The Lit evening IS BACK

The Maha Kumbh of literature, Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2019, got off to a gala start with the traditional dinner at the Rambagh Palace. The equestrian and a polo theme stable bric-a-brac showed the effort put in for the décor. This is one evening that is meticulously hosted, covering the minute detail of aesthetic, décor and food in order to revive the regal aura of a bygone era.

With Ashok Singh Rathore, GM, Taj Rambagh

The closed-door dinner at Rambagh was started with the objective of getting authors and writers to meet each other on the eve of the LitFest. But over the years, a steady influx of bureaucrats, corporate-executives and Jaipurites has vastly outnumbered the presence of authors. So much so, making it to this dinner had become a prestige issue for many, who get strings pulled to get their names on the guest list. It became a crowded affair and belittled the basic purpose of hosting all the guest authors to meet each other ahead of the literary carnival. I had personally, a few years back went out with celeb authors to eat at the prestigious dinner. Many authors started eating dinner in their comfort zone and the privacy of their rooms.

With Rajkumar Vigit Singh and Digvijay Singh at the dinner

I am glad that from this year onward, the Rambagh dinner is back on track with most authors and litterateurs attending it. There has been a much-needed course correction in the guest list and due weightage given to the presence of authors. Only select Jaipurites and prominent media persons got invitations and I did get to meet them. 

With Rampratap Singh Diggi

In fact, there are many people I just get to meet at this dinner only such as Raj Kumar Vijit Singh. I must say it was a fantastic mix of authors, JLF guests and key persons of Jaipur. I must also congratulate the organizers for taking positive steps to revive the stature of the Rambagh dinner and I hope that from now on this world put to rest the clamour for getting onto the list.

With Chandra Prakash Deval

The horse and the polo theme for sure added, in the right measure, an aura of royal Rajasthani heritage to the 184-year-old iconic property which had been the abode of Maharajas and Maharanis and also served as a hunting lodge.

With Neeta Gupta

Before the Rambagh Palace dinner, I went to the Diggi Palace hotel which is a heritage property. I met Chandra Prakash Deval, Kiswar Desai, Urvashi Butalia, Neeta Gupta and others.

I must thank Thakur Rampratap Singh Diggi for showing me around the new venue at the Diggi Palace. I did get a feel of the kind of massive infrastructural arrangements that have been put in place for the smooth operations of the LitFest. 

With Kiswar Desai

The very success of JLF hinges on robust infrastructure and back office support services. The Diggi Palace has been the venue of JLF since it took off in 2006. Having witnessed the magnitude of the Festival’s stupendous growth, it still presents the best option as a prime venue. I am sure a little rainshower is not going to impact the festival.

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