Indian value system, collective identity, attacks on the voices of dissent and threats to secularism were highlighted at some of the sessions in the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) here on Friday, with the distinguished authors throwing up a gamut of ideas for the audience. The speakers affirmed that promoting pluralism and multiculturism would only strengthen the nation.
The second day of the five-day festival witnessed discussions on diverse themes, ranging from fiction and memoir to politics, espionage, travel, Second World War, and India’s economic future. The inspirational and reflective sessions covered multiple genres in books by acclaimed and award-winning writers and speakers.
Political theorist Rajeev Bhargava said at a session on ‘The new India: Between hope and despair’ that the distortion of Indian secularism by its opponents would create divisions in society and weaken the country. “Secularism is necessary for maintaining pluralism within the Hindu religion as well,” Mr. Bhargava said, while laying emphasis on the collective ethical identity.
