Panelists speak passionately about the need to preserve and propagate regional languages. Speaking from experience as a civil servant, Ashok Vajpeyi points out the realistic hurdles of imposing Hindi as the official administrative language of India.
The panelists implored us to seek a more nuanced understanding of the causes that lead youth toward organizations like ISIS. Despite facing injustice and oppression, why is it that only a minority take up arms? Why do the majority not participate? How can India resolve the root of separatist insurgencies and begin living as a pluralistic collective?
Submissive dame or silent subversive? Panelists and the audience navigate the many colours of and complications with Sita. In the end, it's up to the audience to determine whether she is relevant to today's modern woman.
Rani Mukerji discusses Mardaani, marriage, the evolving aspirations of women, and standing up for yourself.
Panelists assess Modi's re-branding of India from elephant to lion, consider whether jugaad is mis- or well-understood, and dethrone FDI.
Discourse on whether contemporary folklore can even exist, how folklore dies with the emergence of modern education, the creativity young blood inspires, and more candid and thought-provoking insights from Gnanapeetha Award winning Kannada poet Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara.
A lively session with astute observations from the audience, impassioned arguments from the panel, and perhaps a few suggestions for a more hopeful future.
From the specific brand of Indian Feminism to the half-girlfriend, the TOI and Deepika Padukone dilemma, his wife, critics, taste in women, and Bollywood, Chetan Bhagat bears all to his one and only editor, Shinie Anthony, and admits he's a damn good marketer if not a "brilliant" author.
Authors focusing on Young Adults open up about the creative process, emphasize the importance of illustrations, and discuss the challenges that come with navigating difficult societal issues in appropriate language.
The difference between horror and suspense (if there is one!), creating atmosphere, and that chill down your spine when you realize you can actually relate to your favorite horror flick's grotesque protagonist...
The 2014 BLF was inaugurated with a Kamsale invocation to Mahadeva. Highlights of the conversations include explaining what makes the BLF unique and lauding it for drawing attention to the Northeastern states. The inauguration concluded with a Shraddhanjali in the form of a documentary about U.R. Ananthamurthy.
