New Delhi: Indian historian Shekhar Pathak is set to deliver the keynote address at Uttarakhand’s 25th anniversary at the Valley of Words Festival in Dehradun, chronicling the journey of the beautiful Himalayan state as students outline the Their Vision of Uttarakhand @ 2047 in nine different languages.
How do these visions align or collide? Can Uttarakhand retain its lush hillside vistas whilst allowing for start-up founders to build locally, creating sustainable housing that incorporates traditional pahadi architecture while also honouring the deep spiritual roots of the Devbhoomi without enflamed politicisation or an obstructive push for “elite luxury”? These are among the questions up for discussion during the festival.
There is a precarious balance between tradition and modernity. Accessibility requires public transport and travel infrastructure, which therefore aims to justify change, said a press statement issued by organisers of the festival.
Kusum Khemani, Karan Madhok, Ashok Vhatkar, Soni Pandey and more award-winning authors will be in Dehradun from 25 to 26 October to talk about their stories, which do not all neatly touch upon Dehradun or Uttarakhand, but engender good conversation nonetheless, the statement added.
Works of local artists like Satpal Gandhi and Bhumesh Bharti will also feature at the festival. Tribes of India and NAFED will also host stalls with handloom and horticulture from around the country, respectively.
Nitin Gairola, the famous Indian wanderer, will also present a slideshow of his forays into the natural world alongside Ratna Manucha. The festival will also host talks on the significance of the state’s silver jubilee, and on topics such as migration and sustainability.
Beginning with a Tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur on the 350th anniversary of his sacrifice, inaugurated by the Governor of Uttarakhand Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), the 9th edition of Valley of Words is all set to provide a thought-provoking two days to all citizens of Doon and beyond, added the statement issued by organisers.