New Delhi: Valley of Words (VoW) is hosting its ninth edition this year in collaboration with the first edition of MaxCity in Mumbai. The MaxCity VoW Literature Festival is set to take place on 1 and 2 March at the National Gallery of Modern Art and Kitab Khana in Mumbai. The literary festival combines the experience of the Valley of Words Literature and Art Festival, led by Dr Sanjeev Chopra, with the energy of MaxCity, led by Probal Dasgupta and their teams.
The festival’s theme is ‘Issues that Engage Us as a Nation’.
“In a world connected by technology, trade, maritime issues, wars, history, and economics, India stands at the crossroads of opportunities and challenges. Mumbai, a prominent seaport, is India’s gateway to the world and a platform for deliberations on books and ideas,” said Probal Dasgupta of MaxCity.
The literature festival will feature former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant presenting his latest book, How India Scaled Mount G20. Other notable book launches include AVM Arjun Subramaniam’s Shooting Straight, Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi’s Who Dares Wins (a Vir Chakra awardee for his role in the Kargil War), and K.V. Ramesh’s Lights, Camera, War!. Mumbai will serve as the launch venue for these books.
The fest will also feature another gallantry award winner and author—Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta, a Maha Vir Chakra awardee of the 1971 war.
Celebrated authors such as Amish Tripathi, Sanjeev Sanyal, T.S. Tirumurti, Sanjeev Chopra, Smriti Ravindra, Shabnam Minwalla, Probal Dasgupta, food writer Rashmi Uday Singh, Hindol Sengupta, and publishers Milee Ashwarya and Pramod Kapoor, along with senior journalists Sandeep Unnithan and Tamal Bandyopadhyay, will speak at the festival.
Joining them are governance experts Brijesh Singh and Ashwini Bhide, along with well-known personalities such as Lt Gen P.S. Pannu (senior advisor to Space SIA), columnist Commodore Srikant Kesnur, historian Shiv Kunal Verma, actor Avantika Akerkar, and mythologist E. Banerjee, making for a diverse lineup. Cdr Abhilash Tomy, the first Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world under sail, will also speak at the litfest.
Iti Nritya, an initiative by Valley of Words for young classical dancers, will also be held. In collaboration with MaxCity, Valley of Words will present performances by two famous artists at the renowned Jehangir Art Gallery on both days of the fest: Bharatanatyam dancer Vikiraj Kadale and Kathak dancer Kirti Kurande.
Dr Sanjeev Chopra explains the idea behind the litfest, saying, “The MaxCity VoW Litfest is a unique amalgamation of litterateurs, defence, and governance experts coming together to talk about an India that is carving out a salient place for itself as an emerging nation—a nation confident about itself and extending its support to the Global South.”
He further adds, “The sessions on the role of the navy in Blue Waters, along with the changing profile of our cities, including Mumbai, make it absolutely relevant in the current context.”
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
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