The fourth annual edition of Goa Art + Literary Festival promises to be the best in the history of this unique festival, a continuing labour of love and collaboration between the Goa Writers group and the International Centre Goa.
It has been widely recognized that no other festival like GALF exists anywhere in the world, where volunteers manage all aspects, and strong bonds have been forged and continue to be maintained to regions, writers, poets, musicians and artists who are nowhere else welcomed and honoured as they are here each year. This is why many participants pay their own way to the festival again and again, something which does not happen elsewhere, and that Goa should be very proud of. In addition, few events of this type so prominently showcases the writers and artists of the home state - once again GALF will prominently feature the best Goan talent throughout its four-day schedule. >From the first edition, the GALF has maintained a focus on the North East that has only gained in strength over the years. This year there will be more than 25 participants from that part of the country, including a troupe of spectacular performers from the Uttar Kamalabari satra (ashram) in magnificent Majuli island that very rarely travels out of Assam. This edition of GALF also features an extraordinary line-up of Indian poets, perhaps the finest ever assembled anywhere in recent history. >From all-time greats like Gulzar, Satchidanandan and Eunice de Souza to outstanding younger stars like Meena Kandasamy and Ranjit Hoskote and more than a dozen others, GALF 2013 will be an outstanding treat for all lovers of poetry. This edition, we are particularly proud that two outstanding expatriate Goans will be making their Litfest debut in the state: the brilliant journalist Cyril Almeida, of Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, and the star chef Floyd Cardoz, who recently won the Top Chef Masters title in the USA. In addition, Meera Kosambi will release her path-breaking compilation of D.D. Kosambi’s writings, and will also address the Inaugural function on 5th December on the “Goan-ness” of her illustrious father and grandfather. GALF 2013 will again feature an emphasis on ‘different ways of belonging’ that highlight the periphery of India, in keeping with Goa’s own different history from most of the rest of the country. This year, that mission has expanded to Pakistan, and its popular Desi Writers Lounge that will bring a several of that country’s leading writers to GALF – a renewal of a centuries old connection between Goans and Pakistan, and another reason for the state to be proud of this little festival that continues to break new ground despite severe financial and other challenges.
