Kolkata:
The sixth edition of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival this January would pay tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru on his 125th birth anniversary.
To be inaugurated on January 14, the five-day-long lit fest would focus on values and literary concerns that shaped the country.
More than 80 authors and artists including around 15 foreign writers would be in attendance at the fest, which would be a tribute to India's first Prime Minister Nehru, co-director of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) Anjum Katyal told reporters.
Some of the prominent personalities who will be a part of the literary extravaganza are British playwright and novelist Hanif Kureishi, Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif, Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, writer-politician Shashi Tharoor, Justice Leila Seth, Ramachandra Guha, Charles Allen, John Elliott and David Davidar.
In tune with the Nehru theme, there would be a panel discussion on the topic - 'Has India kept her Tryst with Destiny?' with Shekhar Gupta, Ashis Nandy, Chandrasekhar Kambar and Sugata Bose.
Shashi Tharoor will launch his book 'India Shastra', a collection of essays on contemporary India.
Thespian Naseeruddin Shah along with wife Ratna Pathak and daughter Heeba will read out a selection of poems from Vikram Seth's book 'Beastly Tales'.
Renowned Paris-based photographer Reza Deghati would participate in the celebration of 125 years of the iconic National Geographic magazine.
Author, conservationist and former international cricketer Saad Bin Jung, of the Pataudi family, would launch his book 'Matabele Dawn' on African travel writings.
Bibliophiles would be treated with a special crime writers conclave with Caryl Ferey from France, Swedish authors Hakan Nesser and Zac O'Yeah.
Actress Tisca Chopra who has written 'Acting Smart' will participate in a discussion on the romance of Bollywood.
Writers from Northeast - Mona Zote, Esther Syiem, and Robin Ngangom - would discuss indigenous literature in the 21st century with Australian indigenous writers Ali Cobby Eckermann, Lionel Fogarty and Alexis Wright.
Some of the sites hand-picked for this edition are Indian Museum, National Library, Victoria Memorial, Tollygunge Club and the historic Lascar War Memorial.