The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) will be held in Houston for the first time as part of the larger umbrella of the literary event in the US, its organisers have said. Congress leader and writer Shashi Tharoor and Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna, are expected to attend the event in Houston, Texas, from September 14 to 15. Sarna is one of the chief guests.

Hailed as one of the greatest literary shows globally, the JLF after Houston will be held in New York from September 19 to 20 and from September 21 to 23 in Boulder, Colorado. “We’re so excited to be collaborating on the first JLF at Houston for the first time in Texas,” Bonna Kol, president of the Asia Society’s Texas centre, said. 

Since its inception in 2006, this is the first Texas visit for the JLF, which will bring together acclaimed authors, thinkers and humanitarians to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue. “The Jaipur Literature Festival has a fair representation of American authors and audience. The American audience comes from across states, but one has noticed a larger share from New York and Texas.

“Hence, the selection of Houston as one of the venues. There is also a sizable Indian diaspora concentrated in these places,” Sunil Varma, senior vice president, marketing and sponsorship, at Teamwork Arts told PTI. He said the Houston event will showcase south Asia’s rich literary and oral heritage. It will have authors from across the world as well as local literary figures, Varma said.