India does not only share the Himalayan mountain range with Bhutan,but also an enthusiasm for literature. This summer,poet-lyricists Gulzar and Javed Akhtar,writers Samit Basu and Namita Gokhale,wildlife expert Valmik Thapar and mythologist-illustrator Devdutt Pattanaik will be among the group of eminent wordsmiths from India who will meet in the sylvan mountain landscape of Thimpu for Mountain Echoes 2011. The Bhutan contingent will comprise Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck,the Queen Mother of Bhutan and author of Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan,Sonam Kinga,a political anthropologist,and Tshering Tashi,co-author of Bold Bhutan Beckons and the author of Mysteries of the Raven Crown among others. The festival,to be held from May 20 to 24,provides a podium for authors to have a dialogue and celebrate tales of a shared landscape in the Himalayan region. The annual literary festival,organised by the India-Bhutan Foundation and the Jaipur-based literary consultancy Siyahi,will also have Pulitzer winner Kai Bird participating in literary discussions. Mita Kapur,the CEO of Siyahi,says,India and Bhutan are working on increasing their cultural partnership and Mountain Echoes cultivates a culture of literary activities. Bhutan is keen on a festival which promotes talent in their country.
