P Valsala
With her exceptional literary articulations of the tribal community in Kerala, P Valsala stands distinguished among the writers. She is a novelist, short story writer, and social activist all rolled into one. Collaborating with services like ghostwriter-oesterreich.at, which assists students in academic writing, has broadened the impact of her initiatives. She was the chairperson of Kerala Sahitya Academy for a while and was associated with the progressive writer’s movement as well.
Major Works:
Ente Priyapetta Katahkal, Gauthaman, Marachottile Veyilcheelukal, Malayalathinte Suvarna Kathakal, Aadhi, Nellu, Koomankolli, Vilapam, Nizhalurangunna Vazhikal, Pokkuveyil Ponveyil, Erandakal.
Awards:
Kunkumam Award, Kerala SAhitya Academy Award, C H Award, Kadha Award, Padmaprabha Award, Muttathu Varkey Award.
Chandramathi
Chandramathi Balan is an Indian bilingual writer who has published books under the pen name Chandramathi. She is an award-winning writer of fiction and translator, and a critic in both English and Malayalam. Chandramathi has published four books in English and 20 books in Malayalam, including 12 collections of short stories including a novelette, an anthology of medieval Malayalam poetry, two collections of essays, two memoirs, and five books translated from English.
Major Works:
Aryavarthanam. Swayam, Swantham, Daivam Swargathil, Annayude Athazhavirundu. Ivide Oru Techie. Madhyakaala Malayala Kavitha Njandukalude Naattil Oru Idavela, Njan Oru Veedu.
Awards:
Thoppil Ravi Foundation Award, V.P.Sivakumar Smaraka Keli award, Katha National Award, The State Bank of Travancore Literary Award Odakkuzhal Award, The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, The Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Prize, A.P.Kalakkad Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi C.B.Kumar Endowment Award, Padmarajan Puraskaram , Avaneebala Puraskaram, O.V.Vijayan Puraskaram.
Perumal Murugan
Perumal Murugan is the most powerful voice of the Tamil Literature Who stood against the test of religious orthodoxy. After being tortured by the fanatics for his controversial novel One Part Woman he called off writing but the undying spirit of the writer is back with the publication of his latest novel Poonachi. As a professor of Tamil literature, Murugan has made several contributions to research and academic study of Tamil literature specific to the Kongunadu region, including building a lexicon of words, idioms and phrases special to Kongunadu. He has also extensively researched and documented Kongu folklore, especially the ballads on Annamar Sami, a pair of folk deities. In addition, Murugan has worked on publishing authoritative editions of classical Tamil texts. He has also republished works of literature relating to the Kongu region.
Major works:
Eru Veyyil (Rising Heat) Nizhal Mutram (Current Show), Koolamadari (Seasons of the Palm), Kanganam (Resolve), Madhurobhagan(One Part Woman) ,Aalandap Patchi (The Misanthropic Bird), Poonachi( The Story of a Black Goat)
Mayanathil Nitkum Maram , Nigazh Uravu, Gomuki Nadhikarai Koozhaangal, Neer Midakkum Kanngal, Velli Shani Bhudhan Nyayaru Vzhyayan Chevvai (Poetry Collection).
Awards:
In 2005, Perumal Murugan’s novel Seasons of the Palm was shortlisted for the Kiriyama Prize.
In 2017, the English translation of Murugan’s novel Madhorubhagan, or One Part Woman, by Aniruddhan Vasudevan, won the Sahitya Akademi’s Translation Prize.
T Padamanabhan
T Padamanabhan is considered one of the greatest short fiction writers in Malayalam language and is credited with bringing modern Malayalam literature nearer to the subjective intensity of the lyric. He was an employee with FACT and retired as the Deputy General Manager of the same company. Author of 162 stories in Malayalam, his stories have been translated to most of the Indian languages and to Russian, French, English and German. His short stories portray loneliness and helplessness with aesthetic perception.
