BHUBANESWAR: After two hugely successful editions, the Odisha Literary Festival (OLF) is back.
With a galaxy of luminaries, top litterateurs, journalists and political personalities set to shine, the 2014 edition of the OLF, organised by The New Indian Express Group, promises to be a riveting affair spanning two days, starting November 4.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would inaugurate the literary festival, the eastern India’s biggest, and deliver the keynote address in the presence of The New Indian Express Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla.
The Chief Minister would 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, would 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 would hold the fort in exciting and absorbing sessions on different aspects of writing, reading and other creative pursuits.
For two whole days, the event would bring together names of repute such as Jnanpith award winner Pratibha Ray, Islamic scholar Maulana Mahmood Madani, former Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and noted columnists Ashok Malik and Shankkar Aiyar.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan would 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 would not only hold sessions for the children, but also for the grown-ups.
Famous Odissi danseuse Kumkum Mohanty’s troupe would showcase a dance recital on ‘Shri Krishna Bhakti’.