Jaipur: The eagerly anticipated 17th edition of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, scheduled for February 1-5, 2024, at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur, has released its second round of speakers. This festival promises to be a dynamic exchange of ideas, featuring writers, thinkers, idealists, realists, visionaries, intellectuals, and iconoclasts who share a profound passion for literature.

The newly revealed list of 25 speakers represents a diverse and erudite mix, including Akhil Katyal, a poet, translator, scholar, and author; Amia Srinivasan, an academic and author; Andrew Quintman, a scholar in Buddhist traditions of Tibet and the Himalayas; and Arundhathi Subramaniam, a distinguished Indian poet and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award. The lineup also boasts Bonnie Garmus, a copywriter, creative director, and debut novelist; Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, celebrated author of best-selling books; Damon Galgut, a Booker Prize-winning novelist and playwright; Diana Evans, an Orange Award-winning novelist, journalist, and critic; and Gulzar Saab, the legendary poet, lyricist, and scriptwriter with over 100 books to his name.

The list continues with notable figures such as Hernan Diaz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author; Kai Bird, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, journalist, and author; Katie Kitamura, an award-winning author and journalist; Kelly Dorji, a Bhutanese actor, model, and artist; Luke Syson, a British museum curator and art historian; and Justice Madan B. Lokur, a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji. Other speakers include Malcolm Turnbull AC, the 29th prime minister of Australia, a former politician and businessman; Maria Goretti, a television presenter, actor, and cookbook writer; Merve Emre, an academic and writer.

The festival will also host Navdeep Suri, a former Indian Ambassador to the UAE, High Commissioner to Australia, Ambassador to Egypt, and Consul General in Johannesburg; Roger Cohen, a Pulitzer Prize and George Polk award recipient and journalist; Sarnath Banerjee, a graphic novelist, artist, and filmmaker; Shumona Sinha, an award-winning author; Vincent Brown, an academic and author; Vivek Shanbhag, an author, editor, and playwright; and Yascha Mounk, a German-born American political scientist and author.

The Jaipur Literature Festival brings together a diverse array of the world's most distinguished writers, intellectuals, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, athletes, and entertainers, all united by a shared commitment to free expression and meaningful discourse. Since its inception in 2007, the festival has featured nearly 5,000 speakers and performers and has drawn over a million literature enthusiasts from around the globe. Today, it stands as a global literary extravaganza, serving as a focal point for captivating conversations, debates, and dialogues.

For those interested, 'Friend of the Festival' packages are available for booking via this link: https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/friendsofthefestival-registration.

For further information about the festival, please visit: https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/