War of words marks HLF opening ceremony

Hyderabad: The sixth edition of Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) kick-started here on Thursday with a war of words between Governor ESL Narasimhan and noted writer Nayantara Sahgal over growing intolerance in the country.

It all started when Sahgal expressed her dissent over intolerance in the country in the last few years, to which Governor ESL Narasimhan rebutted stating that differences in family could not lead to severing of ties. He also asked people to introspect before pointing fingers.

The writer, in her inaugural speech, said, “The last few years have been bad for the country especially in the literary front. Three progressive writers were killed and a writer was humiliated and inked, and the Centre has done nothing in this regard.”

The author, who recently returned her Sahitya Akademi Award added, “This is a democratic country and there have been curbs on freedom of speech, eating habits and school of thoughts. I could not see a film because there were protests against it. Art and literature should be given freedom.

The civil society responded well to the situation.” Governor ESL Narasimhan, who declared the lit fest open, said, “Freedom of speech is universal and it is a great asset. India is a country which believes in unity in diversity.

In a family there are differences and that does not mean that relations are severed. We all should agree to disagree.” IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Consul General Singapore Roy Kho, festival directors Amita Desai and T Vijay Kumar were also present at the inaugural ceremony.

The three-day lit fest will be held at Hyderabad Public School and some of the authors expected at HLF 2016 include Jonathan Gil Harris, Kiran Nagarkar, Naina Lal Kidwai, Nayantara Sahgal, Paro Anand, C Christine Fair and Jairam Ramesh among others. As in the previous year, HLF will feature differently-abled authors this year too.