With plans to include more languages in future editions, BBLF is set to become an annual celebration of India's linguistic diversity.
Published Aug 10, 2024 | 6:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2024 | 3:20 PM
Book Bhrama Literature Festival is a celebration of South Indian languages and literature. (Supplied)
The Book Brahma Literature Festival 2024 (BBLF2024) commenced on Friday, 9 August in Bengaluru, marking a historic moment in celebrating the South Indian languages and literature.
Held at St John’s Hall in Koramangala, the three-day event is the largest Indian language literature festival, bringing together over 300 writers from Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and English for more than 80 panel discussions, performances, and exhibitions.
The festival’s director, Satish Chapparike, articulated the vision behind BBLF2024.
“India hosts numerous literary festivals, but the focus often remains on English literature, sidelining the rich traditions of Indian languages. Our festival fills this gap by providing a vibrant platform for Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam to be celebrated and discussed. This is about growing together in literature, language, and culture.”
Satish Chapparike, the Director of Book Brahma Literature Festival 2024. (K.Nitika Shivani SouthFirst)
Chapparike highlighted the significant contribution of Indian languages to world literature, stating, “We have a literary history spanning 2,500 years, with languages like Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam continuing to produce remarkable works to this day. BBLF2024 is about celebrating this legacy and fostering connections between these languages.”
Vinay Kumar, co-founder of Book Brahma, shared insights into the festival’s inception. (K.Nitika Shivani / SouthFirst)
Vinay Kumar, co-founder of Book Brahma, shared insights into the festival’s inception.
“We’ve been actively promoting literature through various initiatives, including the biggest short story competition in Kannada. This year, we wanted to go further and bring together all the languages from South India. Today, we’re witnessing an unprecedented gathering of literary voices from five states, discussing, deliberating, and debating the current trends in literature.”
Kumar pointed out the unique aspect of BBLF2024, “We’re not just focusing on the classics. We’re also addressing contemporary issues like artificial intelligence, making this festival distinct from others. The sessions here are designed to be inclusive and forward-looking.”
Dr Rajendra Chenni has been honoured with several awards, including the Karnataka Sahitya Akademy Prize. (K.Nitika Shivani / SouthFirst)
Author Dr Rajendra Chenni emphasised the broad scope of the festival. “BBLF2024 is not just about canonical literature. It’s a forum where contemporary and relevant issues are being discussed. We’re looking at how stories are being read today, how gender issues are being addressed, and how translation is evolving. This is a rare platform where the identity of South Indian literature is being explored in its entirety.”
Renowned Kannada author and PhD holder Dr Rekha Vasanth spoke passionately about the festival’s significance. “Karnataka is a multilingual region, and each language, whether Tulu, Konkani, or Kodava, contributes to the cultural richness of Kannada. Festivals like BBLF2024 are crucial in helping the younger generation understand and appreciate their roots. In our globalised world, it’s more important than ever for people to connect with their language and culture.”
Author and PhD holder Dr Rekha Vasant originally hails from Kodagu. (K.Nitika Shivani / SouthFirst)
Vasanth who is presently serving as Kannada Professor in Kaveri Degree College, Gonikoppal, also touched on the role of technology in preserving and promoting languages.
“AI has its limitations, but it’s a tool that can be harnessed for good. However, it’s up to us to ensure that our languages and cultures are not lost in the digital age.”
B. Jeyamohan is an acclaimed Tamil and Malayalam writer. (K.Nitika Shivani / SouthFirst)
Celebrated Tamil and Malayalam author B. Jeyamohan underscored the festival’s role in fostering unity among South Indian languages.
“South Indian languages share a common cultural base, and festivals like this are essential for effective communication between these languages. This is crucial in an era where there’s a growing concern about the imposition of Hindi and the potential loss of South Indian linguistic identity.”
Jeyamohan also highlighted the importance of direct communication and translation between South Indian languages, stressing the need for greater support for literary translation initiatives.
“The gap between cultures can only be bridged through direct translation and communication. Unfortunately, institutions like the Sahitya Akademi are not doing enough to promote this, which is why festivals like BBLF2024 are so important.”
As the first day of BBLF2024 concluded, it was clear that the festival had successfully created a space for Indian languages to shine.
With plans to include more languages like Marathi and Urdu in future editions, the festival is set to become an annual celebration of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
As the first day of BBLF2024 concluded, it was clear that the festival had successfully created a space for Indian languages to shine. (Supplied)
The inaugural edition of BBLF2024 has already proven to be a significant step towards recognising and celebrating the richness of Indian languages.
As attendees left the venue, there was a shared sense of purpose and excitement for the future of South Indian literature and its role in the broader literary landscape.
This weekend, don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of South Indian literature and culture. Whether you’re interested in exploring contemporary issues, discovering new works from acclaimed authors, or enjoying live performances, there’s something for everyone.
Registration for the festival is free but mandatory. Interested participants can register at www.bookbrahmalitfest.com to receive a ‘Delegate Pass’ required for entry to concerts, art shows, cultural shows, and book exhibitions.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from k. Nitika Shivani)
