The Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 (JLF) was held from January 30 to February 3 at the Clarks Amer Hotel. This 18th edition of JLF invited individuals like Sudha Murthy, Imtiaz Ali, Kailash Kher, Prajakta Koli, Javed Akhtar, Shashi Tharoor, and many more. Throughout the event, I attended a variety of sessions, covering topics from India’s logistics in hosting the G20 Summit 2023 to the contrast between a Dalit’s and Royal’s cuisine. While I was spontaneous in choosing the panels, but a few were predetermined based on my likes and interests. Throughout the festival, I embodied the learner profile attribute of being an inquirer. Every session spiked my curiosity, introducing me to new perspectives. The speakers were highly knowledgeable and experienced in their fields, as they shared their insights with passion and enthusiasm I shared.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
The event was massive, and it was filled with literature enthusiasts. JLF was crowded and felt overwhelming, as it was difficult to move through the space, order food, or even access the washrooms. Never having attended an event of this scale before, I initially found the experience stressful, as the constant noise and pushing exhausted me, and made it challenging to speak up or assert myself. However, soon I became more comfortable navigating through crowds and confidently communicating what I required. While this may not be the most remarkable skill I developed it has been valuable in daily life, especially in crowded spaces where communication is quite essential. Moreover, attending JLF pushed me out of my comfort zone, as at first, engaging in conversations with speakers felt intimidating, but I challenged myself to approach a few speakers after their sessions. This enabled me to gain important insights but also helped my confidence in starting discussions. A skill extending beyond JLF, and into real life.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
As mentioned earlier, the entire experience was not only overwhelming but also physically and mentally exhausting. While the sessions were fascinating, but attending five or six in a single day became increasingly tiring, like walking across the vast venue, staying attentive, and absorbing so much information continuously was a challenge. On top of that, we were supposed to organize the transportation, plan our schedules to attend panels, and prepare thoughtful questions to engage with the speakers. Carrying out these tasks every day required persistence. Despite the exhaustion, I stayed committed to attending sessions, actively participating in sessions, and gaining varying perspectives from the speakers.
LO6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
All of the sessions I attended focused on issues of global significance, shedding light on topics that impact hundreds of thousands of lives. My first session explored the devastating LA wildfires, digging into how they start and how alarmingly common they have become. Another session talked about folktales and their oral tradition, focusing on storytelling from lesser-known regions of the world. There was also a discussion on India’s history under British rule, sharing powerful narratives of freedom fighters and their struggles. Each of these sessions, along with many others, addressed challenges and experiences that occur globally, offering insights into history, culture, and the pressing issues faced by communities worldwide.
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