India's first and the largest
rurally-held literature festival



When the world comes to a Wayanadan village
to think, listen, read and talk..

EVENTS





3 Days

201+ SPEAKERS

EVENTS

AND MORE...

സാഹിത്യോത്സവം | അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര അക്കാദമിക് കോൺഫറൻസ് | അഖിലേന്ത്യാ ആർട്ട് ആൻ്റ് ക്രാഫ്റ്റ് മേള | ഫിലിം ഫെസ്റ്റിവൽ | പുസ്തകമേള | ഭക്ഷ്യമേള | കാർഷിക വിപണി | പൈതൃക നടത്തം | ആർട്ട് ബിനാലെ | കുട്ടികളുടെ വിനോദ വിജ്ഞാനകളരി | ചെസ്സ് ടൂർണമെന്റ് | മാസ്റ്റർക്ലാസുകൾ: ഫാഷൻ, ഫോട്ടോഗ്രഫി, സംരഭകത്വം | കോളേജ് മാഗസിൻ അവാർഡ്


SPEAKERS


Arundhati Roy
Justice Jasti Chelameswar
John Keay
Christophe Jafferlot
Caroline Buckee
Amitava Kumar
Basil Joseph
K. Satchidanandan
N. S. Madhavan
M. Mukundan
K. R. Meera
Sukhdev Singh Kokri
Parvathy Thiruvothu
Sanjay Kak
John Brittas
Santhosh George Kulangara
Dr. Zakir Thomas
Sunny M. Kapikad
C. K. Janu
Veerankutty
Nayanthara Rajeev
Subash Chandran
Sukumaran Chaligatha
Vignesh Vellore
Benyamin
Kalpetta Narayanan
Madhupal
Prakash Raj
Sheela Tomy
V. Madhusoodanan Nair
Rebecca Mathai
A.M. Shinas
Prabha Varma
Sunil P. Elayidom
Thomas John Muthoot
P. K. Parakkadavu
V. S. Anilkumar
Manoj Jathavedaru
P. C. Musthafa
Santwana Bhattacharya
Shyam Divan
A. S. Panneerselvan
Binjo Vango
Dhanya Rajendran
Josy Joseph
Anna M. M. Vetticad
V. P. Joy
M. Swaraj
Neha Dixit
Dhirendra K. Jha
Sabin Iqbal
Rahul Bhatia
Murukan Kattakada
Sheethal Shyam
U. K. Kumaran
N. E. Sudheer
Bipin Chandran
Shahina K. K.
Sashi Kumar
Bindu Irulam
O. P. Suresh
Bina Paul
N. A. Mahamed Ismail
Aadi
Roman Gautam
K. G. Sankara Pillai
S. Hareesh
Sagar
E. P. Rajagopalan
O. K. Johnny
Nayanathara N. G.
Aswathy Senan
Priya A. S.
E. V. Ramakrishnan
R. Rajasree
Rihan Rashid
Syam Sudhakar
Sunaina Shahida Ikbal
Ambikasuthan Mangad
Krishnakumar C. K.
Ajit Isaac
Peter Martell
Leela Santhosh
Nadeem Noushad
Mukthar Udarampoyil
P. Krishnadas
Karthika V. K.
Maneesh Narayanan
Manikuttan Paniyan
Shyam Krishnan
K. P. Ramanunni
Leena Olappamanna
Santhipriya
P. Devaprakash
Dhanya Vengachery
Dr. Vijayan P
G. Mohan Gopal
Jisa Jose
K. K. Surendran
Kusumam Joseph
Malavika Binny
Santhi Panakkan
Daljith Ami
Akhil P. Dharmajan
Tarun Bhartiya
Ammu Deepa
Elizabeth Kurian Mona
Dr. Sonia Cherian
Sukanya Shantha
Soman Katalur
Rafiq Ibrahim
P. Sivalingan
M. B. Rajesh
Sunil C. E.
Pooja Prasanna
Sreejith Perumthachan
Sanath P. C.
Vijayarajamallika
Aash Ashitha
Aloshious Xavier
Anusree K.
Balan Vengara
Bineesh Puthuppanam
C.S. Chandrika
Dr. Narayanan Sankaran
Dr. Shaji Jacob
Manu P. Toms
Dr. Joseph Scaria
Shaji Pulppalli
Shanimol Usman
Vinod Krishna
Siyaf Abdulkhadir
Prakash Chenthalam
Varun Ramesh
Habeeb Rahman
M. Gangadharan
Ajayan Madoor
Shireen Azam

Director's Note



Resilience, expression, representation—these three phrases encompass what a literature festival datelined in a nondescript Indian village, means to me. Over a very short time, Wayanad Literature Festival has earned the reputation as India’s largest rurally-held literature festival. It is organised in a panchayat, not even in a Taluk headquarters. Of course we have logistical challenges, but the merit of the festival, and the space it creates for the mixing of ideas, energy, craft, excitement, and everything that is beautiful in village life, makes it second to no other, and particularly no city festival.

This year, parts of Wayanad witnessed a devastating landslide, killing over four hundred people. A hundred people are still missing. We asked people whether we should drop the idea of the biennale literature festival. But the overwhelming response was not to do that, and to instead use the platform to discuss vital topics, like climate change, ecology and livelihood rights alongside literature and culture. This idea of a community coming together and discussing vital issues is so much in line with the old history of India—new ideas, values and visions always sprouted and became popular first in the peripheries and the margins of the nation, before reaching city centres and positions of power. The real power is where the people are, whether in literature, culture or politics. A literature festival in a village, therefore, is meaningful in very many ways, and more so, when the people struggle to come out of a tragedy.

For the 2024 edition, we plan to organise various other activities, including an international academic conference, an arts and crafts fair, a farmers' market, a film festival, a book fair, and a food festival. It is natural that a family, or a party of friends, have an eclectic mix of taste. The WLF is for everyone. If engaging with an author is not of interest, come watch a movie, or attend a masterclass by an entrepreneur, or taste a new dish at the food festival, or play a game of chess at the chess tournament, or buy some artwork and support someone's creativity. Literature lies at the centre of the festival, but the activities around it will complement each other.

Our designers have used five colours for the festival: black, red, white, marigold yellow and green. Wayanad is a place of bold, solid colours. From fertile black soil to black pepper, black is the colour of its authenticity; from ripe red coffee beans to red laterite stone, red is the colour of its dreams; from light, pristine skies to cranes spreading their wings, white is the colour of hope; from marigold yellow turmeric to the marigold flowers that grow like weeds on the streets, marigold is the colour of love; and the many shades of green from forests to fields, from ponds to streams, stands for life itself in Wayanad. WLF captures it all.

Come join us. From content to craft to climate to colours, there must be something waiting for you.

2024
December
26, 27, 28 & 29

9.00 AM - 10.00 PM
  • Festival Director : Dr. Vinod K Jose
  • Curators : Dr. Joseph K Job, V. H. Nishad, Leena Gita Reghunath
  • Venue :
    Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Dwaraka, ​Mananthavady, Wayanad.
    Aided Upper Primary (AUP) School, Dwaraka, ​Mananthavady, Wayanad.
    Norberts Academy, Dwaraka, ​Mananthavady, Wayanad.