JLF director Namita Gokhale releases new book titled Jaipur Journals

Set against the backdrop of the vibrant, multi-lingual festival, which is touted to be the largest free literary event in the world, the book chronicles the inspirations and heartbreaks of being a writer.

Offering insights into what it takes to put together an event like the Jaipur Literature Festival year after year, is writer Namita Gokhale’s new book Jaipur Journals, which was launched at the 13th edition of JLF here.

JLF director Namita Gokhale releases new book titled Jaipur Journals. (https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/)

Set against the backdrop of the vibrant, multi-lingual festival, which is touted to be the largest free literary event in the world, the book chronicles the inspirations and heartbreaks of being a writer.

It was launched by author and politician Shashi Tharoor, who has been a regular at the literary festival, and also finds a mention in a “charming scene” in the book.

Gokhale said the idea of writing the book came from an American friend, who had never been to the festival.

She spoke of her favourite character in the book called Rudrani Rana, and of a delightful burglar who, inspired by veteran lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, becomes a poet.

“Jaipur Journals is a celebration of the festival of writers, of participants, of the audience. The book has fascinating characters woven into it,” Tharoor said.

The Congress leader said he first heard of Gokhale in the BBC World series discussing her first book Paro: Dreams of Passion and hoped that she continued to write.

Gokhale has written 18 books, both fiction and non-fiction, since then, and her acclaimed debut novel, published in 1984, has remained a cult classic. It has also been issued in a double edition with its sequel Priya.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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