KOZHIKODE: Noted writer Paul Zacharia has stressed the importance of platforms like Kerala Literature Festival at a time when free expression of opinions cost people their lives. Inaugurating the second edition of the festival at Kozhikode beach on Thursday, he lauded the Kozhikode citizens for accepting such an event which touches various aspects of arts and culture. Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who delivered the keynote address, said that when the so-called oracles predict the end of books, literature fests were flourishing.
Kozhikode North MLA A. Pradeep Kumar, who presided, said that he will support any move to convert Kozhikode beach as a permanent venue for the KLF. Tourism principal secretary Dr V. Venu opined that events like KLF would boost the tourist inflow to north Kerala. Noted media personality and filmmaker Sashi Kumar and actress Manju Warrier had an interaction with Jaggi Vasudev.
The talk between Jaggi Vasudev and Sashi Kumar witnessed fiery exchanges over the growing threat to secularism in India. To a question raised by Manju Warrier on happiness, Jaggi Vasudev said that every human being was searching for happiness in every aspect, including body, mind, power and surroundings. Sashi Kumar and Manju Warrier released Jaggi Vasudev’s book ‘Inner Engineering- a Yogi’s Guide to Joy’ on the occasion.
