Jaipur Jamboree '09

At last, I have finalised my travel plans for the Jaipur Literature Festival. Not only is this an exciting event to look forward to, it also gives me a much needed break from New Delhi. I can't wait to witness some fine conversations and meet such top class authors as Mohammed Haneef, Hari Kunzru, Patrick French, Vikas Swarup, William Dalrymple and Chetan Bhagat among others. Highlights of the festival include a performance by internationally acclaimed DJ Cheb I Sabbah and the Intelligence Square Debate which will be telecasted on the BBC. 

The concept of the festival is unique and, most importantly, inclusive. There are no charges to hear book discussions or performances (though one needsto shell out quite a lot of money to become a delegate in order to eat lunch and dinner at the festival venue). All one needs to do is book a cheap hotel (and there are loads of them in Jaipur) hop on a bus or simply drive down to Jaipur.  However, I'm a tad disappointed as Ahmed Rashid, noted Pakistani journalist and author of Descent into Chaos will be absent. His session on fundamentalism and his participation at the Intelligence Squared debate was something I was looking forward to. Perhaps another time...The following are the sessions where I will be present.

The Fundamentals of Fundamentalism
Basharat Peer
Malise Ruthven
Siddharth Varadarajan in conversation with William Dalrymple

In Conversation
Vikram Seth with Sonia Faleiro

Readings
Imraan Coovadia
Vikas Swarup

Moonlight’s Children
Daniyal Mueenuddin
M.A.Farooqui
Nadeem Aslam 
introduction by Alice Albinia

In Concert
Cheb i Sabba (Algeria) accompanied by Nathoo Lal Solanki & Chugee Khan and featuring dancers Queen Harish & Colleena

Imagining India
Nandan Nilekani with Patrick French

The Story of my Assassins
Tarun Tejpal in conversation with Marc Parent
introduction by Rana Dasgupta

In Conversation
Chetan Bhagat with Namita Gokhale & Jai Arjun Singh

A Case of Expolding Mangoes
Mohammed Hanif introduced by Basharat Peer

I will try to interview a few of these eminent people and some others for this blog. In addition, you may also find some pictures and videos from the festival (if technology permits) and my own notes about the event. Keep watching this space!