The British Library will host the London leg of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival for the first time as part of a new partnership, on 20-21 May. ZEE JLF@The British Library is one of the first major events in the UK as part of the UKIndia Year of Culture in 2017 which will showcase the cultural diversity of India in the UK. The intense twoday taster of the original Festival takes its inspiration from the 70th anniversary of Indian Independence.

On these two May days, the British Library will be transformed like never before as the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival animates its iconic spaces for the first time in celebration of their significant cultural partnership. ZEE JLF@ The British Library will present a sumptuous showcase of South Asia’s literary heritage, oral and performing arts, music, cinema and illusion, books and ideas, dialogue and debate, Bollywood and politics in the context of this broader view of India and its relationship to the UK. Over 70 eminent authors and thinkers from across the globe will explore ‘The Idea of India’ in a programme set to showcase South Asia’s unique multilingual literary heritage and the Festival’s global appeal.
The ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival is an extraordinary free literature festival in the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, Rajasthan each January, described by Time Out as ‘officially the Woodstock, Live 8 and Ibiza of world literature’. 2017 marks the fourth London edition of the Festival, which is rooted in the Pink City, held every January; this year commemorated the 10th anniversary of the flagship event.
Festival co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple have programmed JLF@The British Library to provide UK audiences with a taste of what is frequently referred to as ‘the greatest literary show on Earth’ in celebration of 70 years of UK-India relations.
Namita Gokhale, author and ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival Co- Director says, ‘Delighted that the fourth edition of JLF in London will be hosted by the British Library. London is a uniquely cosmopolitan and literary city, and we look forward to celebrating diversity through a series of vibrant sessions that reflect the special spirit of Jaipur’.
Sanjoy K Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts and producers of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival, says, ‘Our collaboration with the British Library is reflective of the shared history between the subcontinent and UK. The festival will continue to be a platform for diverse voices and will celebrate 70 years of India’s independence’. The year-long programme to mark UK-India relationship also includes India@Edinburgh in August, The Independence Gala@Southbank Centre in October, a season of Dance & Theatre and the UK Premiere of the Bharat Symphony by L Subramaniam and the London Symphony Orchestra in November.
Programme highlights include Oscar-winning British director Stephen Frears who will be in conversation with journalist and writer Shrabani Basu to discuss Basu’s book Victoria and Abdul which is soon to be released as a major motion picture directed by Frears and starring Judi Dench as Queen Victoria and You’ve Got Magic from illusionist Neel Madhav.