A weekend snapshot of GLF 2012

For those who have missed out on the HSBC Galle Literary Festival 2012 so far, the weekend too is packed with a number of great events that are definitely worth checking out.

The fourth day of GLF will commence with an excursion with Channa Daswatte at 9a.m. to view Sri Lankan architecture of the coastal or maritime provinces as seen in Galle with its myriad influences from the 18th to the 20th century.

The walk will follow a series of buildings that embody these stylistic features, and give variety and sometimes humour to architecture.

At the same time, a GLF panel featuring Rachel Tribe, Ellah Allfrey, Aminatta Forna and Neluka Silva will take place at the Maritime Museum at 9 a.m. at which the four panellists will speak on the topic trauma and literature, with each of the speakers drawing from their own experiences in their native countries.

At 9.30a.m. writer John Boyne will join Ashok Ferrey to discuss his award winning novel ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ at the Hall de Galle.

Githa Hariharan will host a workshop on ‘writing conflict,’ at the Galle Heritage Villa at 10 a.m., a session which will consider the challenges involved in writing about conflict – be it the more obvious examples of war and riots, or the more covert day-to-day experience of prejudice and discrimination.

To explore possible answers to this question, the workshop will use a combination of conversation, writing exercises, and discussion of texts from different parts of the world, both prose extracts and poetry.

Food-lovers will certainly enjoy the cookery demonstration by the Fort Ladies at 11a.m. followed by lunch.

These dishes draw on the traditions of Muslim cooking brought to Galle by the ladies’ ancestors, a cuisine that was fused with local ingredients and food and will include Galle Kidoo rice with beef, koss mallun, mango chutney, thotal curry and a typical Galle dessert.

‘The Gaza Doctor’ Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish will join Sanjana Hattotuwa at 11a.m. at the Hall de Galle to discuss his memoir ‘I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey,’ a book that captured hearts and headlines around the world in the aftermath of horrific tragedy: on January 16, 2009, Israeli shells hit his home in the Gaza Strip, killing three of his daughters and a niece. In this international bestseller, Abuelaish gives a heart-breaking yet hopeful account of a Gazan life in all its struggle and pain.

Two novelists of Sri Lankan heritage who were born and brought up in other countries, Randy Boyagoda and Roshi Fernando will head a discussion on new Sri Lankan writing from the Diaspora moderated by Manju Kapur at the Maritime Museum at 11.00a.m. will talk about the impact of Sri Lanka and its culture on their lives and imagination—what it means to belong or not belong in a country that is more imaginary than lived in. A series of literary lunches with several authors will be followed by a session with writer Joanna Trollope moderated by Ashok Ferrey at 2.30p.m. at Hall de Galle during which Trollope will discuss her best-selling penultimate novel ‘The Other Family’ and her latest best-seller ‘Daughters-in-Law.’

At the same time, over at the Maritime Museum, Stephen Kelman will address a gathering on his book ‘Pigeon English,’ with the session moderated by Shyam Selvadurai.

After several other afternoon sessions, the Sunset Series will kick off at 5.30p.m. at the Sun House, Maritime Museum, Galle Heritage Villa and the Closenburg Hotel respectively.

This will be followed by a performance by the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company at 7p.m. and several dinners including a barbeque on the beach with some of the Festival authors. The night will wrap up with ‘Mayhem Past Mignight,’ at Cantaloupe Aqua.

The last day of GLF 2012 will feature a much lighter programme with only a few events in the morning and will conclude with a grand finale – a Literary lunch with the Festival authors with each table featuring 10 guests and one author.

For a more detailed view of the entire programme and other information on the Festival, head over to www.galleliteraryfestival.com.