From the mind of a chess grandmaster to the wit of Stephen Fry, from the origins of fiction to the mysteries of the universe, Day 2 of the Vedanta Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2026 unfolded as a rich exploration of ideas, intellect and creative expression at Hotel Clarks Amer here on Friday.
In a seminal session titled God Particle: The Story of Everything, CERN scientist Archana Sharma and astrophysicist Geraint Lewis, in conversation with Marcus du Sautoy, captivated audiences with a discussion on the universe’s fundamental mysteries. “Every discovery today is a catalyst for tomorrow,” said Archana Sharma during the session.
The “God Particle”, officially known as the Higgs boson, is a fundamental particle of the universe that gives mass to other elementary particles. Both scientists spoke about how the scientific community plans to harness mathematics and research for the greater good of humanity.
Conversations on contemporary realities continued with The Philanthropy Paradox, featuring Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo, Siddharth Sharma, Vaibhav Budhraja and Kanta Singh, in conversation with Naushad Forbes. The panel discussed the purpose and goals of philanthropy, success stories from the sector, and the complexities arising from the interplay between governments, NGOs and private trusts, along with the lack of centralisation and the role women can play in the philanthropic ecosystem.
The day also featured The Travel Session, where Geoff Dyer, Lyse Doucet, Noa Avishag Schnall and Pallavi Aiyar, in conversation with Monisha Rajesh, read from their recent works and shared perspectives on the true essence of travel writing. The authors reflected on travel writing as a form of memoir—one that is not solely about the self, but also about the environments encountered and the journeys undertaken.
Well-known British actor and writer Stephen Fry reflected on language, wit and intellectual curiosity in a wide-ranging conversation with Anish Gawande. The session, A Bit of Fry, traced Fry’s journey from a troubled childhood to becoming one of Britain’s most beloved public figures, anchored by his lifelong love of words.
Fry spoke about discovering language as salvation, his fascination with anagrams, Oscar Wilde’s influence on his humour, and the joy of verbal exuberance, while also touching upon identity, creativity, shame, social media, and the enduring power of ideas and rituals.
Building on the momentum of the previous day, which included the launch of Older, Bolder, the first edition by Aman Nath, the book was unveiled by Sanjoy K. Roy and Zeenat Aman. Speaking about the book, Aman Nath said, “My book is dedicated to faces loved and left behind, and faces that I loved but never knew.”
Reflecting on the work, Zeenat Aman added, “If you read through the book, you will find a range of subjects that he has chosen to explore, in both poetry and prose, over the years of his journey.”
The second day began with Morning Music by Bhanwari Devi of the Bhopa community, whose soulful folk performance brought the rich traditions of Rajasthan to life. This was followed by the Festival’s first session of the day, Lightning Kid, which saw World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand in conversation with Rahul Bhattacharya.
Day 2 also witnessed the announcement of a new international edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Following successful editions in the USA, Valladolid and London, JLF will now expand to the Island of Ireland. The JLF Island of Ireland will be held from May 22 to 31, 2026.
The announcement outlined the vision and scope of the initiative and opened with a stirring fiddle performance by Ivan Rodrick, followed by remarks and a conversation featuring Ambassador Kevin Kelly, Niamh Campbell, Michelle Galan, Sam McBride, Fintan O’Toole, Sonja Hyland and Sanjoy K. Roy.
Attendees were also treated to Ojas Art: Ascending Roots, a conversation between Ravinder Reddy and Premjish Achari, introduced by Anubhav Nath, which explored the intersections of tradition, innovation and cultural storytelling in contemporary Indian art.
The session also marked the presentation of the Ojas Art Award for 2026 to Pisadu Ram Mandavi, a visual artist from the Muria tribe of Chhattisgarh, presented by Sonya Rhie Mace. Mandavi will be present at the festival throughout all five days, creating artworks live for audiences to experience.