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Doha
JLF Doha, the country’s first international literature festival, drew to a close at Qatar National Library (QNL), with the participation of more than 25 internationally-celebrated writers. The three-day celebration also attracted hundreds of literature fans from across the globe.
JLF Doha closed with a riveting session with Shobhaa De, the novelist, columnist, screenwriter and political commentator whose debut novel ‘Starry Nights’ was a runaway bestseller; and Sanjoy K Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts, the producer of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) in India.
Shobhaa De said, “This is such an exciting destination. Sharing words, thoughts, ideas in a spectacular setting, with well-structured sessions, provides a much-needed platform to authors and readers to interact in a meaningful way. It is the most enriching experience. Thank you, people of Qatar, for this marvellous opportunity.”
Qatar’s writers and academics came out in full force to join the conversation and give it local relevance, including Dr Amal Mohammed al Malki, founding dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad bin Khalifa University; award-winning Qatari writer and poet Kaltam Jabor M al Kuwari; Dr James Onley, director of Historical Research and Partnerships at QNL and author of ‘The Arabian Frontier of the British Raj’; and Sam Meekings, poet, novelist and assistant professor of Creative Writing at Northwestern University in Qatar.
In an informative session on the last day of the festival, Minister of State HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari highlighted the significance of the festival to the cultural diversity of Qatar. He said, “The launching of this global festival is, in a sense, a natural extension of the traditions of communication in Qatari society. On this front, our traditional ‘Majlis’ has been highly instrumental in furthering the roles of communication and social and cultural dialogue, and the establishment of this unique festival in the region is a positive interaction with our cultural environment that embraces and surrounds it.”
JLF Doha brought together Qatar’s literary community, literature enthusiasts and aspiring writers closer to their favourite authors and artists, while an expansive outdoor area created a festive ambience.
Attendees were treated to poetry readings, discussions and musical performances celebrating South Asian literature and culture, while creative masters such as Musharraf Ali Farooqi and Kim Pereira presented storytelling and theatre workshops. Alex Shaw, William Dalrymple, Pranay Lal, Prayaag Akbar and Tony Joseph were among the list of authors who participated in the festival.
Hosted by the library in partnership with Teamwork Arts, JLF Doha was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ooredoo, and formed part of the library’s celebration of the Qatar India Year of Culture 2019.
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16/12/2019
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