Organisers of the upcoming Hyderabad Lit Fest say festival will not become a platform of controversy.
Mature hosts: HLF last year invited director Mahesh Bhatt and former CBFC boss Leela Samson. Samson resigned after the controversy over the release of MSG - The Messenger of God.
The sixth edition of the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) will kick off on January 7, and it promises to be bigger than ever. Even as criticisms at literary festivals around the country over the past year have given rise to heated debates on whether these platforms are fast becoming platforms for controversy, the organisers of HLF see no reason why the city’s own fest should be seen as such.
“On the contrary, we’ve got very good feedback from people,” says festival director Amita Desai, adding, “We’re very careful in our selection of speakers and based on the subjects we’re taking, we have had no such experiences so far. We’re also calling in people who are very solidly grounded in their subjects and writings.”
Co-director Ajay Gandhi agrees and adds that this year they’ve actually focussed on making the festival as open to people of all minorities as possible. “By design or by accident, none of the sessions are taking an extremely political position. I don’t think there’s going to be any extreme stand that will be taken,” he says.
That isn’t to say, however, that the HLF hasn’t seen its own share of negativity. Dr Vijay Kumar — another festival director — says, “We’ve had a couple of writers not being able to come because of the situation back in their own places, which prevented writers from travelling freely, not because they were coming to Hyderabad, but simply because they were asked to be careful in their travels by their own local authorities.”
The festival’s “free for all” nature is also what makes it great, Amita says, “We’re very much part of what’s happening in the country, we’re very aware of it... but this is a festival that’s more of a celebration of creative forms and art and culture. I don’t see, in the least, why we’re discussing dissent. If there is a difference of opinion, I’m sure as a group of consciences citizens, we will be able deal with it.”
Focusing on arts and culture, Ajay adds, is something that the HLF has consciously done to promote the creative form. “What happens (when political stances are overtly taken) is that that position hogs the limelight and the other aspects of the festival fade. So far we have not had any criticisms raised and I hope it continues this way,” he says.
Amita stresses that this year, the HLF — in addition to being environmentally sensitive — is focusing on being as inclusive as possible. “This year, we’re being very particular about ensuring inclusivity in all its forms — all age groups, all members of the city, all sexual preferences, all people with disabilities — so that every space in the venue is accessible to all,” Amita says, and adds, “We’re not a festival that only brings in the top tier authors and writers (we’re happy if we can get them, naturally), but we also bring in authors and artists who are very conscientious and positive... we have not found any resistance from any sides so far.”
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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