'VoW promises to be a unique offering'
Just like the previous edition, equal emphasis on Hindi as well as English literature will be given in the three-day event which starts from today
In its second edition, the Valley of Words – an international literature and arts festival nestled in the bustling town of Dehradun – is even more ambitious and dynamic than its first edition last year. Certain thematic concerns have remained the same in this as in the last edition, namely that there be an equal emphasis on Hindi as well as English literature, a continuing focus on India's Military History and Strategy, and a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability in mountain-belt states.
The English sessions include a distinct political bent, such as a discussion on Jairam Ramesh's 'Intertwined Lives: PN Haksar and Indira Gandhi' with Sekhar Raha as discussant and Sir Mark Tully as Chair, and 'The Legacy of Patel' with Prem Shankar Jha chairing a panel including Deepak Gupta in conversation with Wajahat Habibullah. The Vox Populi debate this year will feature an eloquent and ideologically distinct panel of parliamentarians arguing whether "the best debates occur outside the Parliament" – to hear this being fought out by Manish Tiwari, Manoj Jha, DP Tripathi, and Tarun Vijay, each a stalwart in their own respective parties, will doubtless be one of the highlights of the festival. Fiction also remains important, with Jerry Pinto's "Murder in Mahim" being discussed by Rahul Singh in particular as a conversation to look forward to. There will also be 27 book launches, including Geeta Gopalkrishnan's 'My Grandmother's Tweets' and Robin Gupta's 'The 70th Milestone', amongst many others.
VoW's Hindi panels include several poetry panel discussions: 'Kavita Ke Rang', 'Taraana Geet Ghazal' and the fascinating musical medley of raga infused film songs which will be presented by KL Pandey in 'Raag Bollywood'. The session 'Aadhe Aakaash Ki Puri Dharti' featuring Paromita, Veena Pani Joshi, Pratyaksha and Kumudini Nautiyal also promises a rich discussion of and by prominent women authors in Hindi about their various journeys.
The Military History sessions are extensive and carefully curated, ranging from discussions about 'India's Maritime Strategy' (moderated by Admiral Arun Prakash) to analyses of the nation's significant wars post-Independence, and fractious relationships with China and Pakistan. 'Staff Rides and Battlefield Tourism' moderated by Sqd Ldr Rana Chhina will also doubtless be a thought-provoking panel.
The RS Tolia Forum – named after the pioneering environmentalist and bureaucrat who had served as Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand from 2003 to 2005 – is being curated by SDFU (Sustainable Development Forum, Uttarakhand) a not-for-profit organization, which champions causes related to Himalayan people and causes. The Forum this year has an emphasis on migration as an urgent contemporary issue, alongside livelihood generation as linked with natural resources. 'Highlander Voices' with Aditya Nabial and Narendra Garbyal in a session chaired by BK Joshi will bring forth young voices from the hills. The evolution and dissemination of Buddhism in Uttarakhand, a dense and topical history, will also be addressed in a panel comprising of SS Pangety, Norbu Wanchuk, and Khenpo Rangdol, curated by Binita Shah.
New authors and fresh young voices are being promoted through sessions such as Poetry Cafés and several exhibitions like four year old Ayaan Gogoi (our youngest published author) whose paintings will be featured in 'Gossamer Dreams' running parallel to the other 'Images and Words: Illustrated Stories from Children Living in a Village in the Valley'. There are twelve diverse exhibitions, including the annual Philately premise and others such as 'Iti Kriti: Pan Himalayan Arts and Crafts' (curated by RST Forum) which prioritizes sustainable handicrafts from states like Nagaland and of course the home state of the festival – Uttarakhand.
Sanjeev Chopra, the Chief Curator of the festival said, "VoW promises to be a unique offering – its different from other festivals as it encourages new and young authors, and takes up themes as diverse as migration from the hills to India's maritime strategy. The twelve exhibitions also reflect the eclectic offerings at Valley of Words!"
