Bengaluru: Sunday morning got off to an exciting start, thrilling India's cricket fans – and they are a legion – with Rahul Dravid on a panel titled “India's Democracy XI”. Rajdeep Sardesai's trademark proficiency resulted in a wholesome discussion on the gentleman's game and the new, tattoo-sporting, exceedingly forthcoming group of youngsters who have conquered it. “We could do with a bit of lip on the field,” Dravid said with a smile, quickly dissuading others from following in those footsteps. Syed Kirmani, E.A.S. Prasanna and B. S. Chandrashekhar only added to the excitement as they were called up on stage.
The billion-dollar Chinese project taking off in Pakistan should worry India, said journalist Adrian Levy, as the conversation veered to the use of soft power. Bollywood, as it happens, was referred to as an exceptional tool in two panels. The first remark was made by Lt General Kamal Davar, saying that it is a great projection of soft power and the government of India knows this. The second, made later that evening, came from former Ambassador Nirupama Rao Menon, who was in conversation with editor and historian Raghu Karnad during India and China - How History is a fickle mistress. She described her first real visit to China in the 1980s with a film delegation comprising Shabana Azmi and Sai Paranjpe. “The 1962 war dominates our memories of China, but when I went there, I found them singing Raj Kapoor's praises – Laj, they pronounced it!” It was, she said, a wonderful door to a dialogue, the latter propagated strongly by Indira Gandhi, who didn't believe in the "We're here and we will remain here" approach to our closest neighbour and rival, China.
The second and final day of the Bangalore Literature Festival 2017 had something for everybody, with Twinkle Khanna, winner of the Atta Galata popular choice award, making her much-awaited entrance. The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, which released earlier this year, bagged the people's award, in the newest addition to the Atta Galata awards. Activist Kanhaiya Kumar made it to the festival this year, accompanied by cheers all the way. “He was only 10 minutes late,” joked people who attended the festival last year, when his arrival was cancelled at the last minute, much to the disappointment of his fans. He made it this year, though, straight to the Red Couch, where he talked about his "adopted mother", Gauri Lankesh, to a packed audience. "The clothes I wear today were given to me by Gauri," he said. "I have shared things with her that I couldn't share with my own mother." Sagarika Ghose emphasised this sentiment later in the evening, during the panel, Nationalism, Populism and the Threat to the Global Liberal Order, where she declared, "Gauri Lankesh is the ultimate patriot".
This power-packed panel, much anticipated by audiences after the good, solid entertainment it has provided over the last two years, comprised JNU professor Makrand Paranjpe, authors Manu Joseph and Suketu Mehta, R. Jagnnathan, editor at Swarajya mag, Kanhaiya Kumar and journalist Sagarika Ghose. Is democracy a good thing? It can go two ways – liberal and illiberal, said Sagarika Ghose, who described the concepts of nationalism and populism as somewhat caricatured by modern discourse. “53% of Indians want military rule and populism is the lowest common denominator,” she said. Paranjpe countered this, describing the dumbing down of media, driven by sound bytes not depth – with a sideways glance at his opponent who glared back, stony-faced. "All regimes are populist,” he said. "That's because politicians want to win." The debate raged on for well over an hour, culminating in a performance by Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash on the sarod, for which many a music enthusiast lingered. The Bangalore Literature Festival 2017 proved a mixed bag this year, with plenty of fiery debate, celebrity appearances and a stellar audience, who brought a great deal of magic to Bengaluru's leading literary event.
