• Announcing an exciting line-up which includes stalwarts like Paul Beatty, Anita Desai, Kiran Desai, P. Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor and Kanishk Tharoor, Ruskin Bond, Kanhaiya Kumar, Rachel Holmes, Soumitra Chatterjee and Srijato among others
 
• Enthralling performances to captivate audience in the backdrop of the iconic Victoria Memorial
 
• Five-day festival: 25th January through 29th January, 2017
 
• Entry is free; come and grab your seat at the two venues at Victoria Memorial

On January 25th, the City of Joy will celebrate its biggest literary festival, the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet (TSKLM), 2017.  Over 130 celebrated writers and thinkers from various countries will converge at what is slated to be bigger and better edition of TSKLM 2017, which will have the theme of India at 70.

The illustrious line-up at the 6th edition of the festival beholds names such as Kiran Desai, Anita Desai, Gulzar, Romila Thapar, Ramchandra Guha, Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Tharoor, Javed Akhtar, Rachel Holmes, Ashwin Sanghi, Tabish Khair, Saeed Naqvi, Shami Chakraborty, Nayomi Munaweera, Shehan Karunatilake and many more. The two new elements this year include focus on youth engagement and the topic on writing of History.   Another highlight is the Trans-generational writing, bringing together writers from two different generations, which will be best illustrated by mother and daughter duo of Anita and Kiran Desai, Nabaneeta Dev Sen and Nandana Sen and the father and son duo of Shashi and Kanishk Tharoor.

The sixth edition of TSKLM will also explore Shakespeare @400, an intrinsic way of dwelling on the journey of the legend and the 400 years of his literally omnipresence. The literary extravaganza will be set against the backdrop of the iconic Victoria Memorial.  Two venues at the galactic monument, Son-et-Lumiere, Victoria Memorial Hall and Western Quadrangle, Victoria Memorial Hall, will host the sessions over five days of intense exchange of views on issues comprising literature, arts, sports, films, politics and more. The prestigious Bengal Club and the Calcutta Club will play host to a few exhilarating sessions of TSKLM. 

Speaking on the 6th edition of TSKLM, Ms. Malavika Banerjee, Director, Gameplan said, “The Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet in association with Victoria Memorial Hall is now one of the most highly anticipated events in the city’s winter calendar. Kalam is meant to be about discussion, not argument. It provokes thought, not rebuttal. Finally, it hopes to be about ideas that can be articulated without the fear of being shouted down.”

Speaking on the third edition of TSKLM (Kalam Litfest), Mr Peeyush Gupta, Vice President -- Steel (Marketing and Sales), Tata Steel, said: “We feel privileged and honoured to offer our continued support to TSKLM, a platform that brings together literary pundits and connoisseurs of literature.

This year’s theme, ‘India at 70’, presents an opportunity to witness some exciting deliberations, which will take place over five days at Kolkata’s prestigious and iconic locations. Like in earlier years, we expect to see people from all walks of life and different parts of the country descend upon Kolkata and savour the true flavour of TSKLM”.

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel Group stands among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 28 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA) and a turnover of US $17.69 billion in FY16. It is the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and commercial presence in over 50 countries. Established in 1907, the Group’s vision is to be the world steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Underpinning this vision is a performance culture committed to aspiration targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement, openness and transparency. Having bagged the Deming Application Prize and Deming Grand Prize for continuous improvement in 2008 and 2012 respectively, Tata Steel has now been recognised as the global ‘Industry Leader’ in ‘Steel category’ by Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Besides being one of ‘worldsteel’s’ Climate Action members, it has also been awarded the CII ITC Sustainability Prize, the ‘Best-in-class Manufacturing’ by TIME Award, the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant, among several others.