"We live in a globalised community and it is natural that English writing gets prominence. But this has knowingly or unknowingly resulted into an apathy, if not neglect, toward regional literary streams which have created master storytellers and poets. They do not get the recognition they deserve.


Kureepuzha Sreekumar, Malayalam poet 

State governments and the media, too, do not give them the share of limelight at the national level. This is an attempt to put regional languages on the same page with English and Hindi, a small beginning," he says.

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Things for regional literature have got worse over the past decade or so, he feels, especially in terms of marketability, prominence of English and social media. "Regional writing in India is gasping for attention beyond its own regional boundaries. Regional writers now want to write it in English. It is like heroes of Malayalam or Kannada vying for Bollywood for wider recognition," feels Kakanandan.


Subodh Sarkar, Bengali poet 

Translation, too, he feels, is selective, not inclusive. "Translations happen from English to regional languages, but the reverse process is slow. Translation from one regional language to another is slower," he says.

Today, the speakers at the festival include Bengali poet Subodh Sarkar, Malayam poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar, Marathi authors Shanta Gokhale and Makarand Sathe and Gujarati poet, Sachin Ketkar.

The Gateway LitFest is being held at the NCPA, Nariman Point