IANS
20 May 2016, 20:21 GMT+10
New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Despite a row involving British mining company Vedanta as its sponsor, the Southbank edition of Jaipur Literature Festival will be held in London on Saturday.
The third edition of the festival sparked a controversy after several well-known activists and academicians issued an open letter urging the participants to boycott it citing Vedanta's alleged human rights violations.
The activists based in Britain and India, as also Europe and Africa, called upon the writers not to participate in the festival as Vedanta was the main sponsor.
"Literature doesn't exist in a vacuum. It makes little sense to discuss books and ideas and the problems of the world in abstraction, while being funded by and publicising a company that has been and continues to be a gross violator of human rights across the world," the open letter said.
However, a statement from organisers said "JLF at Southbank, much like the main festival, stands strong on the belief that the juxtaposition of multiple viewpoints and open dialogue is critical to finding understanding and a common ground", it said.
The highlight of the festival includes session on 'Ideas of India' to discuss the diversity and plurality of the country. The participants include Swapan Dasgupta, Rakhshanda Jalil, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Mukulika Banerjee and Pragya Tiwari.
Another session, 'Against the Grain', to be attended by Gideon Levy, Salil Tripathi, Shatrughan Sinha and Barkha Dutt, will discuss the participants' experience of swimming against the tide of prejudice.
In the 'Women Writing War' session, writers and historians including Shrabani Basu and Yasmin Khan will discuss their perspectives on the First and Second World Wars, including the little-known contributions of the erstwhile colonies.
'The Third Gender' will see two prominent activists A. Revathi and Laxmi Narayan Tripathi discussing their incredible physical and emotional journeys towards selfhood and a life of dignity.
The festival is also expected to take a closer look at ethnicity, cultural identity and a globalised world.
The festival will take place at The Royal Festival Hall on May 21 from 10 a.m.
--IANS
pn/vmGet a daily dose of Paris Guardian news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Paris Guardian.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: Grammarly is doubling down on AI-powered productivity tools with the acquisition of Superhuman, a sleek...