Dehradun Literature Festival

Dehradun Literature Festival
StatusActive
GenreLiterary festival
BeginsFebruary 17, 2017 (2017-02-17)
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Country India
Years active2016 – present
Inaugurated2017 (2017)
FounderSamrant Virmani
Next eventNovember 8 to November 10, 2024
ActivityPanel discussions, poetry recitations, book launches, workshops, literary awards, interactive sessions with authors and filmmakers, music performances, and cultural events
Websitewww.dehradunliteraturefestival.com

The Dehradun Literature Festival is an annual literary festival held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which began in 2017.[1] The festival hosts authors, poets, artists, filmmakers, and scholars who participate in discussions, workshops, and book launches, focusing on literature and cultural dialogue.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

History

[edit]

The festival was established in 2016 by Samraant Virmani to promote literature.[10][11] The first edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival was organized in 2017.[1]

A new logo for the festival, combining a butterfly and a book to represent the natural and literary heritage of the Doon Valley, was unveiled by Ruskin Bond in August 2023.[12]

2017 edition

[edit]

The 2017 edition of the two-day festival commenced at the ONGC Officers Club, Dehradun.[1] The 2017 inaugural curtain raiser of Dehradun Literature Festival Shobhaa De, who launched Karan Johar's book The Unsuitable Boy.[13]

Participants

[edit]

The following authors and literary personalities participated in the 2017 Dehradun Literary Festival.[14][15][16][17]

2018 edition

[edit]

In January 2018, the curtain raiser of the 2nd season saw the attendance of Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha[18] along with the writer of his biography Anything but Khamosh Bharathi Pradhan who is a film critic and a writer.[19][20][21]

The festival also hosted an additional Dehradun Literature Festival in the same year, which took place from 9th to 11th August at Unison World School. Notable attendees included Krishan Kant Paul, the Governor of Uttarakhand, spiritual leader Sadhguru, author Ruskin Bond, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, actress Sharmila Tagore, Soha Ali Khan, Lillete Dubey, and actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.[22]

The 2018 edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival commenced with an inauguration by Governor K.K. Paul. This was followed by a musical session hosted by the Isha Foundation. The festival featured a discussion between Ruskin Bond and Sadhguru in a session titled "Mystic Meets Legend". The theme of the festival was "Khulli Kitaab", which translates to "Open Book".[23] The festival hosted various literary events, such as panel discussions and readings.[24] It concluded with discussions on poetry, prose, publishing, history, cinema, fame, and the influence of Indian literature on music on August 11, 2018.[25]

2019 edition

[edit]

The 2019 edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival took place from October 11 to 13 at Doon International School, Riverside Campus, Pondha. Participants included Yashwant Sinha, who discussed his autobiography Relentless, and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who emphasized the importance of fitness. Barkha Dutt interviewed Ma Anand Sheela about her relationship with Osho Rajneesh.[26]

Other notable attendees included Mark Tully, Ruskin Bond, Karan Thapar, Imtiaz Ali, Rekha Bhardwaj, and Vishal Bhardwaj. The festival had multiple book launches and discussions on literary topics, encompassing both English literature and Hindi poetry.[27][28]

2022 edition

[edit]

The fourth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival took place from April 1 to April 3, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency, Dehradun. The festival was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, actor Tusshar Kapoor, and festival founder Samraant Virmani.[29]

On the first day, Tusshar Kapoor participated in a session discussing his book Bachelor Dad. The festival included the attendance of over 100 authors and panelists, such as Ruskin Bond, Prahlad Kakkar, Piyush Pandey, and Tahira Kashyap. The day concluded with a session titled "Music from the Roots of India", featuring folk singer Malini Awasthi.[29]

Day two included notable discussions with Imtiaz Ali and Richa Anirudh, Piyush Pandey and Prahlad Kakkar, Saeed Naqvi, DGP Ashok Kumar, Amit Lodha, Ian Cardozo and Rachna Bisht.[30] Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, attended the final day, which began with a session on "India’s Wars: 1962 and 1965" featuring Shiv Kunal Verma and Anirudh Chakravarty. Other sessions included "Creative Complex Characters" with Preeti Shenoy and Kiran Manral, "Murder in the Bylanes" with Aloke Lal and Maanas Lal, and a discussion on "The 7 Sins of Being a Mother" by Tahira Kashyap Khurrana with Richa Anirudh. The festival closed with a session featuring singer Sonu Nigam discussing "Changing Tunes of Bollywood".[31][32][33]

