academic Amitava Kumar's  recent novel, My Beloved Life,  binds the lives of father and daughter, Jadu and Jugnu, closely with the sociopolitical history of the Indian subcontinent. Tender in its observations and bold in its ambition, the narrative rewrites the definition of history to include the minute details of one person’s life. In conversation with author and academic Alka Kurian, Kumar discusses his relationship to writing and how this novel came to be.

Priyamvada Natarajan is Professor in the department of Physics and Astronomy at Yale University. A cosmologist neck-deep in the mysteries of the universe, noted for her work in mapping dark matter, dark energy and black holes, she literally creates maps of invisible matter. The acclaimed author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas that Reveal the Cosmos takes us on a tour of the ‘greatest hits’ of cosmological discoveries over the past century. Her extraordinary gift for making scientific theory accessible to general audiences and her commitment to developing strategies to enhance numerical and scientific literacy for the public at large make her an ambassador for learning. A fascinating and engrossing session that gives us insights into the nature of our universe. In conversation with Sanjay Reddy, professor and director at Institute for Nuclear Theory, University of Washington, Seattle.

A session that examines fiction, faction and the spaces in between. Two talented writers address fictional and factual worlds through their writing, exploring difficult and uncomfortable truths. Devika Rege’s Quarterlife exposes the cracks in the social fabric of India. Ijeoma Oluo's bestselling book, So You Want to Talk About Race is an unflinching critique of the racial divide in America. In conversation with writer and academic Sonora Jha, they discuss the nuances of writing amidst a contentious social and political climate and the process of staying true to the written word.

After a 30-year career in advertising, Alka Joshi entered the literary scene with her debut novel The Henna Artist, which would become the first of her bestselling Jaipur Trilogy. Following the lives of three main characters, Joshi's trilogy explores tensions across gender, class, and politics bubbling just beneath the surface of the Pink City of Jaipur in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In conversation with celebrated writer Indu Sundaresan, Joshi speaks of her journey as a writer and how the passion to create an alternate life story for her mother would become the driving force behind her narratives

Constitutions are the cornerstones of democracy the world over, with the judiciary serving as their foundation. In Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India, Sital Kalantry and William H.J. Hubbard explore these themes in the context of the world's largest democracy. Their work offers a data-driven analysis of 75 years of the Supreme Court of India's performance, providing a comprehensive examination of its impact and evolution. The American judicial system, pivotal to upholding the Constitution and democratic principles, has faced numerous challenges and course corrections throughout its history. Known for its complex structure and significant rulings, the American judiciary continues to evolve amidst political and social changes. In conversation with Judge Ketu Shah, professor Andrew Siegal, lawyer Pallavi Wahi and authors Sital Kalantry and William H.J. Hubbard draw comparisons between the judicial systems of India and America, shedding light on their unique challenges and trajectories and what they can learn from each other.

Sohaila Abdulali talks about her brilliant frank and empowering book, What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape, which has created a powerful tool for examining the vocabulary and culture of Rape. In conversation with Sanjoy K Roy.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic proponent of the importance of the arts and humanities, Martin Puchner, brings together a delightful history of humankind in his latest book, Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop. In an attempt to document cultural crescendos from ancient Greece to a time-capsule left on the moon, the book alludes to fundamental questions about identity, community, and existence. Along with author and academic Anand A. Yang, Puchner elucidates the role of art in the propagation of knowledge and cultural discourse.

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite charm. Shobhaa De defies the rules of nature and grows younger every year. De is among India’s most popular and gloriously irreverent writers. She has worked in journalism, as an editor of three major magazines and is the author of 25 books, including Socialite Evenings, Starry Nights, Spouse, and Superstar India. Her column for The Times of India, Politically Incorrect, carries unapologetic and remarkably candid observations on politics, society, economics and relationships. In this session  she discusses her books, riveting column and a life and career that defies convention and boasts absolute splendor, even if ‘politically incorrect’.

The female body bears the burden of scrutiny and curtailment in the world’s gendered dynamics. Researcher and scholar Cat Bohannon sets out to remedy the neglect of women’s bodies in evolutionary biology in Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Years of Evolution.  Academic and novelist Sonora Jha is the author of How To Raise A Feminist Son. Author and Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale's debut novel Paro: Dreams of Passion marked a cultural watershed in women's writing in India; her recent work with mythology places the feminine deities from the Indian Pantheon center stage. The three writers open different perspectives on women, their bodies and lives. In conversation with Kimberly A.C. Wilson, Executive Director, Hedgebrook.

A multi vocal poetry reading where different rhythms and styles converge in a joyous celebration of imaginative possibility by addressing the world as it stands today.

Food is a trigger of deeper memories, feelings, emotions, and  internal states of  the mind and body. Taste buds and the olfactory sense carry the essence of remembrance and are invoked by writers in literature and poetry. To most of us, the food that we associate with home -- our national and familial homes-- is an essential part of our cultural heritage. Chef Srijith Gopinathan discusses the intersections of food, culture and the smell and taste of memory. In conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy.

The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919 stands out as a turning point in the bloody history of the British Empire and India's struggle for Independence. On that fateful day of April 13, 1919 , General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful crowd inside a community park in Amritsar and killed almost a thousand unarmed civilians. 22-year-old Nanak Singh survived the bloodshed and wrote a searing ballad, Khooni Vaisakhi, which was soon banned by the British. Nanak Singh went on to become one of the best known writers of Punjabi language and his diplomat grandson, Navdeep Suri, has translated the poem into English. Khooni Vaisakhi has now been put to song by musician and composer Harpreet. Join Navdeep and Harpreet as they pay a melodious tribute to the massacre of innocence and the spirit of resilience.