Hay Festival begins with a promise of diversity
Hay Festival Dhaka 2014, a global literary event, began today with a promise to cultivate diversity of literature, poetry and art throughout the world.
Journalists, writers, editors and publishers from all over the globe converged at Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka where the event was inaugurated around 11:15am.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Stating that the language movement of 1952 was a fight for diversity, Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, hoped that the Hay Festival would contribute to change in society.
inaugural of the festival pic.twitter.com/O19UZbTvFs
— Hay Festival Dhaka (@HayFestDhaka) November 20, 2014
the festival has just begun, more performances to come pic.twitter.com/KBTVFsnhdy
— Hay Festival Dhaka (@HayFestDhaka) November 20, 2014
last minute preparation is going on, it's hay again. welcome session starts at 10.30am pic.twitter.com/sfKyimsRZD
— Hay Festival Dhaka (@HayFestDhaka) November 20, 2014
He hoped that the event would cultivate independent thinking, creativity and dissenting views that will break the status quo prevailing in the society.
John Ralston Saul, international president of PEN International, said that a strong education and healthcare system is the foundation of a robust educated citizen based society, and urged to quadruple the budget in these sectors.
He stressed it was the responsibility of Bangladesh to lead the movement to heave the suppressed languages in other countries since it earned Bangla language through blood in 1952.
He added that the world was now following the theory of sameness and that people should celebrate diversity. Peace can only be expected by joining the differences, he said.
Syed Shamsul Haq, Bangladesh’s prolific author, poet and playwright, said that fanaticism was spreading everyday and hoped that words will be a sword to fight terror today.
Among others who spoke in the occasion were Mimi Kalavati and William Dalrymple. Tahmina Anam moderated the inaugural ceremony.
The festival will continue for three full days with more than 80 panel discussions and several book launches taking place at multiple venues at Bangla Academy.
No entry fee or registration is required for participating in any sessions or panel discussions, according to the festival directors.
Exciting events for children will be arranged from 9:45am to 5:30 pm on Friday, including a painting session for those aged 6-14 years.
Panel discussions will cover subjects such as ancient wisdom and scientific thinking, the seeking of truth and knowledge, and the intersection between personal and political space.
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