Writers STAR at these fetes

Jeni Caffin once shared an apartment with Mel Gibson while they studied theatre. He moved to films, and she, to the world of books. Priyadershini S. learns all about the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Indonesia, of which Jeni is Creative Director and Programme Manager Shades of India will find prominence at this year's Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Indonesia, to be held from October 3-7. Jeni Caffin, Creative Director and Programme Manager of the festival, seems charmed enough on her first visit to the country and is going about “sniffing up aromas and meeting friendly people.” Surprisingly as a student she did a course in Indian art and culture! She is confident that India will feature stronger at the festival. Though too early to divulge the names of visiting authors, Jeni recalled brilliant sessions that Amitava Ghosh and Kunal Basu engaged with audiences at Ubud. This year it would just get better! To heal wounds The festival that is in its ninth year was born as a healing platform after the horrific Bali bombings in 2004. Jeni, as friend of founder Janet De Neefe, played the role of an advisor at the start helping the festival grow and bloom. Last year she joined the board in a curatorial capacity. The world of words inspires not only men of letters or laymen with a proclivity for these intangibles. It also drives people to create in the most unpredictable ways, just as it allowed Jeni, an Australian actress to careen towards this fascinating world. The highlight of her own story, she says humorously, is that she shared an apartment for three years with Mel Gibson, while they both were studying theatre. While she moved on to the world of books he found his place on the screen and in pages of books. After her brief dalliances with the stage and screen, book events seem to have found favour with her, as she feels this is her right place and vocation. She is enjoying the moment and relishing every bit of her profession. “I am now in a very privileged place. I work with a dedicated set of people who are obsessed with writing and writers.” Jeni worked earlier with her town festival, the Byron Bay festival in Australia, which is a mentor to the Ubud. Having chaired and moderated for years, she finds working with the Balinese team a different experience. She describes her role in the team as one of “What If”. “What if we put these two authors on stage together?” she plans. A hundred voices emerge in her fertile mind and surprisingly she finds it playing out exactly as she had imagined it. “It is not the sort of festival where writers present papers and monologues and are whisked away in their cars. The magic happens when they surprise each other as part of the audience.” The proliferation of ‘Lit fests' around the world has diluted the prestige of such events. They have rightly or wrongly acquired the tag of unctuous snobbery and a show of pseudo intellectualism, a platform for publishers and agents to market their flock. Jeni agrees that handling so many egos under one roof is a tall order but acknowledges that being a writer is tough, she herself is pursuing the act sporadically. “Many relish their solitariness and are uncomfortable being in the limelight,” she adds. She knows of a writer who undertook a public speaking class before coming to the festival. But an event where the best minds meet and discuss can lead to brilliant repartee and exciting exchanges. Jeni has seen it all. She says that journalists make for fierce debates, while satirists and biographers face stringent enquiry. “But the poets are the most feisty and fiery. They bring each other most easily to laughter, tears and flames,” says Jeni who has written for performance, radio, non-fiction and a memoir. “But I am not a writer,” she declares though she lives, breathes, grows and blooms in the world of words. The festival that has no government support has grown bigger each year. This year there will be 130 writers from 30 countries. The new entrants will be from Scandinavia. A large African contingent too will be present. Australian writers have always found the venue attractive. Jeni is aiming to increase the Indonesian presence, “to show the richness of their culture.” This year's theme is ‘The Earth of Mankind'. A big publishing house has been invited to listen to the fresh voices of young fringe writers. The festival has inspired the new Bali Emerging Writers Festival, which is mainly for student writers. What makes Ubud different from other fests around the world? Firstly, its birth itself. Born as a balm out of bloodshed, the fest champions the scuttled and subversive voices of writers and has found favour among new writers. “It is egalitarian and a great leveller. We don't go by biggest readership or biggest sales.” Freedom of speech Jeni belongs to an organisation called PEN International that believes in freedom of speech and condemns the Rushdie incident at the Jaipur Lit fest. This time at Ubud, an imprisoned Chinese writer will be read by readers wearing his face mask. An empty chair and a pen will remain on stage as a symbol of a muffled voice. As a moderator Jeni's prime role is to have topics that are engaging. “Moderators really make or break the session,” she claims. Workshops and Master classes too are conducted. Booker prize winner DBC Pierre conducted a master class, attended by many seasoned writers, she discloses. Jeni is confident that Ubud will continue to attract the best and the beginner to its shores. Here at Alappuzha beach Jeni collected a pocketful of Indian stories from kids flying kites. Always dedicated to stories!