The wonderful Jeanine Leane attended the Bangalore Literature Festival with other First Nations Australia writers. Read her reflection.
September 2014 was to be my second visit to India – despite having majored in South Asian History in a Bachelor of Arts degree in the early 1908s. In 2012 I travelled to Hyderabad for a conference on Patrick White – and so I was prepared to some extent for the crowds and the traffic.
I travelled to Bangalore and later Mysore with three deadly Aboriginal writers: Marie Munkara, Dylan Coleman and Brenton McKenna. Conversations had and time spent with Marie, Dylan and Brenton was first and foremost the best and most valuable part of my journey to India.
Marie, Dylan, Brenton, Mridula and I arrived in Bangalore late on a Thursday evening. I was tired and eager to get to the hotel – but there is no point worrying about time in India because all things there take longer – a bit like Koori time and I quickly get used to the tranquil, clam atmosphere of those around me – our hosts in Bangalore and Mysore and it was a great way to come to know people better.
On first sight the Bangalore Literature Festival looked huge. There were large stages and marquees in a very scenic park just across the road from where we were all staying. What I like about the BLF is that it was very warm and friendly and there is a tremendous amount of interest in Aboriginal writings and scholarship. I enjoyed panels I did with Dylan and Marie and with three very impressive Dalit writers. Brenton’s presentation for children on his graphic novel was great to sit in on. And despite the initial appearance of being large – there was lots of space and time to get to talk to Indian writers and activists.