TATA LITERATURE LIVE! THE MUMBAI LITFEST 2020 ANNOUNCES JAVED AKHTAR AS POET LAUREATE

Mumbai, 4^th November 2020: Nationally and internationally renowned poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has been announced as the Poet Laureate of the 11^th Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2020.

Javed Saab’s words, dramatically and poignantly expressed in iconic Hindi films over the years, are an intrinsic part of the memories of several generations of Indians. His poems and lyrics have given unbounded pleasure and solace to millions. His versatility and connection to changing times has meant he could effortlessly turn his pen from Silsila to Dil Chahta Hai to Gully Boy. In the course of his illustrious life and career he has been conferred the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan; has won 5 National Film Awards, and 8 Filmfare Awards for his lyrics. He was a Rajya Sabha MP from 2010-2016.

Accepting the Poet Laureateship for Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2020, Javed Saab said: “I am delighted to be named the Poet Laureate of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest 2020.  I am glad that the Litfest recognises the significance of poetry. Verse is the oldest form of expression of human emotions, aspirations, storytelling and celebration. Poetry both affirms joy and offers solace. I have spent my life trying to articulate the feelings and hopes of my countrymen in my verse, lyrics and screenplays and to propound the values of empathy and harmony among all. I am honoured by this recognition of my work and writings by a Literary Festival that has consistently showcased the best of Indian and international writing and thought”.

Founder and Festival Director Anil Dharker said: “It is an honour and privilege for us to have Javed Saab as the Poet Laureate for the 2020 edition of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest. His writing, which encompasses wit, insight and humanity, illuminates our lives. He has been a lifelong crusader for enlightenment and harmony. He stands for the best in and about India”.

Harish Bhat, Brand Custodian, Tata Sons said, “India is proud of Javed Saab. He has put us on the world map with his incredible talent, worldwide recognition as well as, now, being the FIRST Indian to win the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award for the year 2020. Indeed, this is a great recognition of his critical thinking, advancing human progress, and humanist values.  We are honoured to recognize him as the Poet Laureate for the 2020 edition of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest.

Past recipients of the Tata Literature Live! Poet Laureate Award include K. Satchidanandan, Jayanta Mahapatra, Gulzar, Keki Daruwalla, Vikram Seth and Joy Goswami.

For more details about Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2020, please visit:

Website: https://tatalitlive.in/

Speakers: https://tatalitlive.in/speakers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatalitlive/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/litlivemumbai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TataLitLive/

The Tata Group is the title sponsor of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, and the festival will also be supported by few other Tata companies. The festival is conceived by Anil Dharker, founder and festival director of Literature Live!, which organises the festival with the support of the Tata Group.

About the Tata Group

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across 10 verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‘To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2017-18, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $110.7 billion. These companies collectively employ over 700,000 people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 28 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of about $145.3 billion (as on March 31, 2018). Companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Global Beverages, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Tata Advanced Systems, Indian Hotels and Tata Communications.

You can follow the Tata group on:

·      Twitter: https://twitter.com/TataCompanies

·      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TataCompanies

·      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tata-companies

About Literature Live!

Literature Live! founded by Anil Dharker in 2010, is dedicated to celebrating the written word in all its glorious forms. The Literature Live! Evenings held throughout the year - book launches, thought-provoking talks, literary evenings, author interactions, performances,  book swaps, fiction and haiku contests - have offered Mumbai a chance to participate in the many joys of literature, and undefeated by the pandemic, has digitally  extended this opportunity to a vast audience beyond the city.  It also holds regular talks at colleges, and events for underprivileged school children.

Literature Live! organises the Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, Mumbai's premier international literary festival, which has become immensely popular because it looks at literature in a way that complements the spirit of Mumbai: energetic, cosmopolitan and all-inclusive. Now gearing up for its 11^th edition from 16^th to 22^nd November 2020, Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, with  over a 100 writers, thinkers and performers from India and across the world, will be on a digital platform for the first time, offering “entry” to the Festival to a global audience along with its core attendees from Mumbai.