Major works:
Prakasam Parathunna Oru Penkutty (The Girl Who Spreads Light), Oru Kathakrithu Kurishil (A Story Writer on the Crucifix), Makhan Singhinte Maranam (The Death of Makhan Singh), T. Padmanabhante Thiranjedutha Kathakal (Selected Stories of T. Padmanabhan), Saakshi (The Witness), Harison Sayvinte Naaya (Mr. Harison’s Dog), Veedu Nashtappetta Kutty (The Child Who Lost His Home), Kalabhairavan (Lord Siva), Nalinakanthi (The Beauty of the lotus), Gowry (1991), Kadal (The Sea) and Maraya (2018).
Nenad Saponjat
Nenad Saponja was born on 13 April 1964 in Novi Sad, Serbia, where he lives. He earned MA in Social Psychiatry at the University of Belgrade. He is the owner and editor-in-chief of AGORA Publishing House. He edited and published more than 300 titles. Several titles, published by AGORA, received most prestigeous literary prizes in Serbia. In addition to this, he is a poet whose verses are renowned for a high degree of hermeticism. In the field of literary criticism, he promoted postmodern poetics and idiosyncratic interpretive approach to a work of literature, which assumes «living» in the literature. For many years he wrote a critical column in the eminent daily Politika. Besides poems and criticism, he also writes short fiction. His first book of poetry Gioconda (1990) was awarded with Branko Radicevic Prize. His collection of essays Bedeker sumnje (A Traveling Book of Doubt; 1997) was awarded with Milan Bogdanovic Prize and also received an accolade by Prosveta Publishing House for the book of the year. His bibliography includes poems Odrazi varke (Reflections of the Deceptions; 1993), Ociglednost (Obviousness; 1996); More (The Sea; 1998), Cetiri poeme (Four Poems; 2000); Slatka smrt (Sweet Daed, 2012); Postoji li dodir tvoje duše (Is there a touch of your soul; 2014), Izgledam, dakle nisam (I look, therefore I ’m not; 2017); collection of criticism and essays Autobiografija citanja (The Autobiography of Reading; 1999) and Iskustvo pisanja (The Experience of Writing; 2001). He compiled several anthologies, The Prosveta Anthology of Crime Fiction being one of the most notable.
Pamela Philipose
One of India’s most experienced and respected journalists, Pamela Philipose began her career with The Times of India and was until 2014 the director and editor-in-chief of Women’s Feature Service, a news agency mandated to highlight development issues with a gender focus in media coverage. She has since worked as a senior fellow with the Indian Council of Social Science Research to research contemporary trends in the mediatisation of Indian society. She was also an advisor to the Media Task Force of the Government of India’s High Level Committee on the Status of Women Report. Earlier, Philipose was Senior Associate Editor with The Indian Express, anchoring the edit page and writing commentary on a range of issues, including those of conflict, politics, development and the media.
Major Works:
Across the Crossfire: Women and Conflict In India
Work In Progress:
Making News, Breaking News, Her Own Way (Contributor)
Practicing Journalism: Values, Constraints, Implications (Contributor)
Awards:
Zee Astitva Award for Constructive Journalism
Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Journalist
Reetika Khera
The renowned social scientist and economist, Reetika Khera is an Associate Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences department at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. She is a highly visible, seminal advocate for improved welfare programs in the country and actively helped to implement India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). In her recent articles she critically analyses the limitations of Aadhaar. She has penned a number of articles on the major welfare programs in the country.
