The Western Ghat Lit Fest, themed "Bharat Fast Forward," was held in Coimbatore on the 19th and 20th of October 2024. Curated by Smt Shefali Vaidya, Director of The Verandah Club and organized by the esteemed Verandah Club of Coimbatore, the festival, now in its third edition, provided a rich cultural and literary experience for attendees. With each passing year, the festival has grown in prominence, and this year's iteration was a resounding success, attracting over 1200 participants over two days. The attendees benefited from the knowledge of Bharathiya cultural ethos.

The festival was organized under the leadership of the distinguished and erudite Professor Shri Kanagasabapathi. Renowned author, speaker, and influencer Smt Shefali Vaidya expertly curated the event, bringing together 26 esteemed writers from across India and the globe, including speakers from Singapore and Malaysia. The event was meticulously guided by Chief Mentor Shri Sundar Ramachandran and Mentor & Advisor Shri S Ramachandra Prasad.

Founderof The Verandah Club Shri Jagannathan and Director Shri N Saravanakumar, along with the Senior Correspondent Shri Vigneshwaran deserve the highest commendation for their exceptional organizational skills. Their meticulous attention to scheduling ensured the smooth flow of events. Speakers and participants alike lauded the festival as one of the most well-organized and intellectually stimulating literary events, praising the quality of discussions and the seamless execution.

Following the customary lamp lighting and inaugural address, the festival commenced with a compelling presentation by Advocate Shri Vishnu Jain, who elucidated the Ayodhya case and the recent developments in the Kashi Gyanvapi case. This was followed by a keynote address delivered by the eminent author Shri Ashwin Sanghi, who shared valuable insights into his writing process and captivated the audience with fascinating anecdotes from his works.

A thought-provoking discussion on "Distortion of our Puranas, Itihasas, and History" ensued between Shri MR Deepak and Shri Arun Krishnan. They explored various forms of historical distortion under the headings of Erasure, Obfuscation, Outright Lies, and Ignoring. The discussion encompassed a wide range of topics, from the debunking of the Aryan Invasion theory to the misconception of caste discrimination being prevalent during the Puranic period.

A notable highlight of the festival was the participation of the exceptionally bright and gifted children from the Anaadi Foundation. The gurukul students impressed the audience with their chanting, yoga gymnastics, and profound knowledge of Indian epics. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of their teachers and Matrushree Ananthalakshmi, the founder of the institution. Her initiative to publish books that provide Dharmic knowledge to students, independent of inclusion in school textbooks, is a commendable effort to counter historical distortions and the lack of Dharmic value education.

Matrushree Ananthalakshmi elaborated on her transformative work in a conversation with noted author Shri Nilesh Oak. She also participated in a session with Sanskrit scholar Dr. Gauri Mahulikar to discuss the case of Sanskrit. 

Other significant highlights of the first day included a presentation on Mahabharata Mysteries by Shri Nilesh Oak, who presented compelling evidence for the dating of the epic. A mesmerizing dance performance by the disciples of Guru Vidushi Smt. Mrudula Rai of Shree Natya Niketan School of Dance, Coimbatore vividly depicted the entire Ramayana narrative in under an hour. 

Subsequently, a crucial discussion on the perils of woke culture was moderated by Smt. Shefali Vaidya. Author Shri Abhijeet Joag illuminated the destructive nature of woke culture and its inherent dangers while the Educationist Aishwarya Rao provided insights on countering the pervasive influence of woke ideology. Renowned news anchor Shri Anand Narasimhan delivered a passionate discourse on Indian culture and the nation's inherent greatness. Wing Commander BS Sudarshan shared his expertise on the history of Hampi.

Founder of The Verandah Club, Jagannathan, spelt out the previous year’s events and the goals for forthcoming years, persistency seems to be the dominant gene for Team Verandah and this is the success mantra. They have collectively launched over sixty books and hosted over hundred authors both online and offline over the past 4 years.

A unique feature of this festival was the opportunity for authors and readers to engage in meaningful discussions about books and various topics. Subbu Books maintained a bustling book stall throughout the event, where readers eagerly purchased books and sought autographs from their favorite authors.

The second day of the festival commenced with the presence of acclaimed classical singers Ranjani and Gayatri, who graced the occasion with a soul-stirring performance - a surprise at its best. Prayer song was sung by children of Vikasa Tarangini, Coimbatore. A session on debunking historical distortions followed, featuring Capt. Praveen Chaturvedi and Shri Aabhas Maldahiyar.

Smt. Shailaja Menon delivered an engaging presentation on Yoga and the profound impact of breathwork. Shri Rithwik Subramanya of Subbu Books engaged in a conversation with author Shri Senthil Sree Kumar about his latest book on the Sangili Karuppan tradition. Journalist Shri Abhijit Majumder's book, "India’s New Right," was the focus of a session moderated by Shefali Vaidya, which provided insights into how free speech is often suppressed by those claiming to be liberal.

Capt. Praveen Chaturvedi engaged in a dialogue on “The Yogi Way” with author Shantanu Gupta, who has authored a book on the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Capt. Chaturvedi showcased impactful videos created by Prachyam, demonstrating the power of visual media.

The session with Param Vir Chakra awardee, Hon. Capt. Yogendra Singh Yadav, proved to be an emotionally resonant experience for all attendees. In conversation with Shefali Vaidya and author Smt. Swapnil Pandey, Capt. Yadav recounted the events of that fateful day when history was made. The session evoked a profound sense of patriotism and brought to light the harsh realities faced by soldiers and their families. The audience responded with a heartfelt standing ovation, moved by Capt. Yadav's courageous story.

A significant dialogue on Hindutva took place between Prof. Kanagasabapathi and renowned writer Shri Ratan Sharda. Various facets of Hindutva were explored, including its economic implications, with a particular focus on Tamil Nadu. BJP spokesperson Shri Pradeep Bhandari addressed the critical issue of demography and destiny, presenting compelling statistics that served as both an eye-opener and a call to policy action.

A session on Unsung Warriors of Bharat featured authors Tuhin Sinha and Manoshi Sinha followed by a panel discussion on Hinduphobia between Shantanu Gupta, Tuhin Sinha, Ratan Sharda and Abhijit Majumder. The festival's key organizers, Shefali Vaidya, S Ramachandra Prasad and N Saravanakumar shared their reflections on the event's success.

In keeping with the spirit of a literary festival, sixteen new titles were launched during the course, fostering connections between authors and readers. Books written by participating authors were also discussed on stage.

The Western Ghat Literary Fest is another testament to the Verandah Club's exceptional ability to organize impactful literary events. The festival concluded with the announcement of the next edition, scheduled for November 1st and 2nd, 2025. Readers and audiences are encouraged to stay informed about next year's Literature Fest. 

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Deepak M R is a professional writer and author, who has previously worked in academics, training, and consulting. He is the author of the novel ‘Abhimanyu – the warrior prince’ (Bloomsbury, 2021). He is also a contributing author in the anthology Unsung Valour (Bloomsbury, 2020) and a KDP e-book ‘Mahabharata Tales: Justice for Draupadi and other stories’. He is an avid fan of Hindi film music.