Hyderabad Literary Festival Begins

The 2nd edition of the 3-day Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) commenced, on Monday, in the attendance of celebrities who are foregoing the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF).

The festival has garnered some controversy, for it is said that the organizers had tried to advise Salman Rushdie to call off his visit to Hyderabad.

Poet and film lyricist Gulzar was also in attendance.

Some of the best Telugu, Urudu, and Hindi writers, based in the city, will be featured in the sessions dedicated to these languages.

Ashthavadhanam, a unique feat in Telugu literature, and an Urdu Mushaira session, will also be featured during the HLF.

The aim of the Festival, jointly organised by the Department Of State Tourism and Muse India, is to promote regional languages and rescue them from the shadow of the English language.

Further, it is aimed at creating a platform for writers and poets to share their views.

Around 80 authors from across the globe are expected to take part in the event.

The HLF 2012 awards for young writers and translation works will be given away during the festival.

The awards, instituted by Muse India, have received 150 entries, with 3 works shortlisted in each category.

Jai Ratan's translation of Kamleshwar's "Not Flowers of Henna", Neresh Jain's translation of Omprakash Valmiti's "Amma And Other Stories", and Ranjit Hoskote's translation of "I, Laila, The Poems of Lal Ded" are the 3 nominations for the Translation Award.

The Young Writer Award nominations are Amrita V Nair's "Yours Affectionately", Anindita Sengupta's "City of Water" and Semen Ali's "Rose and Ashes".

Meanwhile anxiety levels in Rajasthan were high, ever since Darul Uloom, Deoband's Vice Chancellor, wrote to the Centre insisting that the author of "The Satanic Verses" be barred from entering India.

The demand came as a surprise due to the fact that Rushdie has been to the country 5 times since the controversy over the book erupted. (INN)