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Salzburg Global’s Associate for Program and Engagement Helia Nazari recounts her time at PILF
On December 2, 2022, the Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) marked its 10th anniversary and gathered like-minded authors, poets, activists, entrepreneurs, and storytellers worldwide to share and learn from each other. Part of a partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar, a select group of Fellows convened in Pune for a main-stage panel, engaging with event participants. The festival also hosted young students from the region to attend the sessions, contribute, and meet many of their favorite authors, creating a heartfelt atmosphere. As we face the many challenges of our times; events like PILF remind us of the power of literature and the arts to inspire empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.
Last year, PILF’s theme was Mental Health and Empowerment. The Salzburg Global Seminar plenary panel focused on the philosophy of mental health and the need to integrate it into various forms of education, from school curriculum to games and teaching. I (Helia Nazari) moderated the panel and panelists included our Fellows Umaima Ehtasham, Romana Shaikh, and Parag Mankeekar. The panel discussion allowed Fellows to share stories on how they have become mental health advocates, and what our education system can do better. Furthermore, a group of Fellows from Salzburg Global's Japan-India Transformative Technology Network hosted a webinar on their project, Suno Sunao, during the online portion of the Festival. This project aims to empower underserved urban women and adolescent girls to become financially independent and support their families with the help of a dedicated application where the video is the primary service of engagement.
This year marked the 75th anniversary of Salzburg Global Seminar, and as part of the celebrations, I hosted a conversation with Dr. Manjiri Prabhu, Founder of the festival, on the Schloss Leopoldskron, Past, and Present book. It includes the complete history of our home Schloss Leopoldskron, the founding of Salzburg Global Seminar, and what the future holds for the organization. The session was formatted in a storytelling way, and the audience consisted of young students and other participants who were enthusiastic and excited to one day come to one of our programs. In addition to fascinating conversations and panel discussions, the atmosphere at the festival felt like a breath of fresh air, and a sense of community that can only be found in stories and poetry was created.
The festival also allowed me to host a Salzburg Global Fellows’ reunion in Mumbai with Fellows who attended our programs from the 1980s to 2022. During the reunion, old friendships were reunited, and new ones were created.
The Pune International Literary Festival created a sense of camaraderie, where individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives can come together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding. PILF is a celebration of literature, culture, and ideas and a reminder of the power of human connection. Through events like these, we can create a community of individuals who share a passion for literature, culture, and ideas and find innovative solutions to the challenges we face.