Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 Launches with Grand Opening Ceremony
The 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival officially began on its opening day. This much-awaited event gathered influential voices from literature, politics, media, and culture across India and the globe. The festival will continue until January 19th, maintaining its reputation as a dynamic platform for dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas.
Inaugural Ceremony Sets the Stage
The opening day established the tone for five days of thought-provoking conversations and powerful storytelling. A traditional lamp-lighting ceremony marked an auspicious start in the presence of Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa.
Banu Mushtaq delivered the keynote address. Writers and Festival Co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, along with Festival Producer Sanjoy K. Roy, gave inaugural speeches.
Highlights from the Opening Sessions
International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq participated in a conversation with Moutushi Mukherjee. Mushtaq emphasized writing as an act of survival and resistance in societies marked by inequality and erasure. She framed literature as inseparable from life itself.
Her accolades, including the International Booker Prize 2025, reinforce her social responsibility. She offered direct advice to young writers present: "Don't just plan writing, start writing. Write, write, and write."
Legendary poet, lyricist, and public intellectual Javed Akhtar drew packed audiences for his session "Javed Akhtar: Points of View." In conversation with Warisha Farasat, he discussed changes in post-independent cultures, the Indian middle class, and the role of writers in society.
He addressed young audience members directly. "There will always be people in the world who are better than you," he noted. His encouraging words urged them to seek inspiration within themselves rather than competing with others.
Diverse Conversations on Global and Literary Themes
The session "Coexistence: How Arabs and Jews Can Live Together" featured historians Ussama Makdisi, Noa Avishag Schnall, and Avi Shlaim in conversation with William Sieghart. Panelists offered perspectives on memory, reconciliation, and shared futures.
Booker Prize-winning author Kiran Desai appeared in a session titled "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny." She spoke with Nandini Nair about her Booker-shortlisted novel, providing rare insight into her writing life, creative discipline, and the emotional core of her book. The discussion moved fluidly between craft, memory, and the many meanings of loneliness in fiction.
Reflections on India's Future and Digital Trust
Diplomat and author Gopalkrishna Gandhi participated in "The Undying Light: India's Futures" with Narayani Basu. They offered a deeply reflective exploration of India's moral imagination, democracy, and the road ahead.
Philanthropist Shalini Passi shared reflections on creativity, self-expression, and contemporary culture in conversation with Ruchika Mehta.
Issues of credibility and truth in the digital age took center stage in "The Seven Rules of Trust." Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, discussed transparency, accountability, and the evolving nature of information with journalist Anita Anand.
Wales addressed the role of social media algorithms in amplifying hostility. He explained how these systems often promote aggressive and emotionally charged content, framing political disagreement as a moral threat rather than a democratic difference.
Despite these challenges, he expressed cautious optimism. Wales emphasized that societies have historically managed ideological differences through compromise when systems are perceived as fair.
The Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 promises more engaging sessions and literary celebrations until its conclusion on January 19th.