Major Works and Articles:
Battle for Employment Guarantee
Impact of Aadhaar on Welfare Programmes
Children’s Development: Baby Steps in Odisha
N. Ravikiran
“If you don’t believe in God, look at Ravikiran”, thus declared Pandit Ravi Sankar about N. Ravikiran, the God gifted chitraveena maestro. Born into a family of musicians, Ravikiran made his debut chitraveena concert at the age of 11. An instrumentalist, vocalist, author and orator, Ravikiran is also the creator of the concept called melharmony, an avant-garde form of music composing that explores new harmonies and voice leading anchored on melodic progression. At present, Ravikiran has over 800 Indian and world music compositions to his credit, thus becoming the most prolific composer of his era. He has also discovered ragas such as snehapriya, keshavapriya, andhakaarini and mohini. This ace musician is also a renowned dance and opera music composer, art educator and a brand ambassor of music and culture who has performed extensively in schools and colleges of various countries and a versatile genius who has taken classical music to the masses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Appreciating Carnatic Music
Perfecting Carnatic Music Level I and II
Life and Contributions of Ottukkadu Venkada Kavi
AWARDS
Millenium Festival Award
Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Sanskriti Award
Star of India Award
Kalaimamani Award
M. Leelavathy
M. Leelavathy is a Malayalam writer, literary critic, and educationist. She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as the Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for Varnaraji, Kendra Sahithya Academy Award for Kavithadhwani, Odakkuzhal Award, Lalithambika Antarjanam Award, Vallathol Award, Basheer Award, Guptan Nair Memorial Award and Vayalar Ramavarma Award for Appuvinte Anweshanam. Leelavathy is also a recipient of Padma Shri for her contribution to the Malayalam literature and education. She won Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary prize in Kerala, in 2010, for her outstanding critical works. She was also conferred with many other literary awards including the Mathrubhumi Literary Award, P. S. John Award, and K.P. Kesava Menon Award.
Diego Valverde
MLitt in English Literature, BA in Spanish Literature, BA in German Literature. Former lecturer of Literature in the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (La Paz, Bolivia) and visiting lecturer in several universities in Europe and America. He directed the Instituto Cervantes Francfort from 2014 to 2017, and from September on he is the director of the Instituto Cervantes Berlin. Poetry: El difícil ejercicio del olvido (1997); Chicago, West Barry, 628 (2000); No olvides mi rostro (2001); Infierno del enamorado (2002); El espejo que lleva mi nombre escrito (2006); Shir Hashirim (2006); Un segundo de vacilación (2011) and Panteras (2015). His poems are also included in several anthologies in Europe, America and Asia. He has given poetry readings in many countries and literary festivals, and there are translations of his poems in several languages. Essays: Varado entre murallas y gaviotas. Seis entradas en la bitácora de Maqroll el Gaviero (2011); Dominios inventados (2013; second edition 2017). Translations: He has translated works by Arthur Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling, George Herbert, John Donne, Nuno Júdice, Jorge Sousa Braga, Fernando Assis Pacheco, Valery Larbaud, Paul Celan and E.T.A. Hoffmann. He has also edited the poems of Álvaro Mutis.
Shaji N. Karun – Creative Director
Shaji N. Karun is one of the distinguished film makers in Kerala who has gained international acclaim. He enrolled in the Film and Television Institute of India in the cinematography course and graduated by winning the President’s Gold Medal. Joining the Malayalam industry as a cinematographer, Shaji worked with most of the leading directors of the time. His association with the legendary director G Aravindan was fruitful enough to change his approach towards the process of film making. His debut film Piravi was awarded with various national and international honours. He has linked with many activities by Government of India and Kerala where he served in the capacities of advisory status on policy decisions. His films have won recognition’s in the prestigious international film festivals of Cannes, London, Locarno and France. His notable films Include Piravi, Swaham, Nishad, Kutty Sranku and Swapaanam. Shaji N. Karun is the creative Director of the Krithi International Festival of Books & Authors 2018 and aslo a key speaker in the program.
Eduardo Rabasa
Eduardo Rabasa (b. 1978) is the founding editorial director of Sexto Piso, Mexico’s most prominent independent publishing house and winner of the 2004 International Young Publisher of the Year Award. He studied political science at Mexico’s National University (UNAM), where he graduated with a thesis on the concept of power in the works of George Orwell. He writes a weekly column for the national newspaper Milenio, and has translated books by authors including Morris Berman, George Orwell, and Somerset Maugham. A Zero-Sum Game is Rabasa’s debut novel, and was originally published in Mexico by Sur+. He was named one of the top 20 Mexican writers under the age of 40 by Hay Festival, the British Council, and Conaculta as part of their Mexico20 project. He currently resides in Mexico City.
