Mysuru Literature Festival enters 10th edition 

At a time when libraries were losing relevance with the rise of electronic gadgets, one woman in Mysuru came up with the idea of starting the Mysuru Book Clubs in 2010. The initiative was well-received by the city’s people, inspiring her to launch the Mysuru Literature Festival in 2017. Since then, there has been no looking back. 

The woman behind the festival is Shubha Sanjay Urs, Founder of the Mysuru Literature Festival. This year’s edition marks the festival’s 10th milestone. Ahead of the event, Star of Mysore caught up with Shubha to talk about the lit festival, its journey over the years and what readers can expect this time… 

Star of Mysore (SOM): This is the 10th edition of the Mysuru Literature Festival. How did you get the idea to start it? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: When I was growing up, our home was always filled with books. So, when I wanted to do something for Mysuru, my hometown, it was only natural that it revolved around books. I started the Mysuru Book Clubs in 2010. From then until now, it has been a long journey, and I have never looked back. We have grown step by step, reaching out to people from all sections of society, not just in Mysuru but also in the surrounding areas, encouraging them to read, write and engage with literature. 

SOM: Did you face any initial struggles when you started the literature festival? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: I would not really call them struggles because I had already started with the book club, and it picked up momentum almost immediately. We began with one book club, then another, followed by a Kannada book club and a children’s book club. 

Later, I felt it was time to contribute more to society, so we started book clubs for orphanages, slums, special schools and senior citizens’ homes. There has never been a dull moment. It has always been about asking, ‘What next?’ 

After the book clubs came book releases, then author interactions, and eventually I felt it was time to launch a literature festival. That is how the Mysuru Literature Festival came into being. 

SOM: How did you manage to raise funds for the book clubs and the literature festival? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: That was a difficult decision initially. But I decided to seek support from friends and individuals rather than corporates. Mysuru is a city built on relationships and emotions. I felt a more personal approach would work better. 

That is why, over the last 10 years, we have relied on friends and well-wishers instead of approaching corporate sponsors. We may consider corporate support in the future, but so far, we have not. 

SOM: How do you curate the list of Kannada and English authors? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: Curation does not happen in a day, a week or even a month. It is a continuous process that takes months and sometimes years. 

Many people may not know that I am a researcher, a textile consultant and a geneticist by profession. My work involves a lot of travel, both within India and abroad, and that gives me opportunities to meet authors and scholars. 

During one such trip, I met Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan and invited him to Mysuru. He agreed because one of his books was due for release and he was planning to visit India. However, the pandemic in 2020 disrupted those plans. 

We stayed in touch over the years, and in 2025, when he told me he would be visiting India, I made sure he came to Mysuru. We organised a standalone launch of his book ‘Why We Die’. 

That is why I say curation does not happen overnight. It requires constant effort, networking and planning. People often ask me how I manage to bring together so many authors and speakers for a two-day festival, but it is the result of years of building relationships and staying connected. 

SOM: How do you manage well-known authors? Have you ever faced any difficult situations with them? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: I have never come across such situations. When people refer to ‘VIP authors,’ they usually mean best-selling writers or those who come from prominent backgrounds. But none of the authors who have attended the Mysuru Literature Festival has ever created any trouble. I don’t have any unpleasant memories involving our guests. 

SOM: What responsibility do literature festivals have in promoting regional languages and lesser-known writers? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: At the Mysuru Literature Festival, we also organise ‘Mysuru Sahitya Sambhrama’, which gives equal opportunities to emerging authors. We believe every writer deserves a platform. At our festival, all participants are treated equally by the members of the Mysuru Book Clubs and the trustees of the literary forum. 

SOM: Critics often say literature festivals have become gatherings for already established voices. How do you respond to that criticism? 

Shubha Sanjay Urs: I don’t think that is entirely true. Perhaps some of the larger festivals may focus more on established names, but I believe literature festivals across India generally try to give equal importance to everyone. 

At the Mysuru Literature Festival, our focus has never been only on best-selling, popular or well-known authors. We also make a conscious effort to provide a platform for emerging voices. 

— Team SOM