Shekhar Kapur, Amish Tripathi, Chitra Divakaruni Headline JLF Houston
India-West Staff Reporter
HOUSTON, TX — From September 5–7, Houston became a hub of literary and cultural exchange as the 8th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) unfolded across four of the city’s most iconic venues. Produced by Teamwork Arts, in association with the Consulate General of India, Asia Society Texas, Inprint, Rothko Chapel, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, this year’s festival brought together writers, thinkers, and changemakers for three days of immersive conversation, performance, and reflection.
The festival opened on September 5 at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, with inaugural addresses by Gary Tinterow, Director of the museum; Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts; Suraj Dhingra, Producer of JLF USA; and D.C. Manjunath, Consul General of India in Houston. The dignitaries welcomed audiences and set the tone for a weekend dedicated to dialogue, creativity, and cross-cultural connection.
The opening session, Mr. India: A Shekhar Kapur Medley, featured filmmaker Shekhar Kapur in conversation with Sunanda Vashisht. Kapur reflected on his cinematic journey, sharing insights into the art of visual storytelling and the narratives that shape culture and society.
September 6 saw the festival move to Asia Society Texas, where sessions explored literature, philosophy, and social discourse. Highlights included Reimagining Legacy: The Epics and The Contemporary, in which author Amish Tripathi and Ragini Tharoor Srinivasan delved into historical and mythological fiction; The Storyteller Code, featuring Kapur and Martin Puchner discussing narrative evolution in the era of artificial intelligence; and Between Worlds: Race, Power, Culture, Selfhood, a dialogue with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Rob Franklin on identity, privilege, and belonging.
The final day, September 7, began with a meditative morning at the Rothko Chapel. Morning Music and Poetry Reading showcased Poet Laureate Reyes Ramirez alongside young voices from The Fay School, with performances by Aditya Prakash, Dr. Rohan Krishnamurthy, and Sruti Sarathy blending poetry and classical music into a contemplative experience. The festival concluded at the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston with Unfolding Dharma, where Amish, in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy, examined the philosophical underpinnings of dharma and its relevance in modern society—a fitting finale that left audiences reflecting on harmony amid discord.
Teamwork Arts, the producer of the world’s largest literary gathering—the annual Jaipur Literature Festival—has expanded JLF’s reach internationally, bringing its celebrated brand of literary engagement to the US, UK, and Europe.