2023 edition

[edit]

The fifth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival was held from October 27 to 29, 2023, at Doon International School, Riverside Campus.[34] Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi inaugurated the festival, alongside Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, and author Gurcharan Das. Kailash Satyarthi's book Why Didn't You Come Sooner? was launched by Ruskin Bond, who also received the Lifetime Achievement Award.[35][36][37]

On the second day, sessions covered topics such as mythology and mental well-being, including a discussion on myth and folklore led by Smriti Dewan and Reshma Krishnan Barshikar, moderated by Saumya Kulshreshta. Historian Hindol Sengupta and Deepankar Aron discussed Hinduism in a global context. Samir Soni shared how writing helped him overcome personal challenges and supported his mental health.[2]

The final day featured sessions with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actress Sobhita Dhulipala, and historian Hindol Sengupta. An award in memory of writer Gaura Pant (Shivani) was presented to Ankita Jain for her contributions to Hindi literature.[2] Other notable attendees at the fifth edition included Ashok Chakradhar, Geet Chaturvedi, Sreemoyee Piu Kundu, Atul Pundir, Khushboo Grewal, and Muzaffar Ali.[38]

2024 edition

[edit]

The sixth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival is scheduled for November 8-10, 2024, at Doon International School. It hosts over 30 talks and workshops featuring more than 70 authors, poets, and artists. The first day focuses on students, while the following days include public events such as award ceremonies and book launches.[39][40]

Other activities

[edit]

In September 2023, the Dehradun Literature Festival hosted "Khayalkari – Baithak with Saumya", where Saumya Kulshreshtha recited poetry from renowned poets, including Amrita Pritam, Jaun Elia, Ahmad Faraz, and Munir Niazi, accompanied by musician Harish Budhwani.[41]

Reception

[edit]

