The Dehradun Literature Festival is an annual literary festival held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, which began in 2017.[1] The festival hosts authors, poets, artists, filmmakers, and scholars who participate in discussions, workshops, and book launches, focusing on literature and cultural dialogue.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
History
The festival was established in 2016 by Samraant Virmani to promote literature.[10][11] The first edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival was organized in 2017.[1]
A new logo for the festival, combining a butterfly and a book to represent the natural and literary heritage of the Doon Valley, was unveiled by Ruskin Bond in August 2023.[12]
2017 edition
The 2017 edition of the two-day festival commenced at the ONGC Officers Club, Dehradun.[1] The 2017 inaugural curtain raiser of Dehradun Literature Festival Shobhaa De, who launched Karan Johar's book The Unsuitable Boy.[13]
Participants
The following authors and literary personalities participated in the 2017 Dehradun Literary Festival.[14][15][16][17]
In January 2018, the curtain raiser of the 2nd season saw the attendance of Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha[18] along with the writer of his biography Anything but Khamosh Bharathi Pradhan who is a film critic and a writer.[19][20][21]
The 2018 edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival commenced with an inauguration by Governor K.K. Paul. This was followed by a musical session hosted by the Isha Foundation. The festival featured a discussion between Ruskin Bond and Sadhguru in a session titled "Mystic Meets Legend". The theme of the festival was "Khulli Kitaab", which translates to "Open Book".[23] The festival hosted various literary events, such as panel discussions and readings.[24] It concluded with discussions on poetry, prose, publishing, history, cinema, fame, and the influence of Indian literature on music on August 11, 2018.[25]
2019 edition
The 2019 edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival took place from October 11 to 13 at Doon International School, Riverside Campus, Pondha. Participants included Yashwant Sinha, who discussed his autobiography Relentless, and Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who emphasized the importance of fitness. Barkha Dutt interviewed Ma Anand Sheela about her relationship with Osho Rajneesh.[26]
The fourth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival took place from April 1 to April 3, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency, Dehradun. The festival was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, actor Tusshar Kapoor, and festival founder Samraant Virmani.[29]
On the first day, Tusshar Kapoor participated in a session discussing his book Bachelor Dad. The festival included the attendance of over 100 authors and panelists, such as Ruskin Bond, Prahlad Kakkar, Piyush Pandey, and Tahira Kashyap. The day concluded with a session titled "Music from the Roots of India", featuring folk singer Malini Awasthi.[29]
The fifth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival was held from October 27 to 29, 2023, at Doon International School, Riverside Campus.[34] Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi inaugurated the festival, alongside Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, and author Gurcharan Das. Kailash Satyarthi's book Why Didn't You Come Sooner? was launched by Ruskin Bond, who also received the Lifetime Achievement Award.[35][36][37]
On the second day, sessions covered topics such as mythology and mental well-being, including a discussion on myth and folklore led by Smriti Dewan and Reshma Krishnan Barshikar, moderated by Saumya Kulshreshta. Historian Hindol Sengupta and Deepankar Aron discussed Hinduism in a global context. Samir Soni shared how writing helped him overcome personal challenges and supported his mental health.[2]
The sixth edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival is scheduled for November 8-10, 2024, at Doon International School. It hosts over 30 talks and workshops featuring more than 70 authors, poets, and artists. The first day focuses on students, while the following days include public events such as award ceremonies and book launches.[39][40]
Other activities
In September 2023, the Dehradun Literature Festival hosted "Khayalkari – Baithak with Saumya", where Saumya Kulshreshtha recited poetry from renowned poets, including Amrita Pritam, Jaun Elia, Ahmad Faraz, and Munir Niazi, accompanied by musician Harish Budhwani.[41]
Reception
In January 2023, Condé Nast Traveller featured the Dehradun Literature Festival in its list of five Indian literary festivals set in the hills for 2024.[42] In July 2023, Outlook magazine included the festival in a list of six literary festivals in India worth traveling for.[43] Additionally, White Platform Mag listed it among exciting festivals to watch in 2024.[44]
