11th edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2020 is from 17th to 19th January

Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2020 will focus on Nationalism and Identity, Homeland, Belonging. Nine sessions are dedicated to the various aspects of Women Empowerment, Pride, Climate Change, Art and Protests, dissent, democracy- the relevant and disturbing issues of the day have occupied space in the programme.   There are lighter moments, as writers of romance, murder mysteries and mythological thrillers unfurl their magic and AKLF guests encounter unexpected moments of drama and theatre popping up throughout the literary festival in a vibrant atmosphere amidst offbeat stalls and food stops. The three day gathering of literary and cultural minds will also be introducing new and innovative formats of sessions.   Welcoming a new decade of literary excellence with its 11th edition, AKLF 2020 recognises that books, ideas, arguments, empathy and analysis, discussion and debate, freedom of expression and respect for multiple points of view, that is offered through its platform, is more relevant today, than perhaps ever before. Award-winning authors as well theatres and cine artists from India and overseas have confirmed participation in the 11^th Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival. They will speak on various subjects and respond to queries from the audience. Among the eminent personalities from film and literary spheres who will be on the dais are Anand Neelakantan, Abhinav Chandrachud, Francesc Miralles, Prayaag Akbar, Preeti Shenoy, Paul Zacharia, Rajat Gupta, Shobhaa De, Vikram Sampath, William Dalrymple, film and theatre personalities and activists Aparna Sen, Kaushik Sen, Bollywood actors  Saurabh Shukla and Vivaan Shah. Besides, celebrated Singer Usha Uthup, renowned Director Anik Dutta.,journalists, authors and columnists Kaveree Bamzai, Bachi Karkaria, Shutapa Paul, Manogya Loiwal, Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey and Sharmistha Goswami Chatterjee have consented to be on the speakers’ panel.The schedule was announced by Oxford Bookstores and Apeejay Surrendra Group in Kolkata. Prayaag Akbar, author of Leila now much talked web series shared “It is a great pleasure to be back in Kolkata, a city of readers and a place that is very dear to me. Year after year, the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival brings together some very fine minds. In this time of great political flux, we need spaces like these for discussion and debate” Actor Vivaan Shah, participating for the first time, shared “It is such an honour to be invited to Kolkata, the seat of culture and the literary capital for the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival. It’s also ironic that I am coming here for a detective novel as Kolkata has such a rich history of iconic detectives in its literary past.”  Maina Bhagat, Director of Oxford Bookstores and Director of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, “AKLF’s 11th edition in January 2020 is one of reaffirmation and reinvention, as we enter a new decade of celebrating the written word! With Indian literature itself occupying a much larger place in the world literary consciousness than it did at the beginning of the last decade when we first created it, we at Oxford Bookstore and AKLF  too are turning the page not only to a new year but also on a new 10-year window of opportunities and possibilities!. To make the edition special Oxford Bookstore is donating books to the mobile library of Apne Aap launched during our 10 anniversary celebration last year’.Anjum Katyal, Co-Director of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival said “We need spaces for discussion and debate more than ever before. AKLF brings us such a space, where diverse points of view can encounter each other in a civilized atmosphere, where we can listen and respond to the finest thinkers and writers of today.”