Keralas first literary journey competition, Yaanam, in Varkala will rejoice vacation spot and literature

The origins of Yaanam, Kerala’s first journey literary competition, organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, date again to 2017, when the competition curator and writer, Sabin Iqbal, pitched a competition, Books on the Beach, in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, to advertise the coastal city. Unfortunately, for some unexpected causes, the concept was shelved.

The Department has revived the idea, calling it Yaanam (that means journey in Sanskrit). It is curated by Sabin and themed Of tales, trails and journey. The competition will deal with varied features of journey, together with writing, expertise, alternatives, challenges, and extra. It will likely be held at Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, from October 17 to 19.

Sabin envisions Yaanam as an annual roving competition, shifting places inside Kerala and bringing collectively writers and bloggers.

“In literature, journey writing or works about nice journeys have performed an enormous position. There are classics written on journeys. It has all the time contributed to cultural and literary growth,” says Sabin. He remarks how travellers’ accounts are a crucial a part of historical past in an period with out telephones.

“Kerala owes a lot to the retailers and travellers who’ve come right here, socio-cultural alternate that has enriched our language, delicacies, views, and so forth,” says Sabin.

He provides, “Apart from panel discussions and workshops, trails are deliberate across the cliff and to Kayalpuram, an under-explored backwater village in Varkala, to advertise the vacation spot.”

The competition may even try to know easy methods to develop the model, when it comes to visibility and advertising, says Sabin

Shehan Karunatilaka, Sri Lankan writer who gained the Booker Prize 2022, will attend the competition. Other audio system embrace poet Madhu Raghavendra, content material creator Kritika Goel, journalists Binoo Ok John and Pallavi Aiyar, writers Ullekh NP and Anurag Mallick, entrepreneur Piya Bahadur, and others.

Entry for the competition is proscribed to 150 to 200 individuals, whereas the cultural occasions within the night will likely be open to the general public.

“The main problem in organising such a competition is that it wants a planning of six to seven months,” says the curator, who has organised six editions of Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters. “To get the large names in journey literature, it’s important to chase them a minimum of for a 12 months. But, for Yaanam, we had solely round a month to arrange. It can be troublesome to get in contact with journey writers, as a result of they’re all the time on the transfer. We plan to begin the preparations early within the coming editions.”

Registrations are anticipated to start on October 10 via through www.keralatourism.org