BHUBANESWAR: After two hugely successful editions, the Odisha Literary Festival (OLF), Eastern India’s biggest literary event, is back. With a galaxy of luminaries, top litterateurs, journalists and political personalities, the 2014 edition of OLF, organised by the “The New Indian Express Group,” promises to be a riveting affair over two days, starting November 4 (Tuesday).
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the literary festival and deliver the keynote address in the presence of Editorial Director of “The New Indian Express” Prabhu Chawla.
The Chief Minister will also release the book “2014: The Election That Changed India”, authored by eminent journalist Rajdeep Sardesai on the occasion.
The first session of Day 1 “Political Literature: Does the Kiss and Tell Method Work,” to be chaired by Prabhu Chawla with former Union Minister Natwar Singh, Rajdeep Sardesai and journalist and activist Madhu Kishwar in the panel, will set the tone for the event.
With 12 sessions over a gamut of contemporary and socially relevant subjects __ starting from the growing trend of tell-alls by political leaders and journalists to literature’s role in changing mindsets towards women, increasing intolerance to the freedom of expression, development of Odia literature to new trends and developments in literature __ the festival has acquired a much bigger and broader shape this year.
Eminent figures representing the entire spectrum of literature will hold fort in exciting and absorbing sessions on different aspects of writing, reading and other creative pursuits.
For two whole days, the only of its kind event in Odisha, will bring together names of repute such as Jnanpith Award winner Pratibha Ray, Islamic scholar Maulana Mahmood Madani, former Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, noted columnists Ashok Malik and Shankkar Aiyar, noted economist Bibek Debroy, film-makers Lavlin Thadani and Nila Madhab Panda.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan will also take part in a session deliberating on tracing the Odia identity through literature.
In keeping with the tradition of book reading in the OLF, “The Storywallahs” will not only hold sessions for the children but also for the grown-ups. Famous Odissi danseuse Kumkum Mohanty’s troupe will also present a dance recital on “Shri Krishna Bhakti.”