A Glimpse into the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025:
The Jaipur Literature Festival, the “greatest literary show on earth,” is gearing up for its grand 18th edition from January 30 to February 5, 2025, at the iconic Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur. To set the stage, an exclusive Delhi preview was hosted at The Leela Palace, offering a sneak peek into the thoughtfully curated programming that defines this global literary celebration.
This year’s Festival promises a treasure trove of narratives that inspire, challenge, and ignite imagination. Themes such as Democracy and Equality delve into the pursuit of justice and constitutional ideals, while the Crime Fiction segment promises to enthrall with gripping tales of mystery. Biographies and Memoirs will share the essence of extraordinary lives, and food enthusiasts can look forward to the Gastronomy theme, celebrating culinary stories that transcend borders. There’s more—sessions on theatre adaptations, cinema, history, and culture will showcase a kaleidoscope of perspectives, celebrating the richness of our shared heritage.
The speaker lineup is equally dazzling, featuring some of the world’s most esteemed minds, including Abhijit Banerjee, Andrew O’Hagan, Anita Anand, Anna Funder, Amol Palekar, Anirudh Kanisetti, Barnaby Rogerson, Benjamin Moser, Cauvery Madhavan, Claire Messud, Claudia De Rham, David Hare, David Nicholls, Esther Duflo, Fiona Carnarvon, Geetanjali Shree, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, Gideon Levy, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Ijeoma Oluo, Imtiaz Ali, Ira Mukhoty, Irenosen Okojie, James Wood, Javed Akhtar, Jenny Erpenbeck, Joe Boyd, John Vaillant, Kallol Bhattacherjee, Katy Hessel, Lamorna Ash, Lindsey Hilsum, Maithree Wickramasinghe, Manav Kaul, Manu S. Pillai, Matt Preston, Miriam Margolyes, Nathan Thrall, Pankaj Mishra, Peter Sarris, Philip Marsden, Philippe Sands, Prayaag Akbar, Priyanka Mattoo, Rahul Bose, Ranjit Hoskote, Robert Service, Shahu Patole, Sophy Roberts, Stephen Greenblatt, Stephen R. Platt, Sunil Amrith, Susan Jung, Tarun Khanna, Tina Brown, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, V. V. Ganeshananthan, Venki Ramakrishnan, Yaroslav Trofimov, and Yuvan Aves. among over 300 luminaries. From Nobel laureates to Booker Prize winners, this congregation of brilliant thinkers is set to ignite Jaipur with their insights and ideas.
Inclusivity remains a cornerstone of the Festival. This year again, Sign Language Interpretation Sessions, in collaboration with Nupur Sansthan, will ensure that the magic of the Festival is accessible to all.
Additionally, the Jaipur BookMark (JBM) returns for its 12th edition, celebrating translations, storytelling innovation, and the transformative role of AI in publishing.
William Dalrymple, award-winning historian and Festival Co-Director, said, “The Jaipur Literature Festival, the biggest literary festival in the world, returns with a spectacular lineup, featuring a range of award-winning writers. The Festival continues to serve as a global platform where some of the world’s most influential voices come together to engage, inspire, and exchange ideas. It fosters meaningful dialogue across a wide range of topics, bridging perspectives from diverse cultural and intellectual backgrounds. It not only celebrates literature but also acts as a beacon for understanding and collaboration in an increasingly interconnected yet divided world. We hope to see you all there, where the greatest writers on the planet come together for an extraordinary celebration of literature, ideas, and dialogue, with accessibility at its finest.”
Namita Gokhale, award-winning writer and Festival Co-Director, said, “The Jaipur Literature Festival returns to cast its web of magical enchantment over the world of books and ideas, poetry, and music. Our stellar programme covers a rich diversity of themes, across continents and cultures. This edition weaves a dynamic mosaic of books, ideas, arguments, and epiphanies. With 26 languages—13 international and 13 Indian—it opens windows to many worlds, celebrating a unique linguistic landscape of ‘Many Languages, One Literature.’ A vintage edition awaits!”
Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, said, “This year’s edition exemplifies the transformative power of books and ideas, building bridges across cultural and intellectual divides to celebrate our universal love for literature. The Festival creates a space for thoughtful exchange, where stories and ideas come to life, fostering empathy, understanding, and collective growth. It is more than a celebration of the written word; it is a movement that connects individuals and communities through shared narratives and informed discourse.”
Preeta Singh, President, Teamwork Arts, said, “Celebrating 18 incredible years of the Jaipur Literature Festival, we express deep gratitude to our partners—brands, ambassadors, foundations, and media—for their invaluable support and cooperation. Together, we’ve built an enduring experience, reaching over 400 million people globally. Even during the challenges of COVID, partners stood steadfast, with platforms like YouTube and Hotstar ensuring accessibility and media partnerships taking our stories to places like Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Nand Ghar, Hawthornden Foundation, The U.S. Embassy, UN Women, Embassy of Ireland, Culture Ireland Grant, EU, Vedica, Mukesh Bansal, The Holberg Prize, Embassy of Netherlands, Embassy of Austria, BluSmart, Fratelli, Banyan School Tree, Rajasthan Tourism, Delhi Tourism, Harper Collins, and HUP MCLI. We also acknowledge our Media Partners—ABP News, Tv9, Daily Hunt, and The Print, along with our Print Media Partners—New Indian Express, Rajasthan Patrika, Malayala Manorama, Business Standard, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, and Sakal. To our Radio Partner, Red FM, for their invaluable support in amplifying the festival’s spirit and message. With the support of JBM, the Norwegian Embassy, and Tamil publications, Jaipur Literature Festival has truly become the ‘Kumbh of Literature,’ a beacon of ideas and inspiration for the world.”
Ambassador of Norway to India, May-Elin Stener, said, “Norway has beenthe Country Partner at Jaipur BookMark since its inception more than a decade ago. As founding partners ofthe event, we are proud of the way the publishers’ forum has developed and its integration into the JaipurLiterature Festival. JBM’s focus on the publishing industry and on translations is an important aspect ofliterature. We wish JBM all the best and look forward to the event in 2025.”
The curtain-raiser featured a mesmerizing performance by the renowned Khartal maestro, Bhungar Khan, whose enchanting display of Rajasthan’s folk rhythms captivated the audience. His artistry brought the spirit of the desert alive, setting the perfect tone for the Festival’s celebration of diverse cultures and traditions.
As I witnessed the Delhi preview, it was clear that the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 will be nothing short of extraordinary—a vibrant celebration of stories, ideas, and cultures that unite us all. Save the dates and prepare for an experience that lingers long after the last page is turned.
