IAAC Literary Festival

The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) is thrilled to announce its 2024 literary festival, bringing together acclaimed authors, poets, and literary grand masters for a weekend of engaging book talks, panel discussions, and performances. Held at International House, the festival is free and open to all, offering audiences a unique opportunity to explore global Indian literature and culture.

This year’s festival promises to resonate strongly with both American and Indian-American audiences, featuring prominent voices like Amitava Kumar, whose works on identity and migration bridge both worlds, and Sonora Jha, whose critical lens on social justice speaks to current global and domestic conversations. Chef Asma Khan, celebrated for her globally renowned restaurant Darjeeling Express, comes into town from London. She joins Brook Eddy, founder of Bhakti Chai and they bring an exciting culinary edge to the festival, appealing to food lovers and entrepreneurs alike. Also featured is Harini Nagendra, a renowned ecologist and author, whose works captivate readers interested in literature and environmentalism, and Veera Hiranandani, author of acclaimed young adult fiction, appealing to both younger audiences and families. These authors, among others, present a broad range of topics, from leadership and activism to personal journeys and the art of storytelling.

We are also thrilled to announce that McKinsey & Company has come onboard as a Knowledge Partner, adding a new dimension to this year’s festival with their world-class insights and expertise. Equally exciting, the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) returns for a second consecutive year as a key partner, reinforcing the festival’s growing prominence as a premier celebration of Indian and global literature in New York City. Their support promises to elevate the IAAC Literary Festival to new heights!

Festival Schedule:

Saturday Room A:

12:00 - 12:50 PM: Swallowing the Sun: A Novel - Author Ambassador Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri in conversation with Roopa Unnikrishnan

Break - 1.00 - 2.00 PM

02:00 - 02:50 PM: The Laughter - Author Sonora Jha in conversation with Sayu Bhojwani

03:00 - 03:50 PM: Missy - Author Raghav Rao and The Best Possible Experience - Author Nishanth Injam in conversation with Prof. Makarand Paranjape

04:00 - 04:50 PM: Author Beena Kamlani discusses  - The English Problem

05:00 - 05:50 PM: My Beloved Life - Author Amitava Kumar in conversation with Beena Kamlani

Saturday Room B:

11:00 - 11:50 AM: Author Brook Eddy - STEEPED: Adventures Of A Tea Entrepreneur and Author Chef Asma Khan - Monsoon in conversation

12.00 - 12.50 PM: Book Talk: The Jaipur Trilogy Author Alka Joshi in conversation with Shanelle Kaul

Break - 1.00 - 2.00 PM

02.00 - 02.50 PM: The Kannada Mahabharata - Editor S. N. Sridhar and Translator Narayan Hegde in conversation with Anand Rao

03.00 - 03.50 PM: Role Models - Author Shehla Rashid in conversation with IAAC Vice Chairman, Rakesh Kaul

04.00 - 04.50 PM: A Nest of Vipers Author Harini Nagendra in conversation with Shiv Rao

05.00 - 05:50 PM: INDUSTRY PANEL: Literary Agent Priya Doraswamy and Editor Lucia Macro in conversation with Prof. Makarand Paranjape

Saturday Room C:

12.00 - 12.50 PM: When Children Have Children: Tipping Point to End Child Marriage Author Bhuwan Ribhu in conversation with Dr. Dinesh Khosla

Break - 1.00 - 2.00 PM

02.00 - 02.50 PM: Sixteen Stormy Days: Story of the First Amendment to the Constitution - Author Tripurdaman Singh in conversation with Venkat Dhulipala

03.00 - 03.50 PM: The Fight Against Alzheimer’s Author Dr. Shuvendu Sen and My Fathers Brain Author Dr. Sandeep Jauhar in conversation with Sanat Chattopadhya

04.00 - 04.50 PM: Yaar Papa Author Divya Prakash Dubey in conversation with Anoop Bhargava (The session is in Hindi)

04.00 - 05:50 PM: POETRY
****PLEASE NOTE: THIS SESSION WILL BE HELD AT THE PUB AT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
Poets Diane Mehta, Guillermo Rodriguez Martin, Anand Thakore, Krishna Ramanujan, and Kashiana Singh with join Ravi Shankar for a special panel discussing identity, language, and creative expression.

To end the evening on an exciting note, the festival will host a poetry slam where emerging poets and spoken word artists will compete to win a $100 prize and a signed first edition of one of the featured poets works.

05.00 - 05:50 PM: Myself Lost Author Larry Bone and Departures: a Journey With India Author Shaun Fynn in conversation with IAAC Vice Chairman, Rakesh Kaul

Admission: Free and open to the public