Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar has said at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2026 that secularism cannot be taught or inculcated through a crash course, and that a secular way of life is evolved individually from the surrounding socio-political environment.
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Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar has said at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2026 that secularism cannot be taught or inculcated through a crash course, and that a secular way of life is evolved individually from the surrounding socio-political environment.
Participating in a conversation on his book “Points of View” with writer Warisha Farasat, Akhtar said, “Secularism is about one’s heritage and legacy; it percolates within oneself, either from family or the surrounding social environment. If someone claims to preach or teach it through a crash course, I would call that claim fake.”
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Neither communalism can be universal, nor can any specific ruler be genuinely communal, he contended.
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In the same vein, Akhtar also referred to the US-Venezuela tiff, saying what President Trump thinks does not necessarily conform to the views of 30 crore US citizens.
Becoming communal for a politician also symbolises his or her commitment to that ideology, the poet-lyricist remarked.
Another session, titled “Poetry – Khud se Baat”, featured an engaging dialogue between poet and PR expert Jagdeep Singh and writer, poet, and publisher Anshu Harsh, focusing on her literary journey and writing experiences. The occasion also marked the launch of Anshu Harsh’s debut novel, ‘Ichha Mrityu’, published by the renowned Vani Prakashan. The book was formally released by senior writer and translator Malashri Lal.
During the conversation, Singh spoke to Anshu Harsh about her creative transition from poetry to fiction. Anshu Harsh shared that poetry is an immediate expression of emotions, whereas writing a novel is a longer and more immersive process that requires living with the characters. She described ‘Ichha Mrityu’ as a story of the struggle between life and death, one that will compel readers to reflect deeply.
Speaking about the English translations of her poems in her book ‘Samandar – The Ocean’, she noted that translation takes literature beyond boundaries and acts as a bridge between languages and cultures. She added that a sensitive translation preserves the original emotion while carrying the work to new readers.
The five-day event was formally inaugurated by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at an impressive opening session at Hotel Clarks Amer here. Around 500 speakers, laureates, and authors from different countries are participating in the festival.
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