The 7th edition of the Kerala Literature Festival witnessed the JCB Literature Foundation’s commitment to literary exploration through its Beyond Text initiative. Emphasizing diverse perspectives, five engaging panel discussions took center stage at the festival. The JCB Literature Foundation, known for its flagship project, the JCB Prize for Literature, which celebrated its sixth year in 2023 with Perumal Murugan’s Fire Bird as the winning entry, continued its literary journey.
A panel focused on the award-winning book, ‘Fire Bird.’ Author Perumal Murugan engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with TD Ramakrishnan and Manjula Narayan.
Recognizing that literature extends beyond textbooks, the Beyond Text initiative, launched last year, aims to support endeavors promoting literary works and authors, emphasizing storytelling as an art form beyond traditional text-based boundaries. The initiative strives to make literary works accessible to a broader audience beyond dedicated readership. Notable instances of the Foundation’s support include contributions to the Ninasam Theatre Festival and the Bookaroo Festival for Children’s Literature.
The Beyond Text sessions featured a diverse lineup, including panel discussions and screenings, showcasing the talents of renowned authors, journalists, artists, composers, and media personalities. The participants included JCB Prize for Literature winners from previous years, such as M. Mukundan, Benyamin, and Perumal Murugan, contributing to the vibrant literary discourse at the festival.”