Probal discussed the upcoming Max City VOW Literature Festival, explaining that its purpose is to celebrate diverse voices and ideas in Mumbai, which he described as India's gateway to the world. He outlined the festival's theme "One World, Many Words," which aims to provide a platform for different perspectives on global issues, including conflicts, gender, and environmental concerns. Probal emphasized the importance of engaging and embracing diverse opinions rather than shaping a single opinion. The festival will take place on March 28-29 at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, with a schedule available on the Maxcity Lit Fest Instagram handle.
Lit Fest Structure and Planning
Probal explained the structure of the upcoming Lit Fest, highlighting two main sessions: a welcome session focused on contemporary issues and non-fiction works, and a panel discussion on the West Asia war, which has been rescheduled to day two due to rapidly changing circumstances. The West Asia panel will explore the direction of the conflict and its implications for India, featuring panelists Ambassador TCA Raghavan and Menaz Merchant. Hrishi announced that Homi Bhabha State University will also serve as a venue for the festival this year, and mentioned Probal's book "General Brass Tacks" which will be featured in a session titled "Five Assassinations and an Arms Deal."
General Sundarji's Life and History
Probal discussed his upcoming panel on General Sundarji's life and the 1980s, highlighting key events including political assassinations and an arms deal. He explained how he discovered that Sundarji's life parallelled India's post-independence history, revealing new details through research such as Sundarji's presence at Mahatma Gandhi's funeral and raising the tricolor in Pakistan on Independence Day 1947. Probal described the writing process as revealing more about Sundarji's life than initially expected, transforming the book from focusing solely on the 1980s to telling a broader story of India's history through Sundarji's perspective.
Operation Brass Stacks Military Exercise
Probal discussed his book "Operation Brass Stacks," which details a significant military exercise from the 1980s that was four times larger than NATO exercises and the biggest mobilization since World War II. He explained that the operation, led by General Sundarji, aimed to defend India's borders while launching strikes into Pakistani territory to target nuclear facilities. Probal noted that these important historical events are often overlooked in India due to military history not being widely popular outside military circles, and he sought to "de-jargonize" the story to make it more accessible to the general public.
General Sundarji Book Discussion
Probal Dasgupta discussed his book on General Sundarji, describing him as India's most important military strategist who influenced both military and political decisions in the 1980s. He explained how writing the book involved personal excavation of memories from growing up in the 1980s, including events like Operation Blue Star and the Sri Lankan campaign. Probal also promoted the upcoming Max City Lit Fest in Mumbai on March 28-29, highlighting various panels and speakers including Amish Tripathi and other notable authors.
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