Indo-American Arts Council Announces Literary Festival in New York City

New York City, NY, USA: The 2025 edition of the IAAC Literary Festival aims to continue the Indo-American Arts Council’s mission of promoting diversity, uplifting underrepresented voices, and presenting Indian achievements on a global stage.

The festival will take place on November 15 and 16 at the International House in New York City, bringing together renowned authors, thinkers, and storytellers from across the globe. The event will explore South Asia’s literary and cultural heritage, spanning topics from mythology and mysticism to contemporary identity, innovation, and global citizenship.

Preethi Urs, director of the IAAC Literary Festival, commented on the upcoming two-day event, saying, “Indian literature transcends borders and generations, shaping global imagination in profound ways. The IAAC Literary Festival is where these voices converge—bold, inquisitive, and brimming with potential. Literature here serves not just as art, but as a framework for understanding the world.”

The festival’s keynote session will feature Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev), in a discussion moderated by Grammy-winning musician Chandrika Tandon. The conversation will focus on how embracing the awareness of mortality can deeply enrich one’s approach to life. This will be the only session requiring a ticket; all other events are free to attend.

On November 16, mythologist and storyteller Devdutt Pattanaik will lead a discussion on his latest book, Escape the Bakasura Trap. In this work, Pattanaik revisits the legend of the demon Bakasura, whose boundless hunger symbolizes greed and inner emptiness, offering reflections on contemporary struggles with desire and excess.

The first day, November 15, will feature an array of South Asian and South Asian American authors, scholars, and creators presenting new works across multiple genres, including fiction, poetry, memoir, cuisine, photography, leadership, and technology.

Notable highlights include Megha Majumdar’s National Book Award finalist novel A Guardian and a Thief, Padma Venkatraman’s verse novel Safe Harbor, Amish Tripathi’s The Chola Tigers, and culinary books such as Pooja Bavishi’s Malai and Sunita Kohli’s The India Cookbook.

Nonfiction sessions will cover a range of topics, from Indian American achievements in Indian Genius by Meenakshi Ahamed, Thinking with Machines by Vasant Dhar, and A CEO for All Seasons by Vik Malhotra, to cultural explorations in Transformed by India by Stephen Huyler and Maha Kumbh by Arjun Mahatta.

The festival will also feature panels on adapting books into films and a special poetry showcase celebrating Matwaala’s 10th anniversary, with discussions moderated by prominent journalists, scholars, and industry leaders, rounding out a vibrant celebration of South Asian storytelling.