THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The much-awaited Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters kicks off its 3rd edition of annual event today, featuring over 35 sessions with world – renowned authors, speakers across the globe.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, along with writer Susheila Nasta, Mathrubhumi, PV Gangadharan – Managing Editor – Mathrubhumi Group and MV Shreyams Kumar – Jt Managing Director – Mathrubhumi Group, P V Nidhish, Joint Managing Editor – Mathrubhumi Group and Unni Balakrishnan, Chief of News, Mathurbhumi News.
In his opening remarks Chief Minister said” Malayalam literature is making its mark globally, the Malayalam books are being translated in various languages and are getting due recognition in various international literature festivals being held across the globe, he urged the writers to transcend above literature and have strong and independent opinions.
He said that the Artist should be Artivist, if he doesn’t do that the freedom of expression will be lost in due course, he should have a multi-cultural thought process, reading will exist only of there is space for independent ideas. He concluded his speech by quoting famous German playwright Bertolt Brecht “In the dark times will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times’.
MBIFL 2020, opening session was addressed by writer-diplomat-politician Dr Shashi Tharoor as the keynote speaker on “Who is an Indian? speaking about the present challenges the country is facing in connection to Citizenship Amendment Act, he said that central government’s decision to push the CAA with astonishing speed has been widely criticised,there is no logical explanation to the logic of selection of countries of the listing of religion other than to put it crudely religious majoritarian bias now in these circumstances.
He also said, the question of who is an Indian must be answered by looking into the mirror. This is a bitter political exercise masquerading as one of protecting the illegal immigrants. The issue of illegal immigrants is not properly enumerated.
Shashi Tharoor also quoted from Swami Vivekananda’s preachings where acceptance is all about Hinduism. I have my truth and you have your truth. You will respect mine and I will do the same.
“The multiple identities existed within us and others must accept this. I define myself and I choose, and nobody has a right to define me. If they don’t like they can dislike me, but they can’t define me’. He concluded the session saying that belonging rather than by blood or religion defines who an Indian is.”.
The conversation between acclaimed journalist Sagarika Ghose and writer Adrija Bose was on The importance of being liberal. In a confining atmosphere of intolerance and polarisation, how can one remain liberal? Ghose defined being liberal is to respect dissent and to respect disagreement that you can have love, you can have friendship, you can have cooperation without 100 percent agreement you don’t necessarily have to have a 100 percent agreement on everything in order to be friends to love to associate this was the great teaching of Gandhi, he had the tremendous capacity to disagree, to disagree well.”
Other highlights of the Day 1 session were as follows: –
a. Talk -New Daughters of Africa – Margaret Busby
b. MBIFL Solo – How are terrorist made – M N Karassery
c. Under the Tree – The Journey is the Destination – Rajat Ubhaykar, Andrew Fidel Fernando, Piya Bahadur, Anjana Mohan
d. Poet Tree – Why I Read: Why I Write : Gavin Evans, Tony Peake, Shashi Tharoor
e. BlackBox – Words with pictures: Collection of animation films based on famous short stories curated by Deepika Suseelan
f. Bamboo Grove – In an atmosphere of economic gloom, is cryptocurrency the hope for youth? By Nithin Eapen
g. Poetry Performance by Sumeet Samos- Counter culture Tenzin Tsundue
The Day 1 concluded with musical performance by Dinchik Nation. The event was attended by over 3000 people on day 1. MBIFL2020, takes place at Kanakakkunnu Palace. On spot registrations are now open, For more information and a complete program, visit www.mbifl.com
