When QLC Met HLF- (Phase Seven)

A few more engaging sessions from HLF 2016

Panel Discussion: Writing Cricket

V. Ramnarayan, Vijay Lokapally, Harimohan Paro

This session gave us an insight on what good cricket writing is all about.

Here are some of the major takeaways from the session:

V. Ramnarayan: Good cricket writing is all about style, keeping it simple and bringing players alive on paper.

Vijay Lokapally:One doesn't need to be a player to write well. Cricket journalism is complex. Technical expertise goes hand in hand with journalistic skills. One should stick to facts and avoid getting fancy. Writing can either be descriptive or analytical.

V. Ramnarayan: One needs many years of watching and understanding the game. Although it does help to have played the game, some of the best cricket writers have never played cricket at the highest level. Good cricket writing can inspire a young mind. 

Vijay Lokapally: Cricket is a game that inspires poetry, as is evident from the phrase "Whispering death" that was used to describe the great West Indian fast bowler, Michael Holding.

Decoding the Art of Cricket Writing

Panel Discussion: Revisiting History.

Jonathan Gil Harris, Priyajit Debsarkar

The speakers for this session were two highly acclaimed writers in the genre of historical fiction. The session started with each author talking about their respective books, which was followed by a general discussion on the genre of historical fiction.

Highlights from the discussion:

Jonathan Harris : The First Firangis : 

Describes the process of foreigners "becoming Indian" by absorbing in and adjusting to this country. According to Mr. Harris, it was his entire body that became a living archive as the research material for his book. He talked about the difference between the foreign settlers in India during the British rule and now, in the 21st century.

Jonathan Harris' Novel- The First Firangis.

Priyajit Debsarkar : The Last Raja of West Pakistan :  The book is about the Chakma Raja, who, for his services and his loyalty, was treated as a national hero by Pakistan for over a quarter century. Mr. Debsarkar talks about his influence in countries like Argentina which has a square called Piazza del Pakistan in honor of the Raja.

The session threw light on writing historical novels and the kind of meticulous research it requires. The authors also gave useful tips on aspiring readers and writers of historical fiction.

Demystifying the Nuances of History!