Interview
Arun Pratap Singh of GP caught up with Sanjeev Chopra as he gives final touches to the schedule of the IXth Edition of VoW
Most literature festivals are named after the host city. Why did you choose a different name?
Thank you for this question. Readers will recall that the first report on the preparatory meeting for this festival was published in the GP back in March 2017. In the first meeting, the proposed name was Dehradun Literature and Arts Festival. But we felt that naming a festival after a city – however iconic – can suggest that not enough thought has not gone into the curatorial policy: What are we setting out to do? Is it just an assemblage of authors and artists coming together to showcase their works or is it something more than that? After much deliberation, we felt that our festival is a celebration of the word, and the word is not just eternal but also a foundational element in the progress of humankind. And because we are located in the picturesque valley of Doon, what better name than the Valley of Words?
What, in your view, are some of the major milestones in the journey of VoW?
As one looks back at the eight editions that have gone by, let me recount some of the major milestones: in 2017, we were testing waters, but the three-day programme was very successful, and inspired us to repeat it. In 2018, we received a fillip when then CMD of REC, my batchmate Dr PV Ramesh initiated the REC VoW Book Awards partnership. This has been continued by his distinguished successors, Vivek Devangan and, now, Jitendra Srivastava. The REC VoW Book awards in eight categories are the most comprehensive independent book awards across the country. I would call that the most significant milestone.
Covid was a major challenge for most festivals. How did you cope with it?
You are right. The Covid years – 2021 and 2022 – were a major challenge, but we found a way out by taking VoW online. In person, we began working with institutions in Baroda, Kolkata and Hyderabad, where we could maintain the covid protocols. This is how the concept of city editions started, which then found a fulfilment in our partnership with Daly College Indore where, for the last four years, we have been organising the G-Literati for the Young Adults category. Chennai International Centre invited us to curate a festival for them – and this has also turned out to be very meaningful and positive experience. We also helped organise the G20 literature festival at Auroville.
You have moved from a three-day festival to a two-day event. Any particular reasons for this change?
We have rightsized the sessions at the signature event by responding to the feedback and critiques from our stakeholders. We realised, for example, that it is better to prioritise quality over quantity. Over the years, we are cutting down on the number of sessions, increasing our connect with institutions, selecting interlocutors with care and bringing contemporary issues to the fore in our discussions. This is also because, unlike other festivals, we celebrate literature throughout the year.
For example?
You see, in February we organise the International Mother Languages Day. By March, we start longlisting our books. In May we have the inter-school Theatre festival with Yi of CII, as well as the South Asia Festival of Literature in collaboration with SAU, New Delhi. Simultaneously, the selection for Iti Kriti starts. Every month we have Authors from the Valley at the VoW café. Then we have the Panikkar Reading Month, and interviews with our shortlisted authors. And, as you can see, from now till December, it’s a very busy time for us – with events at Indore, New Delhi, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai.
Uttarakhand turns 25 this year; can we expect some sessions tailor-made around that?
Indeed. This year the theme is 25 years of Uttarakhand – and we are trying to focus on the opportunities and challenges faced by the state. The Keynote is being delivered by environmental activist Shekhar Pathak, whose book is acknowledged as one of the most comprehensive books on the Chipko movement. His understanding of the Himalayan region and his apprehensions about the current course of development will indeed help in the nuanced discussion on the subject.
We are looking at books by Uttarakhandi authors, regional cinema, local cuisines, water sources and display of local arts and crafts. Then we have a discussion on the urban infrastructure challenges in Uttarakhand, especially in the hill cities, where the carrying capacity has exceeded several times, and the progress on urban infrastructure is woefully inadequate. Rajendra Dobhal will be in conversation on this issue with Anoop Nautiyal and Ashish Srivastava. We are juxtaposing this against Gelephu – the new mindfulness city being set up in Bhutan. We are doing this in collaboration with the PHDCCI.
