Where words flourish: Unveiling the AYL Wall at the Courtyard by Marriott
The evening of 30th June marked the much-awaited unveiling of the AYL Wall of Books. The endeavour, conceptualised in collaboration with the Courtyard by Marriott, Gurugram Downtown, promises to be a haven for literary enthusiasts for years to come. With over 50 distinguished guests in attendance, the event embraced the thrilling realms of crime fiction and spy verse as the theme for the evening. Among the esteemed guests were some veterans of the genre, Gurgaon-based authors whose extraordinary works were set to adorn the shelves of the Wall.
The occasion commenced with the auspicious lighting of the lamp, a task bestowed upon Chief Guests Rama Pande and Mohit Kanwal. Rama Pande is an accomplished writer and playwright known for her insightful storytelling and keen understanding of human experiences. Her ability to capture the essence of human emotions and craft compelling narratives has garnered her recognition and admiration within the literary community. General Manager at Marriott Mohit Kanwal is a visionary leader and seasoned hospitality professional renowned for his management skills and commitment to delivering unparalleled guest experiences. With their combined expertise and passion for fostering a love for literature and community, our chief guests took to the stage alongside co-founders of AYL, Vishesh Prakash and Vineeta Jerath to kick off the event.
Following the inauguration of the Wall, a select group of authors from AYL’s honour roll offered invaluable insights into their writing process. It engaged the audience with fascinating discussions about their most recent novels. The writer of ‘The Curse of Anuganga’ was the first to take centre stage, Harini Srinivasan. When asked about the tediousness of research involved in detective fiction writing, she said, “The job requires you to pour yourself into multiple textbooks from various historical periods to contemporary times. Quite an arduous process indeed; that’s why I like to write rom-com in my downtime.” Next was Sonia Bhatnagar, author of ‘In Your Blood, I Run.’ Sonia expressed the profound impact of the works of Ismat Chugtai on her writing journey and how we can learn from the literary legend. Following her was Girish Aivalli, who previewed the carefully crafted, enthralling narrative for his upcoming book ‘The Spy Who Went IntoThe Cold’. Author of ‘The Panther’s Ghost’, Ajit Menon, won the hearts of his audience with the decision to name the female protagonist of his book, a strong and celebrated character, after his wife, Geeta, who was in the audience. Hailing from corporate life, he now finds solace in writing and has some film production projects up his sleeve.
Take a book home
The event then transitioned towards a more interactive model, a literary quiz. Excitement and anticipation filled the hall as participants competed to win copies of the books the authors signed. Writing coach and author Kanchana Banerjee told the audience about the inspiration behind her fourth novel, ‘Until I Find You.’ She elaborated on the vision behind setting her story in a sleepy village in Rajasthan, “I thought it was a fantastic place for someone to hide, if say, they had done something illegal.” Said the author, creating an air of suspense in the room. Visionary behind the ‘The Gurgaon Diaries,’ Debeshi Gooptu offered hilarious parallels between her earlier abode, the city of Calcutta, and the paradoxical city of Gurgaon, seamlessly cutting through the tension in the room. Finally, Anurag Anand shared about his book, ‘To Hell and Back’, painting a preview of his crime thriller for potential readers. Sahana Ahmed is a poet, novelist, and editor is widely published in international journals and anthologies and the author of ‘Combat Skirts,’ the chosen book on the AYL Wall. She currently is working on seven books simultaneously.
The evening wrapped a trail of inspiration, and camaraderie overcame those gathered for the love of literature and good content. Co-founders Vishesh Prakash and Vineeta Jerath created a vibrant tapestry of literature that brought together authors, readers, and enthusiasts to celebrate creativity. The connections forged that energetic evening will indeed be endured beyond the event, and the unveiling of the AYL Wall at the Courtyard by Marriott, Gurugram Downtown, will be remembered as a testament to the power of literature and its profound impact on Gurgaon.
