In the initial days of 2020, the Rajasthan Government ordered that the greatest literary show on Earth AKA Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) would have to shift out of the renowned Diggi Palace which has been it’s home for 13 years. While the authorities of JLF were digesting the order Coronavirus came and locked the world. Left us with many question marks and one of which is whether the situation would stabilize for the 14th edition. The 14th edition of JLF was scheduled for January 28- February 1, 2021. To which the producer of JLF, Sanjay K. Roy asserted that regardless of the testing times, the show will go on. Although there will be changes in its format and procedures. 
He even said, “It’s too early to look at what form the Jaipur Literature Festival will take for 2021. We are confident of hosting the festival in 2021 albeit with changes given the challenges presently.”
“These are testing times. Times which we had not ever foreseen or even quite comprehend. This is also the perfect time to reboot our thought process and create something fresh and vibrant. But every crisis comes with many opportunities. It’s on us to figure them out, nurture them and share it with others,” Roy added.
This is also a time “when we turn to the hope-instilling powers of literature”, he said, adding that the Festival has always celebrated the glory of the word and the engaging spirit of the community that is solely built by books.
The Jaipur Literature Festival believes in connecting the people through the universal language of literature and art at a time which defies every form of challenge. And now when de-globalisation is the need of the hour, a free flowing exchange of ideas must be kept alive. Therefore, we came out with ‘JLF Brave New World’ an online literature series. It is a virtual initiative to celebrate books and the multiple perspectives they paint, Roy said.
Highlighting the irony of a ‘tiny virus’ that has turned the world upside down and in true sense teaching us the fact that all aspects of life can get affected by a single object, said Roy.
He further added, “The pandemic has shown us that the road ahead is filled with unwanted barriers, but it’s not the end of it. It is going to give us knowledge which we never had a chance to visit in better times. It will bring us the wisdom to fight with even worse situations. JLF Brave New World is a reflection of the same idea which brought us together to keep fighting the pandemic and be together in these tough times.”
About The JLF Brave New World
It is a well defined process that shall indulge the entire workforce to make the session as engaging as it is. Making sure the originality is served with the change in format.
The live streaming sessions on various social media handles including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Curated by the co-festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, an elaborated list of speakers including Orhan Pamuk, Jhumpa Lahiri, Abhijit Banerjee, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Bruno Macaes, Margaret Atwood, Peter Carey, Peter Frankopan, Peter Morgan, Ruskin Bond, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Shubha Mudgal and Simon Schama, to reveal the few.
There is also a digital programming for the Music, Theatre and Art and Artisan space attributed META. It will go online shortly, meanwhile #ArtMatters is online to focus on art, artists, and artisans. A new exciting project around Jazz India Circuit will be Under The Banyan Tree, revealed Roy.
The preparations are in full swing for the 14th edition of JLF 2021.
The curation of this particular programming will be a lengthy procedure. The authorities plan a year in advance to serve each edition on time with it’s authenticity.
He even said, some of the offshore JLFs have however taken a hit. Such as India by the Bay Hong Kong, India by the Bosphrous, India in Morocco, etc have been postponed and JLF London, JLF Belfast and JLF USA are finding their ways to become virtual online festivals.
All things said, Roy concluded by saying : We Shall Overcome.
( Please note the story has been taken from a wire agency feed.)
Meanwhile, we urge you all to stay home and spread positivity. Shower gratitude and pray for the better days.