My favourite session is going to be My Vision of Uttarakhand @2047, a non-competitive declamation by students of Him Jyoti, Jaswant Modern, Brooklyn Hill, Doon International School, Welham Girls, RIMC and our own volunteers in Nepali, Hindi, Kumaoni, English, Jaunsari, Sanskrit, Punjabi and Garhwali.
This is indeed a good initiative. What are the other ways in which VoW is strengthening the inter-generational connect?
The intergenerational dialogue is being addressed through a Thano(s) series on entrepreneurship in the state. We are also including discussions on Garhwali cinema, new media and the cuisines of the state. Uttarakhand in Mahabharat and Around the World with Nitin Gairola will also be very meaningful to the young people.
Plus, the main role of Gen Z is in the opportunities for volunteering, interning and taking charge of sessions as emcees and rapporteurs. Each of our sessions will have an institutional anchor, and the students will play a lead role in deciding the course of conversation by their critical reading of the texts and some very incisive questioning.
The MHS vertical has been an integral part of VoW. What do we have from the men in uniform this year?
In fact, I am also very happy to announce our partnership with CRF for the MHS vertical in New Delhi on “The Six Decades of the Sixty-Five War: Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead”. Incidentally, Chintan Research Foundation is helmed by Shishir Priyadarshi who was educated in Doon, also served as the DM of Dehradun, and has been a contributor to the GP. But let me focus on the MHS sessions during the signature event.
We have ‘A General’s Odyssey: Giving Up Is Not an Option’ by Lt Gen VK Singh — a memoir recounting his resilience from a career-threatening injury to rising as GOC-in-C of Central Command, structured in five engaging parts blending personal reflections with leadership lessons. Then we have Lt Gen Shakti Gurung’s ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’ the memoir of the first ethnic Gorkha officer to reach this position, covering his rise through challenges, with insights into Gorkha identity, India–Nepal dynamics, and military leadership in complex regions. Maj General Balraj Mehta has written ‘Commanding Excellence – Leadership Secrets: Lessons from a Seasoned Veteran to Ignite Passion and Drive in the 21st Century’. These are practical leadership pointers distilled from decades of military experience, focusing on traits, trust-building, ethical decision-making, and inspiring teams. ‘Beyond the Battlefield: Spirituality as an Enabler of Indian Military Leadership’ is an offering from Lt General Ajai Kumar Singh in which he explores the role of Indian philosophical and spiritual traditions in enhancing military leadership, resilience, compassion, and ethical conduct.
Besides, we will be featuring a conversation between Gen Nanavatty and his biographer, Arjun Subramaniam, moderated by Probal Dasgupta, a distinguished military historian in his own right. We are reaching out to the NCC cadets, and the faculty members associated with NCC to attend these sessions.
Any exhibitions to look forward to?
As in the past, we have an active collaboration with INTACH Uttarakhand who will be sharing exhibits on the traditional water sources of the state. We hope that this will also open our eyes to how water was being collected and preserved. We are also trying to organise a discussion around this.
The Beggars Corporation of India will be setting up an exhibition and sale of products produced by erstwhile beggars. After training, these beggar turned entrepreneurs (BTEs) produce excellent sarees, stoles, kurtas, laptop bags and accessories — all of which sold out last year! VoW will also be setting up the Iti Smriti memorabilia products where the earrings are always popular, and the Delhi Khadi Board will also display their products. We are also in touch with the House of Himalayas to showcase the best produce of Uttarakhand for our outstation visitors.
What is your message to the readers of GP?
We put in a lot of effort into curating each session. Over the next eight weeks, we will be sharing some more details about the different verticals. October will indeed be a busy month for us. We hope that you can join us for the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan at Tonsbridge on 4th October, the Children’s Vertical at Him Jyoti on the 5th of October, and of course our signature event on the 25th and 26th October at the Madhuban Hotel, Dehradun.