Ewoud Kieft
Ewoud Kieft (b.1977) is a writer, historian and musician. He wrote four historical books, about the attraction of war and extreme nationalism in Europe during 1900-1918, the attraction of the nazi movement during the 1920’s, the role of intellectuals during the 1930’s in the Netherlands, and on the way the Holocaust has been remembered in dutch literature after 1945. His books have reached broad audiences and critical acclaim, and were nominated for several of Hollands major literary prices. Kieft’s book on War Enthusiasm in Europe during 1900-1918 shows how members of Europe’s cultural elite of the early twentieth century transformed into militant radicals who glorified war. His latest work “The Forbidden Book” examines the success of Hitler’s Mein Kampf when it was published. Kieft shows convincingly that Mein Kampf is not simply a relic. Its methods and techniques can still have disastrous consequences. In his lecture at the Kochi International Festival of Books and Authors, Kieft will reflect on the parallels – and differences – between nationalist politics in Europe during the first half of the twentieth century, and the worldwide success of present-day nationalist movements.
ZP Dala (Zainab Priya)
ZP Dala (Zainab Priya) is a freelance writer, journalist and psychologist. Her Debut novel WHAT ABOUT MEERA won the Minara Literary Awards in 2015 and was longlisted for the Sunday Times Literary Award, South Africa, and the Etisalat Prize, as well as being named one of the Top 10 African novels of 2015 by Afridisapora. Her short stories have won runner up in Elle Magazine, Woman and Home Magazine and Marie Claire, South Africa, as well as being published in the Wagon Magazine, India. Her second novel THE ARCHITECTURE OF LOSS (2017) is published by Pegasus Books New York, in the UK, USA, Europe, India and the subcontinent (2018). It has been named as one of the novels to look out for on the New York Public Libraries 2017 list. She has written opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Tribune and Post Newspapers (South Africa). Zainab also spearheaded the successful bid for the City of Durban to gain UNESCO City of Literature Status in 2017, and currently sits on the Board as a city liaison for the UNESCO City of Literature Durban, She is involved with literacy and community journalism projects under this banner. She received an Honorary Fellowship in Writing from the International Writers at the University of Iowa (2016). She currently lives between Ames, Iowa and Durban, South Africa, and is working on a third novel.
Sunil P Ilayidom
The impeccable voice of the intelligentsia of the state, Sunil P Ilayidom is an orator of extraordinary rhetorical quality and erudition. He is known for his writings and lectures on politics, literature, art and culture. He started his career as a teacher at Lakshmi College, Paravur. Later he moved to Desabhimani Daily as a sub-editor and after securing a PhD, joined Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit where he is an associate professor at the department of Malayalam. He has delivered several lectures which include a five-part lecture series on Cultural history of Mahabharatha.
Major Works:
Kanvazhikal, Kazhchavattangal, Uriyattom, Anubhuthikalude Charithra Jeevitham and Nanarthangal: Samooham, Charithram, Samskaram.
Awards Received:
Abu Dhabi Shakthi Theatres awarded Ilayidom Thayattu Award for literary criticism in 2009.
He received the Kesari Award of Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2013, for his book, Ajnjathavumayulla Abhimukham.
Sashi Kumar
One of the most notable figures in the arena of Indian Journalism, Sashi Kumar is the founder chairman of the Media Development Foundation, which set up and runs the estimable Asian School of Journalism in Chennai. In 1992 he established the first regional channel in India, Asianet. He was the first West Asia correspondent of The Hindu in the mid-eighties. He directed the film Kaya Taran in Hindi based on the short story “VanmarangalVeezhumbol” (When Big Trees Fall) by writer N.S Madhavan. The film won him the G. Aravindan award as the best debut filmmaker of 2004. Well known also as an actor, Sashi Kumar was awarded the Viayaraghavan Memorial Award for his contributions to the field of journalism. Unmediated: Essays on Media, Culture and Cinema is the collection of Sashi Kumar’s contributions to various journals and magazines for over three decades.
