The Hindu Lit Fest 2024: championing free speech, democracy, and a pluralism of expression

For over a decade now, The Hindu Lit Fest has celebrated literature and its many facets, playing host to authors and performers, culture icons and eminent professionals. Beyond books As always, The Hindu Lit Fest, 2024 will go beyond books, expanding to include conversations that turn the spotlight on some incredibly important and urgent issues — from sessions on the global shift to hypernationalism to a discussion on countering viral falsehoods; from a conversation on Sangam poetry to the journey of the Indian Space Research Organisation ; and from a panel on understanding the history of idol worship to another on the Indian economy. The quality and scale of a festival such as The Hindu Lit Fest is not without its challenges, and Dr. Lakshman says that finding support from sponsors is the biggest one. And as registrations keep increasing year on year, Dr. Lakshman says that this has a direct impact on the future of the festival itself which lies “firmly in the hands of our audience and the support they generate for the festival by showing up, attending sessions, asking questions and indeed by giving festivals like ours a great energy that shows how transformative literature, culture, ideas and conversations can be in a democratic society like ours”. A long-term goal, she says, is to see this “sharpest of literary festivals become bigger and brighter and be a promoter of the best kind of work that human creativity has on offer.” To find out more about The Hindu Lit Fest 2024, visit: www.thehindu.com/lit-for-life/