Ashoka Literature Festival: The Weekend is Getting #kaafilit

Kiana Manian, Class of 2021

Ashoka is debuting its own literature festival this year, from 29th to 31st March, and needless to say, everyone is excited about it. The fest promises to be a grand affair, with prominent speakers including writers across genres, journalists, activists, performers and academics, some of them our very own, and extremely well-renowned faculty! In a space like Ashoka, known for its academic rigour and interdisciplinary approach, these two days provide further impetus to the encouragement and celebration of debate and discussion.

We had a chance to speak with the Directors of the Ashoka Literature Festival (ALF), Anant Shah (UG20) and Sufi Dharma (UG20), two second-year students who came together and decided to launch the event. It’s interesting to note that neither Sufi or Anant are Literature majors themselves, nor is anyone on the Core Team. When asked about this they laughed at how often it had been pointed out to them in the course of announcing the Literature Festival to the student body. As history majors though, they both noted that Literature is all pervasive and has a deep relationship many other fields; be it history, politics, philosophy- they each tie in with literature in some way and that is the spirit of the ALF. To take important conversations from out of the closed quarters they take place in and bring them onto a stage, to be had by students and experts alike. The aim is to actively burst the Ashokan ‘bubble’ by creating a platform on which the entire Ashokan body can engage with people and concepts relevant to the world around us.

Both Anant and Sufi have a distinct idea of what the Lit Fest boils down to, something beyond their love for reading and their enthusiasm to bring something new and lasting to Ashoka. For Anant, the importance of creating, inspiring and engaging with different ideas to leave a space you entered with a new opinion or a changed mind, is the most significant thing that can happen, and a takeaway he wishes on all attendees. Sufi emphasised the importance of thinking, she mentioned quite astutely how many people have forgotten the direct impact and importance which our classroom conversations have on us and our worlds, and how by engaging rigorously with concepts, we can actually start learning and making a difference.

ALF is in its first year, and that is in equal parts daunting and exciting for those building it from the ground up. It can mean anything to anyone- and that’s what the Directors want. They expressed their plan to start with as blank a canvas as possible, to encourage as many people to give their input and make it their own — this was their vision, for everyone involved in the fest to have their vision realised.

This weekend, fest promises to be nothing short of fantastic! You can already see the list of speakers going up on Instagram! And with the level of care and passion from the team, we can be sure the Ashoka Literature Festival will be one to remember.

Find the schedule down below and get ready to get #kaafilit!

The author is a Staff Writer for the Arts and Culture Section of The Edict.