Overview
- Speaking on the festival’s opening day, Akhtar told a packed session that secularism cannot be taught through crash courses.
- He said such values take root when modeled in daily life by elders and communities rather than through checklist lessons.
- He recalled a childhood episode in which his grandmother halted an attempt to pay him to memorise religious verses, ending his religious instruction.
- Describing industry changes, he said assistant directors once fetched stars’ shoes and coats but now address actors on a first-name basis.
- The five-day Jaipur Literature Festival runs through January 19 and features more than 350 authors and public figures.