Pune to host 2nd edition of Words Count, A Festival of Words
The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Irani launching the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE), at a function, in New Delhi on December 21, 2015. The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Shri V.S. Oberoi and the Additional Secretary (TE), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Shri R. Subrahmanyam are also seen.
Veterans from multiple fields like politics, films, literature and education including Smriti Irani (Minister of Textiles, Government of India), Jairam Ramesh (Former Union Minister for Environment), Varun Gandhi (Member of Parliament), Asaduddin Owaisi (Member of Parliament), Pawan Verma (National General Secretary – Janta Dal United), Sunil Ambekar (National Organizing Secretary – Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) and Prasoon Joshi (Lyricist, poet and the Chairman of National Board of Film Certification) will be participating in this second edition of ‘Words Count’ festival and will share their thoughts on various topics.
There will also be a special session titled Indic Writers where acclaimed authors like Saiswaroopa Iyer, Shefali Vaidya, Mayuresh Didolkar, Dimple Kaul and Kavita Kane will participate.
The genesis and inspiration for ‘Words Count’ is to have a platform where real conversations take place, conversations that actually allow for discussion and equal participation by the people too.
Given the role that words play in our lives – in art, politics, culture and literature, since its inception, Words Count celebrates the use of words to promote understanding and discourse in society. It’s all about the exchange of ideas, concepts and ethos while keeping in view the ideological, gender and artistic diversity. The inaugural edition of Words Count took place in New Delhi in November 2017.
“I am delighted that Pune, the Oxford of the East, is home to this year’s edition of Words Count which will dwell upon a range of topical themes and simulate an inclusive, participative and lively dialogue”, said Advaita Kala.
The highlight of this year will be the conferment of THE WORDSMITH award on Pawan Varma who, through his words has elevated discourse and contributed to intellectual debate. The award has been designed by the renowned designer-duo. Shantanu & Nikhil who bring their forward-thinking design philosophy to this award too and continue to mark their excellence in the best of both the worlds-“art and commerce”.
Entry to this program is free. However, pre-registration is compulsory. All registration related requests and queries are to be sent to – [email protected]
