Calcutta Club USA will host the fourth annual Sanskriti LitFest and Book Fair on Saturday June 23rd, at Parker Damon Building in Acton MA from 12 PM to 5 PM. This novel event in North America, which brings together literature, art, cuisine, thought leadership and family fun within a single venue, has risen in prominence in just four years and attracts the top literati and South Asian authors to participate either in person or over videoconference. Books of prominent Indian sub-continent authors are available for purchase in English, Bengali and Hindi. A key innovation of the book fair is the Authors’ Direct program - the popular platform to reach Boston's reading community leveraged by over 50 rising authors. 

This year, the irrepressible and controversial writer, columnist and social commentator Shobha De will grace the occasion as the keynote speaker. The impressive lineup of other major writers include Dr. Boria Majumdar, the popular historian and sports-journalist; Dr Maya Jasanoff, the Coolidge Professor of History, Harvard University and William Dalrymple - historian, writer and the director of Jaipur Literature Festival.

Young and upcoming authors Kushanava Chowdhury, Falguni Kothari, Dipika Mukherjee, Anubha Mehta, Viji Narayan and Prthvi Banerjee will engage with the audience while sharing their experiences and viewpoints in 2 interesting panel discussions titled “From America With Love” and “New Authors and Immigrant Experiences”.

Another salient feature of this year’s program would be The Panorama - a short story-writing contest for different age-groups where the entries would be judged by a distinguished panel of judges and the winners would be felicitated on stage.

“Congratulations to the Calcutta Club for keeping Sanskriti going for the fourth year, and I'm delighted to be in the company of William Darymple and Shobha De as well as Indian American voices”, commented Chicago Based author Dipika Mukherjee. Said Chitro Neogy, co-founder of the club – “We have been very fortunate to obtain the participation of leading Indian authors throughout the Sanskriti journey. Last year we had Dr Tharoor in person, and this time, Shobha De has graciously consented to travel to Boston for Mumbai just for attending Sanskriti 2018.” Ms De is a fearless voice of the media for over four decades and will speak with her characteristic nonchalance on “Seventeen to Seventy – age is what you make out of it”. Her latest book, “Seventy and to hell with it” will also be available at the book fair, along with publications from all speakers and others. 

Delectable custom cuisine on the book fair floor will be provided by Madras Grill Restaurant of Chelmsford, MA. 

The event is being sponsored by The Boston Group & Mr Subu Kota, Urban Public Companies, New York Life, Lekhoni Writers Group and Gouri Datta and Madras Grill Restaurant.

Interested attendees are requested to register in advance, as the novel event can get sold out and prices increase with time. To learn more, please visit http://calcuttaclubusa.com/sanskriti-2018 or call 508.740.7848.