‘JLF - one of the biggest in the world’

Jaipur Literary Fest received an overwhelming response from enthusiasts.

Shivangi Singh

Asia’s leading literary festival held at Jaipur saw an overwhelming and unprecedented response from the literary enthusiasts. Encompassing a mixed crowd of writers, scholars, students and the media, the festival was being seen as “destined to be one of the biggest literary festivals of the world.” Talking to Shivangi Singh of Spicezee.com, the producer of the festival, Sanjoy Roy said, “The festival was fantastic. Our idea in conducting this festival was not to make changes or something, we just wanted to provide a common platform for writers, scholars and book lovers to meet up and discuss. We wanted to ensure the coming together of authors, artists and make this festival a meeting point of great ideas.” Social activist Surina Narula, one of the sponsors of the festival said, “The festival has grown really big.” However, she added that she doesn’t want it to grow any bigger at the cost of losing touch with the masses. “I don’t want it to be very glittery as it would mean the festival going beyond the reach of the common people.” Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra was spotted at the event, chatting casualy with the crowd. When asked by Spicezee, regarding his opinion on the festival, the director said, “I am here for the first time. I am still exploring it but it looks fantastic.” Celebrity writer Chetan Bhagat, who was thrilled to know that Amitabh Bachchan with whom he met on Friday during the launch of ‘Bachchanalia’ has written about him on his blog, talked about the festival at length. “I am feeling nice to be here, I thought it to be very formal. I never thought so many of my gfans would come to this place. Its really good to see common people attending the festival, apart from the literary enthusiasts. This is a unique literary festival,” Chetan Bhagat he said. “Now I can put it on my CV that I was invited to speak at the Jaipur Literature Festival on the same day as Amitabh Bachchan!” the writer had exclaimed earlier.Happily observing the crowd, Journalist-writer Tarun Tejpal said, “I was here when the festival began four years back. Now, the festival has grown dramatically. It is destined to become one of the greatest literary festivals in the world.” Well known author, Sunil Gangopadhyay said, “It’s a huge and well-organised festival. I think its very interesting place to be in. I want this to become bigger but at the same time it should not go out of hand and become unmanageable.” William Dalrymple, Festival Director said, "This festival has grown spectacularly. In 2002, just seven people attended my lecture. This time, the attendance is much bigger." Asia’s leading literature festival came towards an end after a fascinating five days of readings, discussion, laughter and contemplation, and with the hope that there are even better things in store for literature in the coming years.