Sparkling conversations at the Hyderabad edition of Lit For Life Dialogue

Sparkling conversation, wit, humour, and ideas were the order of the evening at the Hyderabad edition of The Hindu Lit for Life Dialogue 2025 on Friday (December 12, 2025) evening at the ITC Kakatiya.

The line-up began with author and historian Manu S. Pillai in conversation with culture journalist Nandini Nair, in an exploration of the ‘History as Battlefield: The Past in India’s Present’, beginning with current events in Parliament, including the debates over Vande Mataram and the use of the English language.

Discussing the feminine gaze and feminism in history, Mr. Pillai explained how it was ignored in the time of the British-era historian Jadunath Sarkar, an early specialist on the Mughal dynasty. “They understood the harem as a place where women would be lolling around, gossiping, wearing silks, and waiting endlessly. But now, we know harems were intense political spaces where women could plot and scheme,” said Mr. Pillai, explaining how the events of history remained the same, even as the perception and exploration of those events changed over time.

Author Neha Dixit, in conversation with Kavitha Buggana, shared how the women she spoke to while researching her book, The Many Lives of Syeda X: The Story of an Unknown Indian, had revealed graduated amounts of information. Ms. Syeda had been a weaver in Varanasi, but her loom was burnt down after the Babri Masjid demolition, forcing her to migrate to Delhi. Over the next 30 years, she worked 50 different jobs and yet never earned even one-fifth of the legal daily wage.

“The regular work that helped the families run was not considered work,” said Ms. Dixit, recounting her interactions with various women caught in the intersection of an expanding economy. Her book, she said, reflects the experiences of many women like Ms. Syeda and explores labour, caste, gender, and politics across this period.

The third session, ‘Sailing with Many Loves: Journeys with Polyamory in India’, featured author Arundhati Ghosh in conversation with Nishat Fatima. “Polyamory gives us the opportunity to define it as we want,” said Ms. Ghosh, describing it as the desire, ability, and practice of loving more than one person at the same time with the consent of all involved, with or without sexual intimacy. 

Her book also examines the mental health dimensions of relationships. “There is a lot of joy in being able to put all this in a book,” she said.

Presenting Partner: The all-new Kia Seltos, in association with Christ University and NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology | Associate partner: Aparna Constructions, Akshyakalpa Organic | Bookstore partner: Crossword | Venue partner: ITC Kakatiya Hyderabad