Delhi : Day 3 at Vedanta Presents Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 was a medley of ideas; stories flourished as did a commingling of cultures. From reflections on literature, and contemporary society to conversations on food, fiction, and conflict, the day offered audiences a wide-ranging exploration of thought and writing at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur. The world’s grandest celebration of books and ideas continued to draw packed audiences across venues.
Earlier, the close of the second day had seen some wonderful sessions. The Worlds of Wodehouse in Words and Music, which brought together Stephen Fry, Hal Cazalet, and Simon Beck in conversation with Anish Gawande, was a celebration of P. G. Wodehouse’s enduring wit and musicality. The session opened with a delightful surprise as British opera singer Hal Cazalet, accompanied by pianist Simon Beck, delivered a musical performance that immediately captivated the audience. Stephen Fry spoke about Wodehouse’s early life, shaped by magazines, cricket, and a keen observation of English social life, as well as his visits to upper-class households and encounters with butlers that enabled him to gently expose the absurdities of the class system. At Where Does Fiction Come From, a distinguished panel featured Tash Aw, Percival Everett (joining virtually), Kiran Desai, Esther Freud and Richard Flanagan in conversation with Anuradha Roy in a wide-ranging discussion on the art of the novel. This session put together fiction-writers from around the world to talk about inspirations, processes, research and their relationship with the form. Speaking of turning personal life into material, Richard Flanagan said, “Fiction comes from making up stories to answer questions you have no idea how to answer.”
The third day began with Morning Music as TĀL FRY’s percussion set the pulse racing, weaving together Carnatic and Hindustani classical into a compelling soundscape.
At a session titled The Magic of the Lost Earrings, Sudha Murty, in conversation with Mandira Nayar, spoke about the research that went into the making of the book, drawing inspiration from her family and her desire to share the story of Partition with her grandchildren through a lens that could be integrated into education. Murty noted, “We don’t tell children the importance of the past. I always believe that if you do not know your history, then you will not know your future. History and the future are connected.”
Festivalgoers were inspired by You Can Have It All: Unlock the Secrets to a Great Life, with Gaur Gopal Das in conversation with Poulomi Chatterjee, where Das encouraged audiences to recognise the power of their story, how that could help them understand shortcomings, and bring better insight into their inner selves.
Another compelling session, The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath, saw author Amish in conversation with Viveka Kumari, where Amish spoke about his latest novel, and its deeper historical and moral themes. Explaining his decision to drop his surname, he denounced the caste system as a repressive construct. Invoking Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideals, he asserted that the caste system was the enduring point of hindrance in India’s progress.
At a session titled, The Gaza Genocide, Avi Shlaim, Noa Avishag Schnall, Ramita Navai, and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, in conversation with Navdeep Suri, addressed the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Avi Shlaim, an Israeli British historian, began by defining the turning point of conflict to genocide, highlighting Israel’s denial of humanitarian aid in the West Bank. Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, author and poet, recited her poem, Running Order, portraying the harrowing experience of receiving just 58 seconds’ notice to evacuate one’s home before it was bombed. Journalists Noa Avishag Schnall and Ramita Navai shared records of their firsthand reporting from Gaza, offering insights into life under occupation and the human stories behind the headlines.
The day also saw The Wisdom of Indian Food between Rujuta Diwekar and Namita Devidayal; Diwekar talked about making a lifestyle shift by going back to the roots of Indian culinary practices. She emphasised the importance of freshly cooked food and sustainable, healthy habits over instantaneous weight loss. She said, ‘We are a lot more than what we eat. I also believe that we are not just the food that is on our plate, but also the attitude with which we eat and the wisdom with which we welcome (it).
More sessions on food followed. In Ammi’s Kitchen: Heirloom Recipes from Rampur, Pernia Qureshi, in conversation with Tarana Husain Khan, guided audiences through a nostalgic exploration of food, memory, and legacy. Rooted in the princely state of Rampur, the session traced a rich culinary lineage shaped by Persian influences and the migration of artists after the fall of the Mughals in 1857. Rampur’s cuisine reflects a distinctive amalgamation of Mughal, Awadhi, and Kashmiri flavours, marked by slow cooking, nuance, and restraint.
At the Festival today, the annual Mahakavi Kanhaiyalal Sethia Award was bestowed upon distinguished Hindi poet Yatindra Mishra, followed by the launch of a new edition of Mahakavi Kanhaiyalal Sethia’s Pankh Diye Aakash Na Doge. Among other announcements made, featured the dates of the Jaigarh Heritage Festival 2026 were featured, which is scheduled from December 11–13. This three-day cultural celebration at the historic Jaigarh in Jaipur will showcase Rajasthan’s rich traditions through music, art, crafts, heritage walks, and engaging dialogues, bringing the fort alive as a vibrant cultural space.
The Festival continues with its spirit of abundance and inclusivity on the fourth day, with key sessions planned around audiences will witness Richard Flanagan in conversation with Tim Adams, followed by A Continent in Crisis: Russia, Ukraine and the European Story, where Radoslaw Sikorski will engage with Navtej Sarna. Also, Speaking My Mind brings Leo Varadkar in conversation with Georgina Godwin. The day will also feature Ideas of Justice, with Justice D.Y. Chandrachud in conversation with Vir Sanghvi, promising rich discussions on law and society.
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