Delhi: The 19th Jaipur Literature Festival kicked off vibrantly on January 15, 2026, at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur, drawing renowned voices from literature, politics, media, and culture worldwide. Presented by Vedanta and produced by Teamwork Arts, this celebrated event runs through January 19, 2026, upholding its tradition as a dynamic, inclusive platform for dialogue, debate, and the unrestricted exchange of ideas. The opening day delivered an inspiring mix of music, speeches, and sessions that tackled contemporary issues with depth and creativity.
The festival began with the serene Morning Music session, supported by the Infosys Foundation. Carnatic vocalist Aishwarya Vidya Raghunath and Rithvik Raja, joined by violinist Sayee Rakshith, mridangam player Praveen Sparsh, and ghatam artist Skanda Manjunath, performed a five-piece ensemble. Their blend of classical precision and imaginative subtlety set a meditative, welcoming atmosphere for the days ahead.
The formal inauguration featured a keynote by International Booker Prize 2025 winner Banu Mushtaq, whose collection Heart Lamp (translated by Deepa Bhasthi) highlights women’s lives and resistance in southern Indian Muslim communities. She spoke passionately about literature as an act of survival and resistance against inequality and erasure, viewing her recent accolade as a call to greater social responsibility. Her advice to aspiring writers was direct: “Don’t just plan writing, start writing. Write, write, and write.”
Inaugural remarks came from festival co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple, along with producer Sanjoy K. Roy. A traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, added auspicious energy. Roy traced the festival’s evolution from its origins at Diggi Palace to its current global reach across nine cities, noting its engagement with timely topics like artificial intelligence. Gokhale welcomed diverse writers from India and abroad, evoking the festive spirit of Magh month with kites symbolizing freedom and curiosity. Dalrymple highlighted the event’s massive growth, attracting up to half a million attendees annually for discussions on books and ideas.
Chief Minister Sharma praised the festival as “a celebration of ideas, a confluence of words, and a bridge of dialogue between cultures,” underscoring Rajasthan’s rich heritage.
Diverse Voices and Thought-Provoking Dialogues
The day’s sessions showcased a range of perspectives. In Javed Akhtar: Points of View, the legendary poet and lyricist conversed with Warisha Farasat about post-independence cultural shifts, the Indian middle class, and writers’ societal roles. He encouraged young audiences to seek inner inspiration rather than compete externally.
Coexistence: How Arabs and Jews Can Live Together brought historians Ussama Makdisi, Noa Avishag Schnall, and Avi Shlaim together with William Sieghart to explore memory, reconciliation, and shared futures.Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai discussed The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny with Nandini Nair, delving into her creative process, discipline, and the emotional layers of loneliness in her fiction.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi, in The Undying Light: India’s Futures with Narayani Basu, reflected on his memoir, India’s moral imagination, democracy, and future path, sharing anecdotes about figures like M.S. Subbulakshmi and his commitment to truth.Several book launches added excitement: A Statesman and a Seeker: The Life and Legacy of Dr Karan Singh by Harbans Singh, launched by Gokhale, Dalrymple, and Roy, followed by a moderated conversation; The Art of Being Fabulous by Shalini Passi with Ruchika Mehta on creativity and self-expression; and Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston with Saad Mohseni, recounting his media career, from the “I want my MTV” campaign to global ventures.
In The Seven Rules of Trust, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Anita Anand addressed trust, transparency, and digital-age challenges, with Wales noting algorithms’ role in amplifying hostility yet expressing optimism about fair systems enabling compromise.
The opening day’s blend of tradition, reflection, and bold ideas set an exhilarating tone. Upcoming sessions promise more inspiration, including chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and Stephen Fry, ensuring the Pink City remains a global hub for literary camaraderie and cultural connection.