The fifth annual IAAC Literary Festival will take place in New York City on October 19th and 20th and will feature the work of authors from around the world, whose heritage lies in the Indian subcontinent as well as literary pieces that are inspired by India. Along with the addition of Poetry, IAAC will be expanding the Literary Festival to provide a platform for Children’s Literature emanating from India and authors of Indian origin. The adult portion will have the fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other genres including Health and Wellness.

The mission is to create a space where Indo-American children can access stories that will enrich them through the powers of imagination and experience, in an effort to ignite cultural connection. Such books will not only expand the world that they live in but will also provoke conversation by stretching the boundaries of imagination and storytelling. Our hope is that American students will also participate and that we will facilitate cultural literacy and diversity. There will be an expressions creative contest for children around the theme of Indo-American cultural identity. Stories, Poetry, and illustrations will be accepted and recognition/awards offered. This will be the first time that young Indian literary talent will be recognized and nurtured in the U.S.

Authors who will be coming include Anupam Kher, Anjali Sachdeva (Winner of the 2019 Chautauqua Prize), Anuradha Bhagwati (media superstar), Jaswinder Bolina (Green Rose Prize), Kiran Kapoor, Ralph Nazareth (award winner), Indran Amirthanayagam ( Paterson prize winner), Monica Ferrell (Numerous awards winner), Diane Mehta, Tsering Wangmo, Rafiq Kathwari (Patrick Kavanaugh award winner), Pramila Venkateswaran (Poet laureate Suffolk County), John Guy (Metropolitan Museum Head of South Asia), Jennifer Acker (Most anticipated book 2019), Veera Hirnandani (2019 Newberry Award winner), Sheetal Sheth, Mona Sehgal, Roopa Pai (Crossword Award winner), Rakesh Kaul bestseller author), Ravi Shankar and more.

OCTOBER 19 – DAY 1 – EVENT SCHEDULE: 

SESSION 1 – OCTOBER 1 9

10:00 am to 10:50 am – Sheetal Sheth (Book Read and Interactive Session: Always Anjali)

SESSION 2 – OCTOBER 1 9

11:00 am to 11:50 am -Veera Hiranandani (Book Talk: The Night Diary)

BREAK

12:00 pm to 12:30 pm – Break and Networking

SESSION 3 – OCTOBER 1 9

12:30 pm to 1:00 pm – Roopa Pai (Book Talk)

SESSION 4 – OCTOBER 19

1:45 pm to 3:00 pm – Mona Sehgal (Book Read and The Culture Tree Puppet Show: Under the African Sky)

SESSION 5 – OCTOBER 19

3:15 pm to 4:15 pm – Kavita Bafana (Book Read: Namaste Series and Little Ustaad Cultural Show)

Co-Sponsored By:

Indo-American Arts Council and The Culture Tree