The 6th annual Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest to start from October 29

The 6th edition of Mumbai’s largest international literary festival brings together an eclectic mix of the world’s most notable authors. As always, the four-day festival will be held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point.

Encouraged by its successful premiere at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu last year, the festival will be simultaneously hosted at the venue on Oct 31 and  Nov 1.

Over 120 celebrated writers and thinkers from over 14 countries will participate in the festival.

Among them are Egyptian-American Mona Eltahawy, who is creating waves for her recent book, ‘Headscarves and Hymens’, Germaine Greer, one of the pioneers of the international feminist movement, Kiran Nagarkar, Indian novelist and playwright, India’s ‘Suitable Boy’ – Vikram Seth and Hussain Zaidi – investigative journalist and author of Dongri to Dubai, among others.

On her participation at the festival, Germaine Greer said, “First of all I am looking forward to being in India. I believe that everyone in the rich world needs regular exposure to the glory and the anguish that is India, and I need it right now. I'm also looking forward to being in Mumbai. I hope I can meet up with some of the women I taught at Sophia in 1982 (such a long time ago!), and I'm looking forward to talking with Vikram Seth, whom I haven't seen for ages. Literary festivals are always fun; a literary festival in wonderful Mumbai will be better than fun.”

Vikram Seth said, “Being a Calcuttan by birth and a Dilliwala by descent, Bambai meri jaan has always fascinated and puzzled me. So it is with great pleasure that I look forward to going there (or is it ‘coming here’?). And having attended the Mumbai LitFest once before, I know that my usual nervousness when I speak or read (or am heckled) will be more than balanced by the pleasure of meeting other writers - and, needless to say, readers.”