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2022

Gallery

Schedule & Speakers

VoW Awardees

VoW 2022 Coverage

Afternoons with an Author

Afternoons with an Author: Sunday, 26th January, 2025 | Dynamic DM by Dr Heera Lal
46:51
Valley of Words

Afternoons with an Author: Sunday, 26th January, 2025 | Dynamic DM by Dr Heera Lal

The first edition of ‘Afternoons with an Author,’ 2025 will witness author Dr Heera Lal discussing his book ‘Dynamic DM.’ The book ‘Dynamic DM’ is an inspiring narrative that captures the transformative governance journey of the author as District Magistrate, Banda. Co-authored with Kumud Verma, the book delves into innovative policy implementations and grassroots initiatives that created lasting social impact. It emphasizes how visionary leadership, community engagement, and data-driven solutions can uplift underdeveloped regions. With practical insights and real-life case studies, it serves as a guide for aspiring administrators, policy enthusiasts, and those passionate about public service and effective governance. The author, Dr. Heera Lal is an innovative and people-centric IAS officer, celebrated for his pioneering governance approach. Born in Bagdeeh, Uttar Pradesh, he earned a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Public Administration from Syracuse University, USA. He has spearheaded key initiatives in rural development, water conservation, and health. His leadership philosophy focuses on simplicity, inclusivity, and sustainable solutions for social betterment. Lead Discussant Sachin Chauhan is an emerging voice in Hindi literature, known for translating ‘We the People of the States of Bharat’ into ‘हम भारत के राज्यों के लोग,’ which won the Rajbhasha Samman, 2024. A writer and content strategist, he actively contributes to literary discourse as the coordinator of the VoW Shabdavali Hindi Literature Conference, promoting cultural and intellectual engagement. Moderator for the session will be renowned poet, writer and broadcaster Lakshmi Shankar Vajpayee who is celebrated for his lyrical and thought-provoking contributions to Hindi literature. He has been associated with All India Radio and Doordarshan, where he played a key role in promoting poetry and literature. His body of work includes "Khushboo To Bacha Li Jaye", his poetry beautifully reflects theme of love, life, and philosophy. A member of the Board of Governors and a former jury member for the Valley of Words (VoW) Book Awards, he brings insight and depth to every session he moderates.
Truth / Untruth | Mahasweta Devi, Anjum Katyal | VBA 2024 ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM BANGLA
46:41
Valley of Words

Truth / Untruth | Mahasweta Devi, Anjum Katyal | VBA 2024 ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM BANGLA

A trenchant, darkly humorous, and unsentimental look at Calcutta society. Set in Calcutta in the mid-1980s, Truth/Untruth is a fast-paced thriller built around the death of the pregnant Jamuna—a maid in a newly affluent residential apartment complex—and Arjun, the upwardly mobile businessman who seduced her. Packed with a cast of colorful characters, this novel is a trenchant, darkly humorous, and unsentimental look at the different segments of Calcutta society: from the middle-class culture vultures to the unscrupulous ‘promoter’ class and the domestic helpers and slum goons who form an intrinsic part of the city’s life. All are implicated in a complex web of guilt and bizarre twists and turns. Sex, lies, death—the great modernist themes—run like a thread through this book, exposing societal greed, lust, corruption, and moral hypocrisy with a sardonic tone that spares none. An unusual novel by an author who is otherwise known for her hard-hitting activist-feminist stories, Truth/Untruth underlines the exploitative vicious cycle that defines urban relations between the haves and have-nots. Translator Anjum Katyal (writer, literary curator, and former Chief Editor of Seagull Books) is in conversation with Bijoya Sawian and Satish Aikant on the intricacies of class divide and masculinities as explored through powerful original work by one of India's finest writers, Mahasweta Devi. #bangla #translation
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