With JLF, can the dinners be far behind
18 January, 2017, Jaipur: The 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) takes off from Thursday January 19th at the Diggi Palace Hotel. I have been attending the JLF since it's inception now and have closely watched it grow into an international event.And then, there are the dinners. A very popular part of the Litfest itinerary. Some, like the Rambagh Palace dinner on the eve of the Litfest, hosted in honour of the authors and celebs, have become a social status for Jaipurites to be seen there. Surely, the sales team of the Rambagh Palace Hotel are busy answering calls from their corporate clients for this exclusive entry.But I find these dinners are very much like the Delhi politicians' Iftar parties. Perhaps more political than social. For the past three years, I have seen the presence of the who's who of Jaipur increasing at the Rambagh Palace dinner earlier used to be only for the authors and celebs and like-minded people. Now, it is no more a authors-only affair, though the hotel does a fabulous job of hosting the dinner.Every year, JLF ends with the Writer's Ball dinner, which, again, used to be a gala affair. I remember when it used to be held at Amer, the invitees had to flash their invitation cards much before they actually made it to the entrance. Just two years ago, nobody would check your card even at the entrance. At the Le Meridien dinner, one had to go around with an eyeglass to look out for any authors.Between the Litfest's opening dinner at Rambagh and the concluding Writer's Ball dinner, there are many other dinners. Some are announced, while others are exclusive. Last year I myself hosted dinners for small and big groups, mostly outstation authors, every evening during the Litfest at the ITC Rajputana.This year, there would be an exclusive sit-down dinner on Friday, January 20, 2017, hosted by Penguin India at the Taj Rambag. The same day, Harper Collins is hosting a dinner at the Amer Fort. On Saturday 21st January, if I am correct, Penguin is hosting a dinner at the Rajmahal Hotel, shifting from Rambagh Hotel. The same day, Roli Books is hosting a dinner at a posh restaurant in Amer Fort where it will also showcase Meera Ali's latest book.Apart from these, there are some niche private dinners. One such private dinner is being hosted on 19th January evening where one can find all the famous authors. One more dinner is on the evening of 22nd January at Tongy's residence in honour of renowned industrialist from Nepal, Binod Chaudhary. It would be a closed-door affair.Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia also hosts a dinner for a select group of authors and friends which I had attended once. I have also attended the tea party at the Raj Bhawan hosted by the then Governor, Margaret Alva, for the authors.All these dinners cater to the well-known authors and celebs. At the JLF's official dinner at the Hotel Clarks Amer, one hardly gets to see an English author. It is mostly the regional authors and festival delegates who attend. Last year, Padmashri, C P Deval, lamented this fact and poured out his outraged feelings at a dinner party which I had hosted at the terrace of ITC Rajputana.There is another private dinner on 20th January evening after the inauguration of a sculpture at the Jawahar Kala Kendra by Srimati Vasundhara Raje Scindia. This year, I shall for the first time miss out on the Rambagh dinner party. I have, so far, been a regular at most of these dinners. I am trying to figure out whether these dinners promote literature or they are assuming more importance every year.ess bee
18 January, 2017, Jaipur: The 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) takes off from Thursday January 19th at the Diggi Palace Hotel. I have been attending the JLF since it's inception now and have closely watched it grow into an international event.
And then, there are the dinners. A very popular part of the Litfest itinerary. Some, like the Rambagh Palace dinner on the eve of the Litfest, hosted in honour of the authors and celebs, have become a social status for Jaipurites to be seen there. Surely, the sales team of the Rambagh Palace Hotel are busy answering calls from their corporate clients for this exclusive entry.
But I find these dinners are very much like the Delhi politicians' Iftar parties. Perhaps more political than social. For the past three years, I have seen the presence of the who's who of Jaipur increasing at the Rambagh Palace dinner earlier used to be only for the authors and celebs and like-minded people. Now, it is no more a authors-only affair, though the hotel does a fabulous job of hosting the dinner.
Every year, JLF ends with the Writer's Ball dinner, which, again, used to be a gala affair. I remember when it used to be held at Amer, the invitees had to flash their invitation cards much before they actually made it to the entrance. Just two years ago, nobody would check your card even at the entrance. At the Le Meridien dinner, one had to go around with an eyeglass to look out for any authors.
Between the Litfest's opening dinner at Rambagh and the concluding Writer's Ball dinner, there are many other dinners. Some are announced, while others are exclusive. Last year I myself hosted dinners for small and big groups, mostly outstation authors, every evening during the Litfest at the ITC Rajputana.
This year, there would be an exclusive sit-down dinner on Friday, January 20, 2017, hosted by Penguin India at the Taj Rambag. The same day, Harper Collins is hosting a dinner at the Amer Fort. On Saturday 21st January, if I am correct, Penguin is hosting a dinner at the Rajmahal Hotel, shifting from Rambagh Hotel. The same day, Roli Books is hosting a dinner at a posh restaurant in Amer Fort where it will also showcase Meera Ali's latest book.
Apart from these, there are some niche private dinners. One such private dinner is being hosted on 19th January evening where one can find all the famous authors. One more dinner is on the evening of 22nd January at Tongy's residence in honour of renowned industrialist from Nepal, Binod Chaudhary. It would be a closed-door affair.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia also hosts a dinner for a select group of authors and friends which I had attended once. I have also attended the tea party at the Raj Bhawan hosted by the then Governor, Margaret Alva, for the authors.
All these dinners cater to the well-known authors and celebs. At the JLF's official dinner at the Hotel Clarks Amer, one hardly gets to see an English author. It is mostly the regional authors and festival delegates who attend. Last year, Padmashri, C P Deval, lamented this fact and poured out his outraged feelings at a dinner party which I had hosted at the terrace of ITC Rajputana.
There is another private dinner on 20th January evening after the inauguration of a sculpture at the Jawahar Kala Kendra by Srimati Vasundhara Raje Scindia. This year, I shall for the first time miss out on the Rambagh dinner party. I have, so far, been a regular at most of these dinners. I am trying to figure out whether these dinners promote literature or they are assuming more importance every year.
ess bee
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