Sometimes it is difficult to take literature festivals too seriously. Jaipur, the daddy of them all, always has enough big-name writers to make up for the annoying presence of Bollywood stars and politicians (even if some of them can read). Sponsors are seen as necessary evils, and there is a certain amount of kowtowing to those who pay the piper.
The Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) is unique. There are no sponsors’ banners since the expenses are met by the community. No politician inaugurates it, no corporator demands the best seats like he does at cricket matches, no organisers present themselves at the sessions. They prefer remaining in the background.
The list of donors, Friends of the BLF, is a Who’s Who of the city; not all of them are books people, but all of them take pride in the city and contribute various amounts.
.jpeg?w=600)
