Awaken the World: The inauguration of Jaipur Literature Festival led thinkers to counter the war on the imagination

Gulzar.

The century-and-a half old corridors and lawns of the Diggi Palace was brimming with festival enthusiasts and book lovers. Other speakers included Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, and poet and cultural activist Anne Waldman. Waldman shared her thoughts to counter the “war on the imagination”. “I think there is a resounding response in the affirmative for creative acts as daily practice…to help awaken the world to itself, and that I think is the purpose of art and literature.”

Gulzar also suggested that JLF could focus on an Indian language every year. “It is unfair to call languages regional, they are all national languages. Currently, the most dynamic shayari in the country comes from the Northeast,” he said. The five-day festival themed “The Freedom to Dream: India at 70” expects to cross 3,30,000 visitors this year, with more than 250 speakers.