Acclaimed and beloved Indian writer Sudha Murty was in conversation with her daughter Akshata – businesswoman and wife of former UK PM Rishi Sunak at the Jaipur Literature Festival over the weekend.
Sudha Murty described the event as the “queen of literature festivals” or as “Amma would call it, the Kashi of literature festivals”. The mother-daughter duo spoke about their shared love for books during the My Mother, Myself session. They delved into childhood memories of storytelling, and the impact of reading on learning and personal growth.
Akshata reflected on the values of service and duty that her parents instilled in her from an early age, shaping her worldview and approach to life. Sudha, in turn, spoke about how these ideals are deeply embedded in her books.
The 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, presented by Vedanta in association with Maruti Suzuki and powered by Vida, has enjoyed an few days – featuring a caravan of the world’s most celebrated thinkers, speakers, and writers discussing a diverse range of topics. Each evening, acclaimed artists delivered remarkable performances at the Jaipur Music Stage, while the concurrently held Jaipur BookMark, India’s premier publishing conclave, continues to be a hub for the convergence of leading voices in the publishing industry.
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The fantastic Kal Penn mesmerised the audience with tales from his multifaceted life as a Hollywood actor, White House aide, and Indian American navigating the challenges of stereotypical roles. He shared humorous anecdotes, such as competing with a white actor in brownface for ‘Van Wilder’ auditions and reflected on how he learned to speak out against dehumanisation.
“There was a fear that if we cast a diverse show, white people won’t watch it, but diverse audiences will always watch white content. I think what you’ve seen in this equalisation of content is that humans will watch compelling stories, period,” he said.
His session challenged the audience to think beyond stereotypes, embrace kindness, and uplift others.
The prestigious Kanhaiya Lal Sethia Award for this year was presented to renowned Hindi poet Badri Narayan. Badri Narayan is known for his deep sociological perspective, and thought-provoking writing. Along with his poetry, he is also active in academic and public life. His acclaimed poetry collection ‘Tumdi Ke Shabd’ earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2022.
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Kanhaiya Lal Sethia, a great poet, freedom fighter, and social reformer from Rajasthan, is remembered for his works that were rich in national consciousness, social change, and the sensitivity of the folk language. Established in 2016, the purpose of this award is to honour authors who have made outstanding contributions to the field of poetry.
Sanjay K. Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, Festival Co-director and award-winning author Namita Gokhale, and poet-critic Ranjit Hoskote praised Badri Narayan's creative journey and his literary contributions.
*Info: Jaipur Literature Festival
