City to host literary fest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Indian Ruminations’, the online English magazine, is all set to host its maiden literary festival in the city. The fest would be held at Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan on September 24 and 25 and will be inaugurated by the renowned writer Anita Nair. The theme of the festival is ‘Exploring Indian alternatives in reading and writing’. Writers and poets would hold an appreciation of their prose and recitation of their poems respectively in different sessions. There will be discussions attended by writers from all over the country which will include seasoned authors and cub writers. “It is mainly intended to encourage and promote new writings in Indian English literature. Only if a foreign publisher takes notice will the Indian English books get a  first-class rating. Otherwise, they have no takers in the market. It is to prove that there is world class literature being born in Indian English writing as well that we have selected such a theme,’’ said S N Sandhya, managing editor of Indian Ruminations. A ‘National anthology of poetry’, consisting of 40 poems from poets shattered across the country, would be released on the occasion.  ‘’It has poems of a 73-year-old to that of a 24-year-old. It would be a diverse experience,” Sandhya said. As part of the festival, books by the participants (and not well-known authors as it happens usually) would be displayed at the venue. There will be a book festival along with the fest. Indian Ruminations has announced awards for the best works in prose and poetry in Indian writing. A cash prize of Rs. 10,000 each has been announced.   For more details, log on to www.indianruminations.comhttp://literaryfestival.indianruminations.com/index.html, http://www.indianruminations.com/featured-stories/exploring-indian-alternatives-in-reading-and-writing/