Chomsky, Michael Sandel, Marina Wheeler and Meenakshi Ahamed to attend ‘virtual’ Jaipur Litfest

The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) for its 14th edition will have a virtual avatar spread over two sessions between February 19 to 28 later this month. Curated by Festival Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, sessions will be pre-recorded with a limited number of people invited to attend the virtual sessions for interaction with writers.

Author and MP Shashi Tharoor’s conversation with philosopher Michael Sandel is one of the highlights. In his new book, The Tyranny of Merit, philosopher Sandel shows how the polarised politics of our time reflects the deep divide between winners and losers. He argues that we must rethink our attitude toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality.

Marina Wheeler, a Queen’s Counsel in England and former wife of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recalls what it was like to be the daughter of a woman traumatised by the Partition of 1947. She follows her marriage and move to England in conversation with Navtej Sarna, former High Commissioner of India to the UK, and speaks on her Punjabi Sikh identity.

Journalist and writer Meenakshi Ahamed’s latest book, A Matter Of Trust charts the complex relationship between India and the United States. Based on her research of Presidential papers, newly declassified documents, memoirs and interviews, the book evaluates the dynamics between the people in power in both countries against the backdrop of constantly developing socio-political-economic changes. At a book launch session, the writer will be in conversation with former Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, Shyam Saran, and former US Ambassador to India Frank G. Wisner.

Author Douglas Stuart, whose 2020 Booker Prize-winning debut novel Shuggie Bain evokes the essence of addiction, parenthood, courage and love, will figure in a conversation with writer and playwright Paul McVeigh.

Celebrated American linguist Noam Chomsky will speak on American society, culture and politics in conversation with journalist Sreenivasan Jain.

Doctors and co-authors Randeep Guleria, Director of All Indian Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Chandrakant Lahariya and epidemiologist at CMC Gagandeep Kang will discuss with Maya Mirchandani whether India can win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Festival, award-winning Irish writer Colm Tóibín will take us through the rhythm and roots of his writing process and celebrated career across an expansive universe of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. He is the bestselling author of The Master, The Blackwater Lightship and The Testament of Mary and Nora Webster.

The Festival will remember legendary Indian actress Devika Rani through Kishwar Desai’s book The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani which charts the life and career of the celebrated actress. Based on her personal letters and documents, the book narrates her journey, her marriages to Himanshu Rai and Svetoslav Roerich, and her struggles in the male-dominated world of Indian cinema.

Author and Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale said, “It has been a joyous challenge to work on the programming for JLF 2021. We look at our transformative times and try to understand the future through the lens of the present and the past. Our hybrid digital outreach has also opened up a new universe of possibilities.”