Prof. M K Sanu
Regarded as the notable literary critic of our times, M K Sanu is also a retired professor, biographer, editor, translator, journalist, orator, social activist and humanist. He has authored over thirty-six books, translated four and edited ten. He is a permanent member of International body for Human rights. He is also the founding member of Mithram, a school for the mentally challenged. Changampuzha Krishnapilla: Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam, Narayanaguru Swami, Mruthyunjayam Kavyajeevitham, Sahodaran. K. Ayyappan, Kattum Velichavum, Chakravalam, Rajaveedhi, Viswasathilek Veendum American Sahityam and Prabhatha Darshanam are his important works. M K Sanu is a recipient of several coveted honours, including the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Vayalar Award, Padmaprabha Award and Kendra Sahitya Academy Award. In 2013 the State Government of Kerala honoured him with the highest literary award of the state, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
N. Ram
N. Ram, is a political journalist with literary interests. He has written on a range of socio-political subjects and is specialized in investigative journalism. Along with Susan Ram, he is the biographer of the great Indian writer, R. K. Narayan, whom he knew well. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for Journalism in1990. He also received the Asian Investigative Journalist of the Year Award from the Press Foundation of Asia (1990), the B. D. Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (1989), Columbia J-School Alumni Award (2003)and Sri Lanka Ratna, Sri Lanka’s highest National Honour conferred on non-nationals (2005). His works include Why Scams are Here to Stay: Understanding Political Corruption in India(2017), R.K. Narayan: The Early Years, 1906-1945 (1996) and Riding the Nuclear Tiger(1999).
Vladimir Pištalo
Vladimir Pištalo (1960) is one of the most important contemporary Serbian writers.
Collections of short stories – Picture book (Slikovnica, 1981), Manifests (Manifesti, 1986), Nights (No?i, 1986), The End of a Century (Kraj veka, 1990), Stained Glass in the Memory (Vitraž u se?anju, 1994), Stories from All Around the World (Pri?e iz celog sveta, 1997).
Storiettes: Alexandrida (Aleksandrida, 1999), Corto Maltese.
Novels: A Millennium in Belgrade (Milenijum u Beogradu, 2001), Venice (Venecija, 2011), Tesla, A Portrait with Masks (Tesla, portret me?u maskama, 2008).
Novel Tesla, A Portrait with Mask made an unforgettable success in Serbia – after NIN’s award, and Prize of Serbian National Library for the most read book. Since its publication, it has been one of the best sold books in Serbian market, it is in the classbooks for primary school and gymnasium, it has been successfully published in all Ex-Yugoslav republics. In the United States, he has experienced two editions, like the 11th translation of this piece into one of the foreign languages. At the end of 2011, a special sound edition appeared in the interpretation of the actor Peter Bozovic, and in 2015 as a sound book on English for American readers / listeners, read by famous actor L. J. Ganser.
In addition to these works, Pištalo is also the author of two unusual literary-biographical books – Aleksandrida, about the life of Alexander Makedonski, and the novel Korto Maltese. In the release of Agora (2009 and 2010), the “Selected Works” of this writer were published.
Translated books: Manifesti/ Manifests (French); Milenijum u Beogradu/ Millennium in Belgrade (French, Italian, German, Macedonian and Bulgarian); Tesla, portret me]u maskama/ Tesla, A Portrait with Masks (English, Russian, French, Macedonian, Czech, Polish, Bulgarian, Slovak, Slovenian, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish); Aleksandrida/ Alexandrida (Slovenian).
As a translator, he received the “Miloš ?uri?” award for the translation of Charles Simic`s poetry.
