By Hassan Zia Rizvi, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: After the last year’s success of Lucknow literary festival, its 2nd edition will have international delegates and litterateurs along with the cultural programs and book launches.
At the press conference on 30 January, Luv Bhargava, the Chairman of the Festival has announced that the festival will be an effort to bring forth the delight of 6 languages (Hindi, Urdu, English, Awadhi, Sanskrit & Persian) and the heritage of Lucknow.
Shamim Arzoo of Lucknow society said that ‘Munshi Newal Kishore’ will be the theme of this festival whose contribution to literature in 19th and 20th century is one of the largest in the continent. Munshi Newal Kishore Press was the first printing press of Lucknow and ‘Awadh Akbhar’ started in 1858 by Munshi Newal Kishore was the first newspaper from Lucknow.
This two day festival will witness a diverse continuum of novelists, playwrights, poets, screenwriters, journalists, lyricists, bloggers which usher in the revival of the city’s literary culture like Shabana Azmi, Roop Rekha Verma, Bina Ramani, Jaishree Mishra, Gopal Das Neeraj, Gulzar Dehelvi, Munawwar Rana etc.
Nirmal Darshan, Director of Programme, informed that the authors of various languages from all over the globe are attending the festival. 14 International delegates include Raza Naeem from Pakistan who has come all the way from Lahore in Bus who interacted with journalists and said, “I am thankful to Lucknow Society for inviting me and will also try to gather Indians in Lahore Literature festival”.
Other delegates are Tomoko Kekuchi ( Japan , ) Malcolm Spiers ( US ), Jatinder Singh ( UK ), Natalia Hildner ( US ), M J Warsi ( US ), Veena Talwar Oldenburg ( US ), Jawaid Danish ( Canada ), Sehba Ali (Canada ), Satya Verghese ( Bulgaria), Pranesh Prasad ( Australia ), Vikram Mani Tripathi ( Nepal ), William Letford ( Scottland ), Pornpen Hantrakool ( Thailand ).
US Embassy is also participating through its magazine SPAN. Special focus on the involvement of children and youth will also be taken care in the festival. Story telling session and cartoon workshop along with panel discussions and various interactive sessions for youth are part of festival. Wish tree would be there to help under privileged children.
There will also be an entertainment quotient to the festival which will highlight Lucknow through cultural events like Kathak on 1st day by Natalia Hilder who is from US and learned Kathak from Pandit Birju Maharaj, Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan also on first day. 2nd day will witness Ghazal evening by Kailash Joshi & Shruti Shuka who will pay tribute to poets of Lucknow.
Dastangoi will also be organized for the first time by 3 legends, Mahmood Farooqui, Darain Shahidi and Danish Husain.
Atif Hanif, Director Marketing has informed that Documentary on Majaz will also be screened. The event will also enhance the irresistible appeal of the city’s rich architectural heritage through photo exhibition and carton exhibition by Shreyas Navare. It is an opportunity to bring in the traveller as well as the ‘literary tourist’ to Lucknow. Timings are from 10am to 10pm and the entry is absolutely free and there is no requirement of any pass / ticket.