By Andrew Hamlin
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Two years ago, Seattle’s version of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) brought about 4,000 people together for Indian and Indian-related literature, music, food, and more.
In 2025, according to JLF Seattle’s executive director, Alka Kurian, that number rose to roughly 9,000, and they expect to have at least that many this year.
“Our program is now a more ambitious program,” said Kurian. “Our community and institutional partnerships are stronger, and we are becoming a growing place within Seattle’s cultural landscape.”
The current festival features events over four days, across three venues: the Viya Contemporary art gallery in Bellevue, plus two venues in downtown Seattle, the Central Library and the Wyncote Northwest Forum at Town Hall.
Kurian explained that all JLFs around the world share a commitment to intellectual curiosity, cultural exchange, freedom of expression, and the joy in storytelling.
However, she clarified, “JLF Seattle has its own regional identity: international, diverse, technologically innovative, and engaged with social justice. Although Seattle’s South Asian community is central to its development, the festival belongs to the entire city. At the core of JLF Seattle is our commitment to making books, literature, ideas, and meaningful public conversations accessible to everyone.”
Kurian works year-round at the University of Washington, teaching postcolonial literature, cinema, Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, and human rights. But she’s worked on JLF Seattle for the past few years.
“Initially, my work focused on introducing Seattle to JLF. It has now become more strategic: managing growth, strengthening our structure, developing [the festival] long-term.
“My responsibilities include shaping the program, identifying speakers and moderators, fundraising, developing partnerships, overseeing outreach and marketing, and supporting hospitality, logistics, and festival production.”
Asked about what she looks forward to most this year, Kurian emphasizes that she has a hard time picking favorites.
But she was especially excited about “Yann Martel’s reflections on the importance of stories, Caroline Elkins’s examination of colonial violence, Scott Anderson’s historical and geopolitical storytelling, and Sam Dalrymple’s ability to make history vivid and accessible.
“I am equally proud of conversations featuring Pria Anand, Devesh Kapur, Sital Kalantry, and regional writers such as Kristen Millares Young, Tamiko Nimura, and Sonora Jha. That meeting of international and regional voices is central to JLF Seattle.”
The festival’s public opening night, on Sept. 18, after a few invitation-only events on Sept. 17, means a great deal to Kurian, because they were able to make it a free event at the Central Library. She anticipates the session called “The Memory Keepers,” which she will moderate with Kristen Millares Young and Tamiko Nimura. Other favorites included a musical performance by Janani Madan and her accompanists, Jai Laskar and Grace Kaste; art from Native American artist Shana Yellow Calf Lukinch; and a presentation from Vicky Roy, who went from rag-picking and dishwashing in New Delhi, to a body of celebrated street photography.
The most challenging aspect of the festival this year was dealing with many interconnected elements, including speakers, speaker availability, venues, books, ticketing, publicity, hospitality, security, and technical production.
“I have a fantastic and very supportive team and I have learned to prioritize, delegate, and rely on our team and partners, and remain flexible enough to reimagine sessions when circumstances change.”
As for future JLFs, she allowed, “I hope JLF Seattle will become a permanent and eagerly anticipated part of the region’s cultural calendar, with deeper relationships across schools, universities, libraries, bookstores, and diverse communities.
“We also hope to develop more year-round programming and opportunities for young people and emerging writers. Our goal is not simply to become bigger, but to become more inclusive, accessible, representative, and sustainable.”
The Jaipur Literature Festival runs Sept. 17-20 in Seattle. For venues, prices, showtimes, and other information, visit https://jlflitfest.org/seattle.
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