It has showcased the best of Indian language and English work of the writers. 2010 witnessed Nobel laureates, like winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, five winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and two Booker Prize winners.

World-renowned writers of history, biography, literary criticism, travel, and also the stars of the world of fiction and the novel posed their great craftsmanship during this event. Writers include Hanif Kureishi, Niall Ferguson, Louis De Bernieres, Roberto Calasso, Amit Chaudhuri, Geoff Dyer, Vikram Chandra, Tina Brown, Claire Tomalin, Michael Frayn, Mahasweta Devi, Shobhaa De, Indira Goswami, Krishna Sobti, Krishna Baldev Vaid, Steve Coll, Stephen Frears, Pavan Varma, Lawrence Wright, Christophe Jaffrelot, Ashi Dorji, Wangmo Wangchuk, and Alexander McCall Smith.

The USP for this year include readings from Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq by acclaimed actor Om Puri, performances by Titi Robin, Cheb I Sabbah, Susheela Raman, Djaima, Rajasthan Roots and Paban Das Baul, and readings and performances from William Dalrymple’s Nine Lives.
The awesomeness of the whole show put up, was too mesmerizing. The whole aura that surrounded the campus was so very intellectual and oh- so – brilliant. The stupendous reading of the books- be it English or any other Indian language brought the amalgamation of various cultures and thoughts.

Past years have featured Salman Rushdie, Kiran Desai, Suketu Mehta, Shashi Despande, and William Dalrymple. Ian McEwan, Donna Tartt, John Berendt, Paul Zacharia, Indra Sinha, Uday Prakash, Christopher Hampton, Manil Suri had marked there presence in 2008. The 2009 festival had list of authors who showed their presence at what is now seen to be Asia’s foremost literary event includes Vikram Seth, Pico Iyer, Rana Dasgupta and many more.

And when great music is stringed to such a great event, the Literati become Glitterati!!! The music was the greatest hit among people. To my likeness I loved The Sufi Qawalls from Sindh, Pakistan : Shah Jo Raag. They had such simplicity in them that it culminated in a divinity of their persona. The Sitar they played with one hand and another hand created music by beating the base of the Sitar brought a feeling of organic unity. It was enthralling and captivating, the boldness, the shrillness of their voices, as they sang- narrated the story of a girl who was taken up by Allah from the middle of the desert because she was the most pious one. The beauty of a song cannot be seen but can be heard and still can be all fresh in our minds.

The Sufi Qawalls from Sindh, Pakistan : Shah Jo Raag

The Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, the Rajasthani Folk Musicians offered the authentic Rajasthani music. They actually portrayed the heart of Rajasthan in their music. And then we had Rajasthan Roots- Contemporary Rajasthani Music, which blew our minds. Bringing the Rajasthan folktale and the Guitar and Drums together enticed us completely.

They also had Djaima – (France) Percussion and Gulabo – who with her Dance performance got everybody notice their dancing worms in them. She just was there, made such a solid presence that you have to be looking her. You know she makes it compulsory for you to watch her, and watching her is such a treat to the eyes.

They had Samantha Marais (UK), then William Dalrymple’s (Nine lives Production) starring Baul Sammelan Paban Das Baul, Mimlu Sen, accompanied by Debdas & Kanai Das Baul who sang (amidst the reading of prose) in Bengali language. Their voice was so loud and bold that they did not need microphones, still melodious. The song was just so very earthy.

We missed Sara Michieletto & Sharat Shrivastava ( Italian)- Classical Violinist as we arrived late to the venue. It was saddening as it was the first on our itinerary, but missed it.
But then Amit Chaudhuri (India)- sang Ragas to the various blues, jazz, rock, and even techno songs.
Popular Music & Fusion Mrigya (India)- brought the Sufism and Indian Classical Music played with its base Guitars, Drums, Tabla and Violin, to the stage. It was such a fun to be listening them. We had our foot taping, our hands clapping and our minds transcending.

Music & Fusion Mrigya (India)- The Sufi music sung with a Guitar.

I still have the hangover and for sure I don’t want to come out of it, till the time my senses witness such a treat again. That’s again another facet of my India. True Spirit of India, I must say!!