The annual IAAC Literary Festival in New York brings together celebrated Indian authors.

The in-person event will be a two-day "immersive experience featuring thought-provoking conversations, readings, and discussions of stories told by courageous authors," according to IAAC.

on Nov 09, 2022

Celebrated Indian and diaspora authors, poets, and personalities will gather online and in person for an annual week-long literary festival to share stories of the Indian experience and ethos with the rest of the world.

The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), renowned art and cultural organization, launched the 8th edition of its annual literary festival on Monday, beginning with conversations with Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

"The IAAC Literary Festival features writers who share stories about the Indian experience and ethos with the rest of the world." "They excite our imagination and shape humanity's future through their thought leadership, even as they set new standards of literary excellence," IAAC Vice Chairman Rakesh Kaul said in a statement, adding that festival attendees will become part of extraordinary conversations.

The Indian-born British chef Asma Khan, Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna, actress, dancer, and choreographer Rukmini Vijayakumar, Priya Kumari, and Raza Mir will be among the speakers at the week-long festival, which runs from November 7 to November 13.

The online event will also feature a Children's Literary Panel with readings of "When Blackbirds Fly" by Hannah Lalhlanpuii and "Jamlo Walks" by Samina Mishra.

The in-person event will be a two-day "immersive experience featuring thought-provoking conversations, readings, and discussions of stories told by courageous authors," according to IAAC.

The skills and expertise of the 27 authors span a wide range of civilizational and cultural topics, including archaeology, design, dance, history, compassion, wonder, and the culinary arts. On November 13, the festival will conclude with a gala.

The in-person lineup includes titles such as "Tomb of Sand: A Novel" by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy Rockwell, which won the prestigious International Booker Prize this year; "[Block] Chain Reaction - The Future of How We Live and Work" by Elizebeth Varghese; "Tata's Leadership Experiment: The Story of the Tata Administrative Service" by Bharat Wakhlu, Mukund Rajan, Son

IAAC will also host a live Poetry Panel, moderated by poetry curator Dr. Ravi Shankar and featuring Arundhathi Subramaniam.

"At IAAC, we take pride in our ability to seek out and find foundational storytellers whose seminal works not only weave remarkable narratives that shape the world around them, but who are also notable for their skill with language." "I have had the privilege to work with a dedicated team of literature lovers whose hard work and energy made this festival possible," said Preethi Urs, Literary Festival Director, IAAC.