The Jaipur Literature Festival in NC!
The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), renowned for its annual celebration in India, brings its vibrant spirit to North Carolina, continuing its global journey across countries and continents with a dynamic lineup of writers, thinkers, poets, influencers, musicians, and storytellers. The inaugural JLF-North Carolina was hosted at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on September 27-28 2024.
The two-day festival featured Shashi Tharoor, the acclaimed author and member of the Indian parliament, whose discussion on British colonial legacies in his book Inglorious Empire attracted significant attention. Tharoor examined the destructive impacts of colonialism and its long-lasting consequences, providing the audience with a compelling critique of imperial rule and modern political dynamics.
Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake, delivered a captivating session on her latest work, Roman Stories. Set against the rich backdrop of Rome, Lahiri’s exploration of the immigrant experience and family relationships resonated deeply with the audience. She was joined by Suketu Mehta, whose book This Land is Our Land offered a defense of immigration and a critique of global inequalities. Together, they delved into themes of belonging, identity, and cultural displacement.
Another standout session focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the humanities, featuring experts such as Robert D. Newman and Rishi Jaitly. The panel explored the evolving role of AI in storytelling, ethics in technological progress, and how AI systems can be designed to foster empathy and human connection.
Adding a local flavor to the event, Cheetie Kumar, chef and owner of a renowned Raleigh restaurant, and food writer Sheri Castle engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on food, memory, and cultural heritage. Their panel, moderated by Charles Phaneuf, highlighted how food transcends its physical form to become a vessel for memory and cultural identity.
The festival concluded with a stunning performance by the Aseemkala Initiative, a collective of physicians and artists who used traditional dance to narrate stories of medicine and healing. The closing reception, catered by Vimala’s Curryblossom Café and featuring music by DJ Rekha, provided a lively and celebratory end to the event.
The inaugural JLF-North Carolina continued the festival’s tradition of fostering creativity and intellectual exchange. It was presented in partnership with Carolina Performing Arts, the Modern Indian Studies Initiative, and the North Carolina Museum of Art, leaving a lasting impact on the region’s cultural scene.
Sponsors
The Jaipur Literature Festival-North Carolina was made possible by the generous support of a diverse group of sponsors and partners who played a crucial role in bringing this global literary event to the state. Key partners included Carolina Performing Arts, which served as a lead partner, Sejal Mehta, the Modern Indian Studies Initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Carolina Asia Center, UNC Global Affairs, and the Institute for the Arts and Humanities. The North Carolina Museum of Art also collaborated closely in hosting events, further integrating the region’s vibrant cultural and academic communities into the festival.
Additional support came from organizations such as the North Carolina Arts Council, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and South Arts, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering artistic and intellectual exploration. Individual donors, including Asha Aggarwal and Sajjan Aggarwal and Parul and Himanshu Shah, contributed significantly to making this event a success.
These sponsors and partners exemplified a collaborative effort to support cross-cultural dialogue, artistic creativity, and the exchange of ideas, ensuring that JLF-North Carolina became a landmark event for the region, and we look forward to the 2025 edition of JLF-NC!