Hailing the written word: Attend this literary festival celebrating books and authors across genres

Geetanjali Shree, Varun Grover and Bahar Dutt

Now in its 13th edition, Tata Literature Live! - Mumbai's very own book festival - brings to readers a wide cross-section of authors, poets, playwrights, critics, thinkers, journalists and artistes from all walks of life in a series of online and offline events. The festival that's open to everyone aims for more accessibility through its hybrid format. The format also facilitates the building of a bridge between attendees and international artistes.

On Sunday, at the gala closing, winners from the shortlists for each category will be awarded at National Centre for the Performing Arts' (NCPA) Tata Theatre. Some of the titles that feature on this year's shortlists are - The Map and the Scissors by Amit Majmudar, The Silent Coup: A History of India's Deep State by Josy Joseph, Kololo Hill by Neema Shah, Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence by Shrayana Bhattacharya, and The Struggle and the Promise: Restoring India's Potential by Naushad Forbes, among other books. MP Dr Shashi Tharoor will also release his book, Ambedkar: A Life, at the festival.

The Guide's top three picks

Aanchal Malhotra

1 Sustainable Appetite: This online talk between television journalist Bahar Dutt and writer George Monbiot will discuss how climate change can be prevented one meal at a time.
On: Today; 8 pm to 8.45 pm
Log on to: tatalitlive.in

2 For the Love of the Word: The Anil Dharker Session - Refraction: The inauguration event of the literature festival will be followed by a conversation between Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree and writer-comic Varun Grover. The session will focus on bringing women's stories to the fore.
On: November 11; 4.30 pm to 6 pm
At: Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.

3 Fallout: This segment will highlight how historic sounds never fade away completely. After the launch of Arjun Gaind's Anatomy of a Loss, speakers Aanchal Malhotra, Arjun Raj Gaind, Hannah Lalhlanpuii and Saskya Jain will discuss some of the epochal moments in the country's modern history and their effects.
On: November 12; 12 pm to 1 pm
At: Little Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.

On the wings of peace

For the first time, Tata Literature Live! joins hands with Rotary District 3141 Mumbai to present the Rotary Writing For Peace Award. This honour aims to recognise the work of those who spread the message of peace in their writing. Nandita Haksar, a lawyer, activist, feminist and writer, has been chosen as the first recipient of this award for her work in human rights and humanitarian law.