In Jaipur, a Strong Showing from Pakistan, Despite Calls for Boycott

Deepak Sharma/Associated Press People attending a session on the opening day of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2013, on Thursday.

JAIPUR, Rajasthan â€" Amid much controversy, the Jaipur Literature Festival opened with a large selection of Pakistani writers on Thursday.

The first day of the five-day festival featured the authors Jamil Ahmad, whose novel “The Wandering Falcon” was short listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2011, M.A. Farooqi, whose novel “Between Clay and Dust” was long listed for the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize and DSC Prize 2012, and Nadeem Aslam whose works “Season of the Rainbirds” and “Maps for Lost Lovers” have received many awards.

On stage in two different sessions, the authors held a lively discussion about their recent books, their craft and what influenced their worldviews.

But it wasn’t easy to get them here.

In the days leading up to the festival, Suman Sharma, the national opposition Bhartiya Janata Party state vice president for Rajasthan,  tried to block their entry. “Looking at the present Indo-Pak relations, it is unacceptable to allow Pakistani writers here as guests,” he said, threatening to keep them out of the state. The right-wing Hindu group RSS said that it was “not in the country’s interest at the moment,” to have guests from Pakistan.

Their statements came after a recent skirmish across the contested Line of Control border that India and Pakistan share in Kashmir.

While the chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, said on Thursday that the visit of Pakistani authors to the Jaipur Literary Festival should not be “politicized”, the state government denied two Pakistani diplomats based in New Delhi permission to attend the festival. The two diplomats, Manzoor Memon, a press councillor, and the minister of trade Naeem Anwar, were not given any reason for the denial.

This is not the first time the Jaipur Literary Festival has been dogged by controversy. In 2012, the Indian-born author Salman Rushdie called off his appearance at the festival because of an assassination threat against him in connection with his 1988 novel, ‘‘The Satanic Verses.” Mr. Rushdie, who is currently in New Delhi for work related to Deepa Mehta’s film adaptation of his book “Midnight’s Children,” told the Economic Times that he would not be attending the festival this year and that he had not been invited.

“Last year there was so much fear amongst people at the festival, and this year the controversies have come up again,” said Priyanka Malhotra, chief executive at Full Circle, a publishing house, bookseller and the official “book partner” for the literary festival. “The festival should be an upholder of the freedom of speech and be a place where you can say what you want, read what you want and write what you want,” she said.

On Thursday the festival organizers pledged that threats would not affect the festival’s schedule this year. Sanjoy K. Roy, the festival’s producer, said in his opening remarks that the government of Rajasthan, along with the police, had worked to ensure the safety of the authors. “We’re not here to be bullied,” he said. “Delhi is behind this festival, please be assured that you will all be safe.”

The Pakistani author Mohammed Hanif canceled his attendance, but the organizers did not specify why.

“It is only through cultural exchanges, literature festivals and sports that the two countries can come together,” said Ameena Saiyid, managing director for the Oxford University Press Pakistan. “This call that Pakistanis should not be allowed to take part in the Jaipur Literature Festival I think is outrageous and I am so glad that they are all here.”

She said that while Mohammed Hanif was not in attendance, she thought he had missed the festival for another reason.

Meanwhile, some Pakistani authors said they understood the sentiments of those objecting. “If the basis of the objection is a tragic incident that caused grief and pain and people are expressing their grief by saying that we are no longer in a welcoming mood - I respect that,” M. A. Farooqi said in an interview. “The sanctity of human life and the sanctity of human relationships should always take precedence.”

Over the years, Indian and Pakistani authors have taken part in numerous  cultural exchanges despite hostilities between the two nations.

“There is always a massive South Asian presence at the Jaipur Literary Festival,” said Chiki Sarkar, the publisher of Penguin Books India. “Almost every major Pakistani author has attended Jaipur and each one has been very well received.”

Pakistani audiences have been equally welcoming to Indian authors. Having attended the Jaipur Literary Festival in 2009 and 2010, Ms. Saiyid launched the Karachi Literature Festival in 2010. Now in its fourth year, the festival routinely features a few Indian authors. This year’s festival, in February, will feature the poet, lyricist and director Gulzar, along with Pavan K. Varma, the writer and diplomat, Urvashi Butalia, a publisher and writer, and Shobha De, a columnist and novelist.

“There is an enormous curiosity and interest in listening to Indian authors and I find the same over here,” said Ms. Saiyid.

Asked what he thought about being in India as tensions simmer on both sides of the border, the author Nadeem Aslam said, “For me borders and frontiers don’t mean anything. I would live anywhere if I loved someone.”