Former administrator and diplomat Gopalkrishna Gandhi in conversation with author Bakhtiar Dadabhoy on the final day of 16th Hyderabad Literary Festival on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
From global ideas to intimate memories, the final day of the Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026 unfolded as a quiet arc of reflection. Monday’s sessions moved from a Nobel Laureate’s examination of society and economics in the morning to a deeply personal evening conversation with former diplomat Gopalkrishna Gandhi, bringing the festival to a thoughtful close.
The final day began with a plenary session titled ’Chhaunk: On Food, Economics and Society’ featuring Nobel Laureate and economist Abhijit Banerjee in conversation with French illustrator Cheyenne Olivier. Centered on Mr. Banerjee’s book and the thinking behind it, the discussion explored how economic ideas are rooted in lived realities. “While writing the book, I tried to make sure that I imagine people that I don’t know since the social circle in India is so huge that everybody knows everybody. Many stories in the book are about ordinary lives,” he said, underscoring his focus on everyday experiences.
Another session titled ‘Queering the Conversation’ brought together filmmaker Paromita Vohra and author Kazim Ali, with Sneha Banerjee, a teacher at the University of Hyderabad, moderating the discussion. The panel examined how questions of gender and sexuality occupy a central place in their respective works, and how literature and cinema can open up conversations around identity.
During the lunch hour, members of the Nations Rock Beat presented a dance performance that drew festival attendees together. The group performed to a mix of Tollywood and Bollywood songs, adding a lively interlude to the day’s literary discussions.
The festival also featured the screening of a true crime documentary titled ‘Silent Screams: The Lost Girls of Telangana’, which carries a voice-over by actor-musician Shruti Haasan. The screening attracted a large crowd, many of whom had anticipated the actor’s presence. However, she did not attend, leading to some disappointment among those who had gathered.
The three-day festival concluded with the Ajay Gandhi Memorial Valedictory, titled ‘The Undying Light: A Personal History of Independent India’. The session featured former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi in conversation with author Bakhtiar Dadabhoy.
The discussion turned to the early years of the Republic and key figures such as C. Rajagopalachari and Jawaharlal Nehru. Recalling 1950, when India became a republic and Rajagopalachari demitted office as Governor-General, Mr. Gandhi referred to Rajagopalachari’s remarks on the country’s leadership. He recounted that Rajagopalachari had said India was safe because it had in Nehru a leader who enjoyed universal love and in Sardar Patel, who commanded universal confidence.
Published – January 26, 2026 08:38 pm IST
