The eighth edition of the Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) will get underway with its
inaugural session on December 7, 2017 at the Maquinez Palace Complex in Panjim.
For the next three days, December 8 to 10, GALF 2017 will be held at The
International Centre Goa (ICG), Dona Paula.
Noted editor Mini Krishnan and eminent historian Ramachandra
Guha will deliver the keynote addresses at the inauguration ceremony on the
evening of December 7.
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In keeping with its commitment to celebrate the margins, inspired
from the idea developed by the late Eunice de Souza, who passed away earlier
this year, that there are different ways of belonging, GALF 2017 will showcase
writers, poets and others from a wide range of Indian languages, including
Konkani and Marathi.
The inaugural function will also see the unveiling of the
official artwork of GALF 2017 prepared by the well-known Goan artist Hanuman
Kambli.
GALF 2017 will see the participation of many prominent and
acclaimed authors, poets, journalists and artists from India and abroad, from
countries such as Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, UK and the USA. Besides
writers in English and Konkani, others writing in languages such as Gujarati,
Marathi, Kannada, Malyalam, and Maithili will also be attending GALF 2017. These
include Sahitya Akademi Award winners Ganesh Devy, Ramachandra Guha, Jerry
Pinto and Ranjit Hoskote, along with the 2015 Man Booker Prize nominee Anuradha
Roy. Many delegates like Rakhshanda Jalil and Prerna Singh Bindra are attending
GALF for the first time. The North Eastern Council (NEC) is sending several
writers from the region including Padma Shri award winner Patricia Mukhim.
Several international participants including Singaporean Edwin
Thumboo and Gabriel Rosenstock (Ireland) will be seen at GALF 2017.
GALF 2017 will also host Nitin Gokhale, the author of ‘Securing
India the Modi Way: Pathankot, Surgical Strikes and More’ (2017), which
includes interviews with former defence minister Manohar Parrikar and National
Security Adviser Ajit Doval; Prashant Jha, the author of ‘How the BJP Wins:
Inside India’s Greatest Election Machine’ (2017); and the ‘Asia Reborn’ (2017)
author Prasenjit K Basu as part of its focus on history, contemporary Indian
politics and international relations.
There will be exclusive book launches by Tishani Doshi and Goa’s
own Salil Chaturvedi and Victor Rangel Ribeiro.
Among the Goa based and Goan writers are Angela Ferrao, Anthony
Gomes, Amrita Narayanan, Ankita Verma Datta, Anthony M Barreto, Arunadha Goyal,
Ashley D’Mello, Brian Mendonsa, Celsa Pinto, Dale Luis Menezes, Damodar Mauzo,
Datta Damodar Naik, David de Souza, Fatima M Noronha, Frederick Noronha, Hema
Myer Sood, Heta Pandit, Isabel Santa Rita Vas, Ishita Banerjee-Dube, Janeita
(Jugneeta) Sudan, Jayanti Naik, Jessica Faleiro, Jose Lourenco, Kaustubh Naik,
Kiran Budkuley, Kornelia Santoro, Kripi Malviya, Leornard Fernandes, Margaret
Mascarenhas, Manohar Shetty, Nandkumar Mukund Kamat, Neeta Raghunath Torne,
Nilankur Das, Odette Mascarenhas, Pantaeleao Fernandes, Parag Rangnekar,
Patricia Pereira-Sethi, Prashanti Talpankar, Pundalik Narayan Naik, Raviraj
Naik, Sahil Chaturvedi, Sandesh Prabhudesai, Saurabh Dube, Sonia Shirsat,
Sushila Sawant Mendes, Tanaji Halarnakar, Tanvi Bambolkar, Varun Sahni, Victor
Rangel-Ribeiro, Vishvesh Kandolkar, Vivek Menezes, Wendell Rodricks and Yuganak
Naik.
Exclusive bookstalls by Broadway Book Centre, The Dogears
Bookshop, The Other India Press, Niyogi Books, Oxford University Press and
Jaico Books will be set up at ICG for the duration.
As in earlier years, GALF 2017 will have a special focus for
children and young people, both school and college students. The organisers
plan to line up leading authors and books for specifically tailored programmes
that are accessible and enjoyable for the youngest visitors.
GALF 2017 seeks the collaboration and participation of schools
and colleges across Goa. Students attending the festival will find a fairly
large number of sessions, discussions, readings and performances to their
interest. GALF 2017 promises to reach larger numbers of people with its quality
and variety of programmes and delegates.
GALF
2017 is free and open to all.
