CANVAS BEYOND BOOKS

In the month of January, when the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival arrives in the city, Jaipur vibrates with exhilarating energy. The city glows as the literary festival is celebrated with its caravan of ideas and inspiring sessions that feature the best of thinkers, writers, leaders and entertainers. One gets to experience the best of this sumptuous feast of ideas here.

JLF 2023 began the fourth day with its customary Morning Music, featuring fusion band, Pangaea, comprising composer-songwriter Mike Hogan; tabla player Saptak; and sitar player/flautist Mayank, who performed a soul-stirring Indian classical piece. ‘The Museums That Make Us’ featured Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum Tristram Hunt, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan Usha Sharma, British sculptor Andrew Logan, archaeologist Richard Blurton and head of culture and learning programmes at the British Library Jamie Andrews in conversation with Managing Director, Teamwork Arts and Festival Producer Sanjoy K Roy.

Leading financial historian Edward Chancellor, in conversation with Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Sanjeev Sanyal, discussed interest rates and how monetary policy is going through many difficulties following not just the COVID crisis but also the financial crisis of 2007-8. During the conversation, the Chancellor drew many instances from ancient Mesopotamia and Greek philosophers to give the audience an idea about the past in the context of interest rates. Author and philanthropist Rohini Nilekani was in conversation with celebrated journalist, author, and columnist Vir Sanghvi discussing Nilekani’s groundbreaking book Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar - A Citizen-First Approach.

Concluding the day, the Festival hosted an awe-inspiring Heritage Evening at the historic Amber Fort with a magical performance, in association with ‘Engendered, Trans-national—arts and human rights’.

This was followed by another performance titled – Shared Dreams by ---- and George Brooks.