A literary homecoming

u_divya@dnaindia.net
Mumbai may be seen as the financial capital of the country rather than its cultural and intellectual hub, but that perception may change soon enough.

One of the most awaited literary events in the country — the Kitab Festival— is being held in Mumbai for the second consecutive year and could well become its permamnent base.

“Cities like Kolkata and Delhi are considered more culturally inclined, but we think Mumbai has a lot of cultural exposure in a contemporary sense,” says the fest’s UK-based organiser Pablo Ganguli. Adds Irish author MJ Hyland, “Mumbai is a wonderful setting — it’s a dynamic, cosmopolitan and extraordinary place.” 

With an impressive congregation of authors, artists and cultural diplomats, the festival will be on from February 22-24. Some of the bigger names — like Salman Rushdie — are conspicously missing from the list but Pablo has his reasons for favouring others like Booker nominee Indra Sinha.

“Every literary festival includes big names like Rushdie and frankly, I think audiences want to encounter niche names. Last year we had over 100 personalities from various cultural domains and this time there are just 30. But we are sure the festival is going to be as enlightening as ever.”

Indra, who won acclaim for his book Animal’s People, says, “I believe that any festival benefits art and literature lovers by providing them with access to writers and literature and new ideas.” And evidently, Mumbai as the festival base has excited most of the speakers.”

Says author Anil Dharker, “With all the recent festivals that have been happening in the city, like Prithvi, Kalaghoda and now Kitab, I think people in Mumbai are almost yearning for a rich artistic environment — something apart from the Hindi cinema culture we are overexposed to.”