Trivandrum: Held with the aim of 'exploring Indian alternatives in reading and writing', the Indian Rumination literary festival was inaugurated at Vylopilli Samskrithi Bhavan by popular Indian English writer Anitha Nair on Saturday. The function was presided by Additional Chief Secretary Jayakumar, IAS. The Chief Editor of Indian Ruminations J T Jayasingh introduced the distinguished guests to the audience, most of whom were writers in their own merit.

“Writers and poets are often outcasted from the real world because they are considered as ones who live in their dreams. Except for the big names, to most, all their work would bring them only a very meager amount. But I urge that even through all the odds stacked against them, they should keep on writing, because writing should not be a profession, it should be a mission for you,” Jayasingh said in his introductory speech.

Chief guest Anitha Nair shared some of her experiences as an Indian Writer in English. “Indian writers in English are people whom the rest love to hate. One is their impression on us still enslaved to the left overs from the colonial rule. And English writers in India are often in the spotlight, which makes them look like glam addicted people to others. Then there are a breed of readers who just can't accept the English work written by an Indian as being authentic when compared to the west. But I hope through initiatives like these the misconceptions will gradually be erased.”