Oxford starts Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival

Kolkata, Jan 12: Oxford Bookstore, India's leading bookstore chain, Tuesday inaugurated the three-day Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF), a confluence of 40 authors from India and overseas.

Youngest school principal in the world Babar Ali and national level gold winning swimmer Sourav Saha inaugurated the festival here Tuesday.

Babar Ali (16) said, "This festival is innovative and focuses on knowledge and learning and I am very happy to be here."

Sourav Saha (14) said, " I will proudly carry the Festival experience with me in the years ahead as I seek excellence in my chosen field of Swimming.

The festival will officially start Friday (Jan 15).

Hosted across heritage venues like St. John's Anglican Church and Victoria Memorial, AKLF is part of the centenary celebration of the Apeejay Surrendra Group.

Priti Paul, Director Apeejay Surrendra Group, said: "The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival will bring new energies, new vision and new interactions, national and international, to Kolkata's literary arena. We dedicate the festival to the memory of company patriarch Jit Paul who loved the city and gave back to it generously ever since he made it his home in 1947."

Festival Director Maina Bhagat said, from "Igniting Young Minds" to "Inspiring Senior Citizens"; from Reading Kolkata and the World, the panel discussion at St John's Anglican Church, to readings and music by French, German, Australian, British and Indian authors, the festival's three day calendar has a mix of events that will appeal to all.