PANAJI: The Eighth Edition of the Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) will get underway with its inaugural session on 7th December at the Maquinez Palace Complex. For the following three days, 8th to 10th December, GALF 2017 will be held at The International Centre Goa (ICG), Dona Paula.
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 official artwork of GALF 2017 is prepared by eminent Goan artist Hanuman Kambli.
GALF 2017 will see the participation of many prominent and acclaimed authors, poets, journalists and artists from India and abroad. 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.
Exclusive bookstalls – by Broadway Book Centre, The Dogears Bookshop, The Other India Press, Niyogi Books, Oxford University Press and Jaico Books – will beset 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 organizers 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. All are welcome to attend but it is always advisable to register in advance at www.goaartlitfest.com.