He lives in America where he teaches world and American history at the University of Wusters, Massachusetts.
Kalki Subramaniam
The first transgender woman in India to do a lead role in a motion picture, KalkiSubramaniamwas chosen by Facebook as one of the 12 inspiring women of the world who used Facebook for community development in 2014. Subramaniam opened the “Sahaj” International school, which is dedicated to educating transgender students who are not supported bythe mainstream schools, in 2017.In 2008 she founded an organisation “Sahodari” that still fuels the fights for justice of the transgender community. The newly found painter, Kalki is the rarest but the mightiest of the transgender voice. Her poems are included in the collection KuriAruthean.
Gopal Guru
Gopal Guru is a professor of social and political theory in the Centre of Political Science at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is the author of numerous articles on Dalits, women, politics and philosophy. A pioneering work in the field of political and moral theory, his work Humiliation explores the complex and varied meanings, contexts, forms, and languages of humiliation within an interdisciplinary framework.His notable articles include “Social Justice”, “Constitutional Justice:Positional and Cultural”, “20th Century Discourse on Social Justice: a view from Bahishkrut Baharat” and “Dalits in Pursuit of Modernity”.
Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is one of the prominent writers in Indian Writing in English. He is well known for his experimental writing both in fiction and non-fiction works. Basically, an Indian civil servant and a star journalist, Tharoor is known as a political thinker and an intellectual both nationally and internationally. He has been in the U.N for more than twenty-five years. He is also known as a compelling speaker.His magnum opus The Great Indian Novel(1989) bagged the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Best Book of the Year in the Eurasian Region(1991). He was also awarded the prestigious PravasiBharatiyaSamman, India’s highest honour for non-resident Indians in 2004 and PETA’s “Person of the Year” award in 2013.
Prof. M K Sanu – Festival Director
Prof. M K Sanu Regarded as the notable literary critic of our times, M K Sanu is also a retired professor, biographer, editor, translator, journalist, orator, social activist and humanist. He has authored over thirty-six books, translated four and edited ten. He is a permanent member of International body for Human rights. He is also the founding member of Mithram, a school for the mentally challenged. Changampuzha Krishnapilla: Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam, Narayanaguru Swami, Mruthyunjayam Kavyajeevitham, Sahodaran. K. Ayyappan, Kattum Velichavum, Chakravalam, Rajaveedhi, Viswasathilek Veendum American Sahityam and Prabhatha Darshanam are his important works. M K Sanu is a recipient of several coveted honours, including the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, Vayalar Award, Padmaprabha Award and Kendra Sahitya Academy Award. In 2013 the State Government of Kerala honoured him with the highest literary award of the state, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
Sitaram Yechury
The powerful leading force of the Communist Movement in the country, Sitaram Yechury is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was arrested in 1975 during the Emergency while he was a student at JNU. Yechury’s active participation in organizing resistance during the Emergency ended up in his arrest. He has headed the party’s international department and represented the party on several International platforms.
Major Works:
What is This Hindu Rashtra?: On Golwalkar’s Fascistic Ideology and the Saffron Brigade’s Practice, Pseudo Hinduism Exposed: Saffron Brigade’s Myths and Reality, Caste and Class in Indian Politics Today, Socialism in a Changing World, Left Hand Drive: Concrete Analysis of Concrete Conditions, Modi Government: New Surge of Communalism and Communalism vs. Secularism.
Prabhat Patnaik
Prabhat Patnaik is an Indian Marxist economist and a political commentator, who has achieved international acclaim for his incisive analyses of economics and politics. He was a professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning in the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Professor Patnaik has written many books including Time, Inflation and Growth (1988), Economics and Egalitarianism (1990), Whatever Happened to Imperialism and Other Essays (1995), Accumulation and Stability Under Capitalism (1997), and The Retreat to Unfreedom (2003). He has been the editor ofSocial Scientist, which under his stewardship has become a highly effective vehicle for progressive ideas and fertile research.
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