From the richness of language to depths of history, Bangalore Literature Festival has something for everyone

The literary prizes associated with the festival were also highlighted. For the Deodar Prize, Delhi-based Ateendriya Gupta won the first place for her short story “The Pilgrim.” The day also saw the announcement of the winners of the Atta-Galatta Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prizes, covering categories from fiction and non-fiction to cover design.

Also present was Ashok Gopal, author of A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of BR Ambedkar, winner of the Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize. He shared unique perspectives on Ambedkar’s life, offering a nuanced look at his interactions with Mahatma Gandhi and insights into his reading habits—such as the fact that Ambedkar was a book lover and a very hard person to retrieve borrowed books from.

Among a host of significant interactions with authors of newly released books was the one with journalist Stanly Johny, author of Original Sin: Israel, Palestine and the Revenge of Old West Asia, who shared his perspectives on the region based on his visits, bringing to mind war-torn Gaza as well as the current situation developing in Syria.

Historian Ramachandra Guha delivered an address titled “Environmentalism Before Climate Change,” offering insight into early environmentalism in India through figures profiled in his recent book, Speaking With Nature—namely Rabindranath Tagore, Madeleine Slade alias Meera Behen, Scottish urban planner Patrick Geddes, and photographer-naturalist M Krishnan.

The second day of the festival made an effort to highlight regional literary trends, such as Gujarati literature and the oral epics of the Tulu Nadu region. A major highlight was an event featuring three diplomats—Ambassadors David Puig of the Dominican Republic, Juan Antonio Pujol of Spain, and High Commissioner Philip Green of Australia—who shared their memories and impressions of India before and after their arrival in the country.

The day was also a hit with history enthusiasts. Among the historians present was William Dalrymple, who spoke on the topic of his new book, The Golden Road, later sharing the stage with his co-podcaster and fellow historian Anita Anand of the Empire Podcast. Historian Manu Pillai shared insights from his new book, Gods, Guns and Missionaries. Pillai pointed out that equations between local Hindus and foreign missionaries had changed depending on the balance of power, such as the adoption of local traditions and even caste dynamics by missionaries. He traced the path of these interactions with the rise of British power in India and the perspectives of figures such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Alongside the main event, two days of activities and interactions were also planned for children attending the festival.