AIDE MEMOIRE
Valley of Words Goes Virtual
VoW2020@Savoy
The virtual is the new real, and Valley of Words is adapting this credo in our virtual format this year as we become VoW2020@Savoy – India’s First-Of-Its-Kind Immersive Phygital Literary Experience. This one is an intergenerational, multi-lingual and multi-genre festival which brings the best of Indian literature and arts to an international audience has only strengthened this year. The line-up therefore spans a diverse variety of conversation, debate and discovery, with something for everyone who joins.
Regarding VoW’s shift to the digital medium, festival’s Honorary Curator, Dr Sanjeev Chopra stated that “As a young and nimble organization, not only has VoW taken the pandemic in its stride but has emerged stronger, more focused and more inclusive than before. VoW has been able to transcend the limitations of time and space by connecting with authors and audiences across the globe, and ensuring that all interactions are archived forever.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sabbas Joseph, Co-founder, and Director, Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd said, “We are very proud to partner with Valley of Words to bring across India’s first-of-its-kind immersive Literature & Arts Festival experience. Wizcraft has always endeavoured to pave the way, scaling new heights especially when it comes to technology, creativity and experiences. Our vision is “From Mussorie to the World” and as digital experience partner of the Valley Of Words we bring to you A Celebration Of The Word, a perfect amalgamation of an enhanced experience with open access, intergenerational, multi-lingual and multi-genre festival – the Best Of Indian Literature And Arts from the Valley of Words Festival for a global audience who can enjoy it in the comfort of their homes.” Wizcraft AO are The Technology Partners for Valley Of Words 2020
About Valley of Words
Valley of Words believes that literature and art have the potential of engaging people across all age groups, especially students and the youth, to look beyond the immediate, to place “facts” in perspective, to question the “why”, to engage in lateral thinking and explore options that have the potential to make the world a better place
About Wizcraft International Entertainment
https://www.wizcraftworld.com/virtual.html
Wizcraft International Entertainment, India’s leading media and live entertainment company is dedicated to showcasing its expertise on the world stage. Having conceptualized some of the grandest events globally including the 50 Years of Indian Independence, the 30 Years of Mauritian Independence, the 10 years of the South African Freedom Struggle, the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Delhi as well as the Handover ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, & the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards & Weekend for 19 years across the world, Wizcraft has contributed towards brand building for India in global destinations.
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Dr.Sanjeev Chopra, Honorary Curator, Valley of Words International Arts and Literature Festival
Dr Sanjeev Chopra is currently serving as Director of the LBSNAA in Mussoorie. He was posted as the Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner of West Bengal and has spent eleven years in Uttarakhand – six at LBS National Academy and five as Secretary Industrial Development, IT, Rural Development and Horticulture in Uttarakhand. A recipient of the Hubert H Humphrey and the Robert S McNamara Fellowships, he has several books to his credit.
Sabbas Joseph, Co-founder, and Director, Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd
Sabbas Joseph is the General Secretary of India’s Media and Entertainment Skills Council. He is a member of the core team of the FICCI Media and Entertainment Committee that set up and continues to lead the FICCI FRAMES Convention, which is APAC’s largest convention for the M&E industry. Recently, Sabbas joined the Global Advisory Board of the International Mice and Wedding Fraternity
LS Bajpai, DG All India Radio, Celebrated Hindi poet and author
LS Bajpai is a distinguished Hindi poet, author, and scholar who retired as the Deputy Director-General of All India Radio in 2015. His illustrious career in Indian radio has led to the discoveries of several talented new artists. His travels around the world have significantly popularised Hindi lekh amongst a global audience. Since the inception of Valley of Words, he has been the Advisor for the Hindi Sahitya vertical
Dr.Amna Mirza, Educationist and Author and Social Entrepreneur
Dr Amna Mirza is currently Assistant Professor of Political Studies, University of Delhi. An avid traveller, voracious reader & vegan, her academic initiatives took her to the University of Duisburg Essen (Germany), University of Fribourg (Switzerland) amongst others. She is the recipient of the ‘Godfray Philips Golden Ovary Award’, St.Stephens College Centenary Medal for ‘character combined with learning’, amongst others. She has four books to her credit which were well received by academia, media, and others alike. She regularly contributes to various magazines and has been curating the MP debate ‘VoWPopuli’ at Valley of Words for the past three years.
SYNOPSIS
- Recreating Mussoorie’s Historic Savoy Hotel In India’s First-Of-Its-Kind Immersive Phygital Literary Experience
- Four virtual stages – The Plenary Session Lawns, Savoy State Room, Savoy Writers’ Bar, and Savoy Post Office – will digitally host over 200 authors, poets, publishers, and thought-leaders from around the world
- Blessings from the Dalai Lama and a benediction of chants from the monks of Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun
- Inaugural Address‘From Triumph to Triumph: Transcending the Pandemic’ by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and LIVE launch of the book ‘The Savoy’ written by Ruskin Bond and Ganesh Saili
- Keynote Address by Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, and launch of the book Life and Culture in Northeast India by Shiv Kunal Verma and DiptiBhalla Verma
- Plenary Address And Conversation on ‘Text and Context’ by Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammad Khan
- Padma Bhushan Dr Anil Joshi with Padma ShrisLeeladharJagudi, Ritu Menon and MaliniAwasthi amongst many others in insightful conversation across VoW’sFour Verticals: English Literature, Hindi Sahitya, RS Tolia Forum of Ecology and Governance, and Military History and Strategy; collaborations with the French Embassy and JCB Prize for Literature
- Announcement of the PFC-VoW Book Awards 2020 in all seven categories: English Fiction, Non-fiction, and Translations from Regional Languages; Hindi Fiction, Non-fiction, and Translations from Regional Languages; and Writings for Young Adults (Bilingual)
- Interactive VoW bazaar in the market streets of Landour, featuring ItiKriti (sustainable Himalayan arts, crafts, and fashion), ItiSmriti(ethically-sourced and upcycled Valley of Words memorabilia), ItiLekh (an exploration of a specially curated selection of books), Philately(‘Pandemics and Epidemics of the World’) and Photography(winners of the 2020 VoW Red Rabbit Photography Competition on the theme ‘COVID – Nature Healing Itself’)
- Four pan-Indian debates: bilingual VoW-KV&JNV Inter-School Debate; bilingual VoW-Mantrana Inter-College Debate; the unprecedented Sanskrit VoW-MaharshiValmikVishwavidyalaya Inter-University vaad-vivaadpratiyogita; Parliamentary Debate VoxPopuli with MPs from across the political spectrum which this year is a tribute to the late DP Tripathi, a key mentor and supporter of VoW
- Diverse variety of book launches and authors, ranging from distinguished officers WajahatHabibullah, BS Baswan, Neeraj Kumar, Aloke Lal and ShubhaSarma to AI specialist Rajiv Malhotra, General KonsamHimalay Singh and 6-year-old AyanGogoiGohain
- Cultural programmes featuring morning ragas in sitar from Suhel Saeed Khan, a concert by artistes of ITC SRA Kolkata, and a piano-poetry medley live from the Savoy; poetry, kavita, and mushaira evenings
- Valedictory Address and Awards Presentation by Union Minister Dr Ramesh PokhriyalNishank and Launch of PFC-VoW Book Awards 2021 by Dr RS Dhillon, Chairman PFC
- Open access to the best of Indian Literature and Arts from the Valley of Words Festival for an International Audience – A Celebration Of TheWord!
