Jaipur Literature Festival 2025: Day 4 Explored Memoirs, Global Politics, and the Power of Food

Jaipur, February 2: The fourth day of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 was a riveting blend of politics, personal narratives, climate concerns, and cultural exploration. From insightful memoirs and global diplomacy to the emotional connections of food and memory, the sessions drew large crowds eager to engage with some of the world’s most compelling voices.

Sandeep Narayan’s Soulful Carnatic Recital Set the Tone

The day began with a captivating Carnatic performance by Sandeep Narayan, whose renditions of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati—accompanied by L. Ramakrishnan on violin and Sai Giridhar on the mridangam—filled the venue with spiritual energy.

Avi Shlaim Unpacked the Forgotten History of Iraq’s Jewish Community

In a deeply personal session, historian Avi Shlaim transported audiences to Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab Jew, detailing the once-thriving Jewish community in Iraq and the profound impact of displacement. The book, rooted in his mother’s memories, traced identity, migration, and cultural erasure, shedding light on an often-overlooked chapter of history.

Amol Palekar Reflected on His Accidental Acting Career

Veteran actor Amol Palekar, in a session centered on his memoir, shared how his unexpected journey into acting took shape. “I wanted to be a painter, and I believed I would die as one,” he admitted, before delving into his six-decade-long journey across theatre and film. Joined by filmmaker Sandhya Gokhale, Palekar also discussed his activism against censorship, offering a rare glimpse into the political struggles within Indian cinema.

Climate Change and the New Fire Regime

As temperatures soared unusually high for February in Jaipur, climate experts gathered to discuss the dire consequences of global warming. John Valliant, author of Fire Weather, warned that humanity is entering a new fire regime, where climate disasters threaten entire populations.

Sunil Amrith took a historical approach, linking imperial violence and inequality to modern environmental destruction, while referencing Amitav Ghosh’s work on the forgotten role of the nonhuman in history and literature. Valliant’s message was clear: “Fires are melting the myth of human exceptionalism, forcing us to confront the fragility of our existence.”

Amitabh Kant on India’s Leadership in Global Governance

At a highly attended session, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant described India’s pivotal role in shaping the G20 declaration, emphasizing how the Global South has found its voice under India’s leadership.

“The language of the G20 declaration is no longer dictated by the West—it is now the voice of the Global South,” he asserted. Norwegian Ambassador May-Elin Stener and Australian High Commissioner Philip Green echoed his sentiments, underscoring India’s rising influence in climate negotiations and economic diplomacy.

Shashi Tharoor and Francesc Miralles on Hindu Philosophy and Ikigai

A massive audience turned up for Shashi Tharoor and Francesc Miralles, co-author of Ikigai, as they explored the intersection of Indian and Japanese wisdom.

“India is a country bursting with young energy, and that’s why Ikigai resonates here,” Miralles noted. Discussing his latest book Purushartha: The Four-Way Path, he urged readers to engage with ancient Indian wisdom in a simplified, modern context.

Tharoor, referencing his book Why I Am a Hindu, remarked that Hinduism’s pluralistic and skeptical nature makes it uniquely suited for the 21st century.

Huma Qureshi and Bee Rowlatt Explored Feminism and Social Class

Actress Huma Qureshi and author Bee Rowlatt joined Anish Gawande for a bold discussion on liberation, class, and inequality in literature.

• Rowlatt, discussing One Woman Crime Wave, pointed out how British literature often ignores themes of gendered crime and economic disparity.
• Qureshi, speaking on her book Zeba: An Accidental Superhero, reflected on the lack of working-class female protagonists in mainstream fiction.

The Art of Writing Memoir: Memory vs. Imagination

A compelling session on memoir writing featured Jassa Ahluwalia, Avi Shlaim, Andrew O’Hagan, and David Hare as they debated the fine line between memory and storytelling.

• Ahluwalia wrote to document his mixed-race heritage.
• Shlaim’s memoir served as a historical account of Iraq’s Jewish diaspora.
• O’Hagan, inspired by Wallace Stevens and Coleridge, argued that reality is “a poor thing until human imagination gets to work on it.”
• David Hare viewed memoir writing as a means of preserving Britain’s intellectual history of the 1970s.

Matt Preston on Food and Memory: “Food Moves You”

Former MasterChef judge Matt Preston, in conversation with Vir Sanghvi, took audiences on a nostalgic culinary journey.

“Food is an experience that connects us to our past. Sometimes, we underestimate its power—it’s not just about fancy restaurant meals, it’s about the food of our soul,” Preston remarked.

He shared humorous tales of learning to cook out of self-defense against his grandmother’s terrible meals and expressed gratitude for India’s embrace of him and MasterChef.

Shashi Tharoor: The “Shah Rukh Khan” of JLF

In his final session, Shashi Tharoor—whom Vir Sanghvi jokingly called the “Shah Rukh Khan” of JLF—drew one of the festival’s largest crowds.

Reflecting on his political career, Tharoor recalled his historic election in Kerala, where his international background initially raised doubts. However, by engaging with the people directly, he proved his commitment to public service.

“To represent people, you must first earn their trust,” he emphasized, while also discussing the bureaucratic challenges within Indian politics.

Exciting Book Launches Marked the Day

The festival also witnessed the launch of several notable books, including:

📖 Chandan Kiwad – Malini Awasthi
📖 Shooting Straight – Arjun Subramaniam
📖 How India Scaled MT G20 – Amitabh Kant
📖 The Living Legend: Ramayana Tales From the Far and Near – Vayu Naidu
📖 The Phantom’s Howl – Arundhati Nath
📖 Mandal Dhwani – Malashri Lal

A Day of Reflection, Ideas, and Unforgettable Conversations

From pressing global issues and deeply personal memoirs to food’s emotional significance, Day 4 of Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 delivered thought-provoking conversations and inspiring stories. As the festival enters its final day, audiences eagerly await more groundbreaking discussions and literary celebrations at the world’s greatest literary gathering.