2,000+ curated titles, 85 delegates, and 100+ sessions: Neev Literature Festival aims to connect young readers

“Reading opens up doors within and are windows to many worlds,” says Kavita Gupta Sabharwal, Founder of educational foundation Neev. Having been an advocate of children’s education, and an educationist since early 2000—with Neev Schools and Neev Academy—Kavita decided to bring children’s literature to the forefront. 

In 2017, she started the Neev Literature Festival (NLF). “Not only did nothing like the JLF (Jaipur Literature Festival) exist for children’s literature, it remains a sideshow in most festivals. We were motivated to start NLF given the unique impact that reading has on children,” Kavita tells YS Life.

According to India Book Market Report by Nielsen, the children’s and young adult book market in India was valued at Rs 700 crore in 2022—contributing to only 20% of the total trade publishing revenue. NLF is on a mission to change that. But there’s more. 

“Children’s literature to textbook sales in India is at 5 to 95 (5: 95)…Unlike speaking and listening, reading is a hard habit that does not come naturally. It needs focussed training and builds the capability of lifelong learning. Reading also thrives in community,” Kavita adds. NLF thus connects young readers, making reading cool, and curates and honours the creator of great books. 

NLF claims to be India’s biggest children’s literature festival. Its eighth edition, scheduled for September 28 and 29 at the Neev Campus in Yemalur in Bengaluru, promises to bring alive books, stories, and conversations around the theme ‘Stumble upon your next story.’

“Post pandemic, we have been focusing on well-being through literature and reading…This year’s theme grows the idea of exploration, defining that childhood and thinking is not a straight line, but has many pathways and rabbit holes to meander, and build unique identities,” Kavita explains. 

What’s in store? 

NLF 2023 saw more than 4,000 attendees from across not just Bengaluru, but also elsewhere in the country, with audiences consisting of children, parents, and educators from diverse socio-economic strata—from IB schools, to government and NGO schools. 

Targeting children and young adults between age five and 18 years, the two-day festival will include immersive author interactions, engaging performances, insightful conversations, and creative workshops with some of the prominent names in the global children’s literature segment. “We have unique properties like children’s workshops, reading challenges, and book awards, which no other festival does,” Kavita says. 

Every year, NLF adds something new to engage children. This year, the festival will have two marquee performances around children’s literature, for children between ages five and eight years, designed and performed by Mumbai theatre companies—Moin and the Monster, based on Anushka Ravishankar’s book with the same name; and Jungle Nama, based on Amitav Ghosh’s book—a cautionary tale of the Bon Bibi legend from the Sunderbans. 

“Our choice of authors, performers, and sessions this year is driven by our theme—getting people to share their own stories, bringing out motivation and inspiration, but also caution and risk-taking,” Kavita adds.  

For the 2024 edition, NLF is inviting over 80-plus delegates who will be participating in more than 100 sessions over the course of two days. The literature festival will also feature more than 2,000 curated titles at the childrens’ book marketplace. 

Besides this, one can expect to meet global authors such as Adam Gidwitz (John Newbery Medal winner, and New York Times Editor’s Choice author); Sophie Blackall (winner of Golden Kite Award and Caldecott Medal); book creator Thao Lam; Marc Aronson (Silbert medal winner), and Marina Budhos. The lineup of Indian authors include Anushka Ravishankar, Shabnam Minwalla, Jane De Suza, Ashok Rajagopalan, Bijal Vachharajani, Andaleeb Wajid, Yuvan Aves, Rohan Chakravarty, and others. 

Besides this, award-winning Gond artist Bhajju Shyam and historian Manu Pillai will connect history and identity of a diverse and pluralistic India; clinical psychologist Sonali Gupta will share perspectives on young adults’ lives; literary agent Kanishka Gupta and Laura Simeon of Kirkus Reviews will also be part of the event. 

With the two-day festival and the run up to it, Kavita aims to make reading cool. But there’s more to NLF than just that. It also organises reading challenges throughout the year, fostering a deep passion for reading among children. 

The NLF Reading challenge unites reading communities across India. Interestingly, this year, it had competitive teams from Australia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, China, the UK, and the US. 

“Reading is an individual habit that grows socially. Deep readers thrive with community and the reading challenge, along with the festival, connect readers across space and time…just like sports events that bring together sports people,” Kavita concludes.

Dates: September 28 & 29

Venue: Neev Academy, Yemalur, Bengaluru

The 2024 Neev Literature Festival is free to attend, and is open to all.