In January 2023, Condé Nast Traveller featured the Dehradun Literature Festival in its list of five Indian literary festivals set in the hills for 2024.[42] In July 2023, Outlook magazine included the festival in a list of six literary festivals in India worth traveling for.[43] Additionally, White Platform Mag listed it among exciting festivals to watch in 2024.[44]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "1st edition of literature fest to start from Feb 17 at ONGC Officer's Club". Daily Pioneer. 17 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "3-day Doon Literature festival concludes". The Times of India. 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ Shobhaa De (26 February 2017). "Voice of sanity". The Week. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Doon lit fest begins today". Tribune India. 17 February 2017.
  5. ^ Sharma, Seema (18 February 2017). "Piysuh Mishra, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy major attractions at Dehradun Lit Fest". The Times of India.
  6. ^ "दून लिटरेचर फेस्ट में जुटे जाने-माने रंगकर्मी, गायक और कवि" (in Hindi). Hindustan. 18 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Extensive reading key to mature understanding". Tribune India. 20 February 2017.
  8. ^ "दून लिटरेचर फेस्ट में मिलिए चर्चित लेखकों से" (in Hindi). Hindustan. 16 February 2017.
  9. ^ "पहाड़ के लिए हो पहाड़ के संसाधनों का दोहन" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 17 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Doon lit fest begins today". Tribune India. 17 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Doon lit fest begins today". Tribune India. 17 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Dehradun Lit Fest gets a new logo". Rediff. 7 August 2023.
  13. ^ "किताबों की वजह से ही अमीर है ये दुनिया:शोभा डे" (in Hindi). Hindustan. 12 February 2017.
  14. ^ "चक्रधर बोले-जिसके पास पूंछ है, उसी की पूछ भी" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 19 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Dehradun Literature Festival commences". Tribune India. 18 February 2017.
  16. ^ Khanna, Anupama (20 February 2017). "LITERATURE REMAINS AT HEART OF DEHRADUN'S CULTURAL MORES". Daily Pioneer.
  17. ^ "अशोक चक्रधर ने जमकर हंसाया, रुलाया और जादू चलाया" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala. 19 February 2017.
  18. ^ "राजनीति में वह सम्मान नहीं मिला, जिसका हकदार था: शत्रुघ्न सिन्हा" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 29 January 2018.
  19. ^ "शत्रुघ्न सिन्हा पर लिखी किताब में बिग-बी से उनके मनमुटाव और खटास पर कई बातें". Hindustan. 29 January 2018.
  20. ^ "बॉलीवुड एक्टर शत्रुघ्न सिन्हा इन अभिनेताओं को मानते हैं अपना आदर्श" (in Hindi). Dainik Jagran. 28 January 2018.
  21. ^ "फिल्म के विलेन से शोहरत मिली, राजनीति के विलेन से दुख: शत्रुघ्न सिन्हा" (in Hindi). Punjab Kesari. 30 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Dehradun Literature Festival 2018". uws.edu.in. August 2018.
  23. ^ "Dehradun Lit Fest kicks off with talk session between Ruskin Bond, Sadhguru". The Times of India. 9 August 2018.
  24. ^ Chopra, Jaskiran (11 August 2018). "Dehradun literature Festival: A literary and Cultural Extravaganza". Daily Pioneer.
  25. ^ "Dehradun Literature Fest concludes". The Times of India. 12 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Dehradun Literature Festival 2019". Ecole Globale. 1 November 2019.
  27. ^ Tyagi, Alka (6 October 2019). "दून लिटरेचर फेस्टिवल 2019: नामी हस्तियां नई पीढ़ी को देंगे किताबों से मुहब्बत का पैगाम" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
  28. ^ Tyagi, Alka (12 October 2019). "लिटरेचर फेस्टिवल: रस्किन बांड ने छात्रों को बताया सफल लेखक बनने का राज" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
  29. ^ a b Tyagi, Tanmayee (2 April 2022). "4th Edition of Dehradun Literature Festival to be held from April 1-3". The Times of India.
  30. ^ "Tusshar Kapoor, Malini Awasthi light up 1st day of 4th Dehradun Lit Fest". Garhwalp Post. 2 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Sonu Nigam, Sona Mohapatra enthrall spectators at DLF 2022". Dehra Talkies. 6 April 2022.
  32. ^ "3-day Dehradun Literature Festival 2022 concludes". Garhwal Post. 4 April 2022.
  33. ^ Saklani, Reu (4 April 2022). "लिटरेचर फेस्टिवल: इम्तियाज अली ने कहा- लिखने के लिए ट्रेन से सफर करना पसंद, रस्किन बॉन्ड की यह किताब बनी मददगार" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
  34. ^ "27 से 29 अक्टूबर तक होगा देहरादून लिटरेचर फेस्टिवल का आयोजन, साहित्य-संस्कृति और सिनेमा का होगा संगम" (in Hindi). ETV Bharat. 18 October 2023.
  35. ^ Tyagi, Alka (27 October 2023). "देहरादून लिटरेचर फेस्टिवल: कैलाश सत्यार्थी की पुस्तक का विमोचन, रस्किन बॉन्ड को मिला लाइफटाइम अचीवमेंट अवॉर्ड" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
  36. ^ "Dehradun Literature Festival Kicks Off Its 5th Edition". Garhwal Post. 28 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Fifth Edition of Dehradun Literary Festival Kicks Off". The Times of India. 28 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Dehradun Literature Festival ends on a high note". Pioneer Edge. 30 October 2023.
  39. ^ "6th edition of Dehradun Lit Fest to celebrate words, culture & creativity". Social News. 6 August 2024.
  40. ^ "6th edition of Dehradun Literature Festival". 2024.
  41. ^ "DDLF hosts poetry evening 'Khayalkari'". Pioneer Edge. 25 September 2023.
  42. ^ "5 Indian lit fests that take you to the hills in 2024". Condé Nast Traveller. 23 January 2024.
  43. ^ Gupta, Piali (24 July 2023). "6 Lit Fests In India To Travel For". Outlook India.
  44. ^ "Exciting Festivals to Watch for in the Second Half of 2024". Platform Mag. 2024.
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