For three days in November, Dhaka resonates to the voices of some of the world's best-known novelists, poets, short-story writers, historians, essayists and critics. The Hay Festival is a gathering ground not just for global stars of literature, but also for writers from South Asia.
The Bangla Academy grounds, where the festival is held, is full of character, with open-air venues, closed auditoria, and the sound of birds and ducks in particular. Discussions, readings, poetry, performance, signings and socialising can be seen and heard everywhere. A few glimpses of the 2014 festival, held from November 20-November 22.
A galaxy of writers at the inauguration, including Iranian poet Mimi Khalvati, historian William Dalrymple, and Bangladeshi poet Syed Shamsul Huq.
Festival co-director Sadaf Saaz Sidiqqi and poet Ahsan Akbar.
Novelists Somnath Batabyal and Sandip Roy.
Writer K Anis Ahmed and poet Ahsan Akbar.
Novelist Tahmima Anam and Bloomsbury publisher Alexandra Pringle.
Historian Patrick French, novelist Mirza Waheed, writer Salil Tripathi.
Writers Abeer Hoq (left) and Maria Chaudhuri (right).
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The Bangla Academy grounds, where the festival is held, is full of character, with open-air venues, closed auditoria, and the sound of birds and ducks in particular. Discussions, readings, poetry, performance, signings and socialising can be seen and heard everywhere. A few glimpses of the 2014 festival, held from November 20-November 22.
A galaxy of writers at the inauguration, including Iranian poet Mimi Khalvati, historian William Dalrymple, and Bangladeshi poet Syed Shamsul Huq.
Festival co-director Sadaf Saaz Sidiqqi and poet Ahsan Akbar.
Novelists Somnath Batabyal and Sandip Roy.
Writer K Anis Ahmed and poet Ahsan Akbar.
Novelist Tahmima Anam and Bloomsbury publisher Alexandra Pringle.
Historian Patrick French, novelist Mirza Waheed, writer Salil Tripathi.
Writers Abeer Hoq (left) and Maria Chaudhuri (right).