Via Siyahi
For a unique literary and cultural experience in the pristine beauty of Bhutan, the India-Bhutan Foundation presents to all book lovers – Mountain Echoes – a literary festival, in association with Siyahi. Focusing on the magic and mystique of writings of and from the Himalayan regions, the festival will be held from the 17th – 20th May, 2010 in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Programme details (as per the email sent by Siyahi)
(Subject to change. Entry to all sessions is free)
17th May, 2010
Inaugural at India House Auditorium at 5 pm
Keynote Address – By Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
GNH as a Transformational Tool: A vision of common purpose – A talk on Gross National Happiness by the Prime Minister of Bhutan, His Excellency, Lyonpo Jigmi Yoser Thinley
18th May, 2010
Return to Roots: A discussion on culture and identity – Pavan Varma in conversation with Pema Choden and Namita Gokhale
Bhutan: The inner self – Dasho Karma Ura introduced by Namita Gokhale
Of Women, by Women – Kunzang Choden and Urvashi Butalia
In the High Mountains: Encountering the Himalayas – Omair Ahmad in conversation with Mitali Saran
Stories and Folk Tales from a Grand Mother’s Lap – Bulbul Sharma
Scripting Cinema: Bhutanese and Indian films – Tshering Penjore, Tshering Wangyel, Rajkumar Hirani
Poems about Love: Poetry reading – Gulzar and Pavan Varma introduced by Neeta Gupta
A Bhutanese Village Experience
19th May, 2010
These Hills Called Home – Sampurna Chattarji, Mamang Dai and Temsula Ao
The Quest for Younghusband – Patrick French in conversation with Sadanand Dhume
Talking Lozey – Sonam Kinga introduced by Namita Gokhale
Five Poems: Poetry readings – Mamang Dai, Temsula Ao, Kynpham Sing
The Himalayan Wonderland – M S Gill in conversation with Dasho Kinley Dorji
Words as Arrows: Poetry and archery – Kynpham Sing moderated by Sampurna Chattarji
Winds of Change – Dasho Kinley Dorji in conversation with Ravi Singh
Soulmate: the band from the North East
20th May, 2010
Tales of the Land – Samten Dorji moderated by Choki Shomo
An Ancient Epic, Modern Times – Namita Gokhale moderated by Sadanand Dhume
The Rule is there is no rule: Creative thinking and storytelling – Siok Sian Dorji, Ravi Singh
Mapping the Himalayas: From Pandit Nain Singh Rawat to the Askot-Arakot Abhiyan – Shekhar Pathak in conversation with Gopilal Acharya
Young Writers, Young Readers – Chetan Bhagat moderated by Jai Arjun Singh
On Balance – Leila Seth
Mind Travel: Words, pictures, stories – Sarnath Bannerji
More details here.
Image Source : jmhullot