By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 22 Apr: The Literary Table (TLT) held its eleventh literary gathering on 20 April with the launch of Neena Nehru’s debut novel, “The Revolutionaries”, published by Speaker Tiger. Following the success of their national Art and Literature Festival in September 2024, this marked TLT’s second event of the year, once again drawing an engaged audience.
Present were Aloke Lal, Aloka Dasgupta Niyogi, Sumali Devgan, and Monisha Datta, with Dr. Niyogi curating the event and Roopa Soni anchoring the proceedings.
In Dehradun, ‘The Literary Table’ (TLT) has been fostering a vibrant literary community since its inception in 2021. Born from the vision of Dr A Niyogi and nurtured by a core team including Nita Roy, Usha Guha, Bijoya Sawian and Shalini Dhanda, TLT operates as a book promotion club under the aegis of the Arogya Wellbeing Trust. This non-profit, public charitable organisation, serving the community since 2005 under the patronage of the former Governor of Uttarakhand, Sudarshan Agarwal, provides a valuable platform for authors to showcase their books and engage with readers.
The event was facilitated by Usha Guha, Rajeev Sacchar and Tarit Mohan, who managed registration. Roopa Soni initiated the session with a welcoming address, followed by the auspicious ‘Kuttuvalakkam’ lamp lighting and a captivating Ganesh Vandana performance by students of the ‘Kalavyakhya Institute of Kathak’. Roopa Soni then steered the session forward while Dr Niyogi introduced the evening’s guest, author Neena Nehru.
Neena Nehru shared the journey that led her to write her debut novel, revealing that it is a work of mirrored fiction, drawing parallels with her own life. She explained that the story resonated with her personal experiences during the vibrant 1960s in London, an era defined by hippies, miniskirts, and bell-bottom pants. Upon returning to India, Neena and her husband were driven by idealism to experience rural India firsthand, leading them to work with slum dwellers and travel through the interiors of Bihar, an experience that exposed them to the true essence of India. She conveyed to the audience that the rich tapestry of experiences gathered throughout her life served as the fundamental inspiration for her book. Although the prospect of writing was initially daunting, she found that once she began, the words flowed naturally. The writing process took place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nehru also has a book on her poetry collection.
The ensuing discussion, rich with intellectual insights and articulate perspectives, was guided by Datta and Dr Niyogi until the session’s close. The intellectual audience actively participated in a lively Q&A session. The event concluded with Dr Niyogi’s vote of thanks and the felicitation of Nehru, Monisha Datta, Roopa Soni, the dance troupe, and the volunteers. In a heartwarming gesture, Dr Niyogi was also felicitated for her curatorial efforts. Attendees then enjoyed a book signing session, tea, and snacks, departing with signed copies and invigorated minds, further solidifying TLT’s significance as a hub for literary enthusiasts in Doon.
