Front Lawn – the heart of JLF

20 January, 2017, Jaipur: The Jaipur Literature Festival has a certain cachet which other literature festivals lack. Along with the authors and litterateurs, it has attracted the who's who of Jaipur as well as from other cities. From reading sessions to book-signings, debates to dinners, the Litfest has spawned a popular subculture of its own attracting thousands of enthusiasts.

Though all the venues are mostly packed, the Front Lawn of the historic Diggi Palace is the largest and the most popular at the Litfest. The Front Lawn's unique appeal stems from the fact that the most famous authors have their events here. Right from the inaugural session to the finale, all major events take place at the Front Lawn. One such event is the much-awaited debate with which the Litfest concludes.

The debate itself can become controversial. Last year, it stirred up a controversy when as a renowned cine star, in a verbal sally, shocked the audience by using choicest of invectives in Hindi. Visitors, geared up with water bottles and snacks, come and occupy the seats much in advance for the first literary session. And then, there are those who plant themselves at the Front Lawn and sit through all the day long sessions that take place.

The Front Lawn is a symbolic representation of the entire venue of the heritage property and the mood of the Litfest. Large crowds, book lovers, dating couples and so on. While some are engrossed in the discussions in right earnest, others, especially the backbenchers, take a nap in the warm winter sun. Young couples are often seen in their own sessions of romantic tete-a-tete in blissful oblivion.

During the initial years of the Litfest, there used to be around 150 to 200 enthusiasts at the Front Lawn. Now it has increased ten-fold. The Front Lawn has been host to some of the big names like Amitabh Bacchan, Dev Anand, Naseeruddin Shah, Oprah Winfrey, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor and the august presence of writers like Orhan Pamuk, VS Naipul, Kiran Desai, Michael Cunningham, Margaret Atwood, among others.

The five-day Litfest at the Front Lawn invariably begins with a musical session in the morning and is followed by one-on-one talks and group discussions throughout the day. There is a book launch in the evening.

The Lawn has the famous Diggi Puri ki Chai where most people catch up with each other. The entrance to the media terrace, author's lounge, lunch area and even the room 506 which I used to have for the past few years is accessible from here. This year also I had booked this 506 room well in advance . From the verandah of this room one can listen to the front lawn sessions. I use this room for my media interviews and meetings with the authors. Many of my friends and authors get freshened up here.

However, despite booking in advance and having paid a premium over last year's rates, the Diggi Palace officials informed my team that they cannot give the room. The reason is best known to them. Although it was informed to my team that it has not been allotted yet but blocked for some VIP movement. I was surprised to hear that as JLF had started this most appreciable culture in the country of first-come-first-served among these type of events and had even denied an entry to the then HRD minister Kapil Sibal after the gates were closed.

Thanks to the intervention of Sanjoy Roy, we have Room 111 now, which luckily is also accessible from the Front Lawn. 

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