Lucknow Literature Carnival to promote cultural sites
HERITAGE Mahmudabad House to be showcased at this year’s event
The third edition of Lucknow Literature Carnival will have a new feature - promotion of a heritage site of the city.
At the three-day literary and cultural extravaganza starting from November 27 at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the famous Mahmudabad House of Raja Mahmudabad would be showcased as part of the organisers’ decision to promote a heritage site of the state capital every year at the literature carnival.
The Mahmudabad House is one of the jewels on Lucknow’s long list of heritage sites. The 1916 Lucknow Pact was signed here. The house is also famous across the country for its unique Moharram rituals.
“Starting from this Lucknow Literature Carnival, we will promote one heritage site of the state capital. At this fest, as a prelude to the carnival on November 21, the Mahmudabad House will be showcased ,” Jay ant Krishna, founder chairman, Lucknow Literature carnival, told newsmen on Saturday.
Preludes to the carnival would also be organised on November 19 at the Mahomed Bagh Club where Giacomo Pirozzi, an Italian photographer, would discuss his photography career and his work with the UNICEF, the co-organiser of this programme.
This year’s carnival, a flagship event of Uttar Pradesh, has been dedicated to Lucknow own litterateur, famous Hindi writer Amritlal Nagar. The first and second day of the carnival would begin with panel discussions on the writer. Also lined up on the first day is discussion on journalism and literature with Avirook Sen, author of Aarushi: Anatomy of a Murder. Famous actor and theatre artist Tom Alter’s monologue ‘Dozakhnama’ and conversation with renowned poet Gulzar would mark the end of the first day of the carnival.
“On the second day of the carnival on November 28, a session on the institution of marriage with Sathya Saran, Kausar Munir, Rajit Kapur and senior journalist Kamal Khan will take place,” said Kanak Chauhan, director of the carnival. This would be followed by a discussion on famous Hindi writer Shivani. In this session, senior journalists Mrinal Pande, Naveen Joshi and Pushpesh Pant would be panellists. A session on youth poetry is also staled for the second day of the carnival. Senior journalist MJ Akbar would discuss his book, India: The Siege Within and Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi would talk about her association with literature and theatre.
The second day of the carnival would end with a cultural evening comprising performance of short plays by the famous Rage Theatre group from Mumbai.
A major highlight on the last day of the carnival would be Srijan Pal Singh’s talk on late President of India Dr APJ Kalam, with whom he has co-authored the book ‘Advantage India’. A musical tribute to the legendary gazal singer late Jagjit Singh would be presented by Sathya Saran on the last day of the carnival.
Famous writer Amish Tripathi of the Shiva Trilogy fame would discuss the journey from the Shiva Trilogy to the Ram Chandra series also on the concluding day.
Also slated on last day of the carnival is a discussion on political scenario in the country with senior journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Kamal Khan attending the session.
A talk on changing trends on poetry would be another highlight of the last day of the carnival.