MILAP in Manipal from Sept 6 to 8

The second edition of Manipal International Literature and Arts Platform (MILAP), the annual literary festival hosted by MAHE, will be held at the Dr TMA Pai Hall from September 6 to 8. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘A Millennium Revisited: Tradition and Transformation’.

Acclaimed playwright, Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner Atamjit Singh will inaugurate the annual literary and cultural extravaganza. Playwright H S Shivaprakash will deliver the keynote address. MAHE VC Dr H Vinod Bhat will preside over the inaugural function, Dr Neeta Inamdar, convenor of the festival, said.

The festival is open to all and the registration can be done online or in person at the festival.

Registered participants will be able to attend all events and interact with about 50 resource persons from India and abroad like Ranjit Hoskote, Charu Nivedita, Alok Rajwade, Jayant Kaikini, Sanjoy Hazarika and Kunzang Choden.

Inamdar said MILAP provides a vibrant and non-commercial space for writers, artists, literary critics and students to connect with each other and begin a dialogue. “The festival celebrates literary, performance and visual arts. It is open to the local community as well as readers and art enthusiasts across the world,” she said.

The festival is a bit bigger than the first. Authors, poets, scholars and artists from India and abroad will be a part of several curated events over a three-day festival across different genres, languages and art forms.

There will be literary meet with sessions by well-known authors moderated by experts; a theatre appreciation workshop for registered participants, curated by Akshara K V and Prasad Vanarase; children’s events for workshops, readings and engagement with children’s books; youth events for students and the youths of Manipal to witness and experience literature and art; cultural evenings to explore intersections of theatre, music, dance and literature; art exhibition and demonstrations of Kavi Kale by Veena Srinivas; a photo exhibition by renowned photographer Sandesh Bhandare, a photography workshop and competitions for the talented students of MAHE and a book fair.