The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) is proud to announce the IAAC Literary Festival 2025, taking place November 15-16 at International House, New York City. Now in its landmark edition, the festival brings together a constellation of acclaimed authors, thinkers, and storytellers from across the globe to explore South Asia’s rich literary and cultural landscape, from myth and mysticism to modern identity, innovation, and global citizenship.

“Across borders and generations, Indian literature continues to redefine the global imagination. The IAAC Literary Festival is where those voices meet; bold, questioning, and alive with possibility. Voices that remind us that literature is not only art, but also the architecture of understanding.”

– Preethi Urs, Director, IAAC Literary Festival

Admission to the all sessions is free and open to the public, except Sadhguru’s keynote session on Sunday, November 16 which is now sold out.

• Megha Majumdar:  Book Talk: A Guardian and a Thief  In conversation with  S. Mitra Kalita

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 11.00 – 11.50 AM | Dodge Room (1FL)

• Padma Venkatraman: Book Talk: Safe Harbor  In conversation with Ramya Ramana

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 11.00 – 11.50 AM | Home Room (2FL)

• Pooja Bavishi: Book Talk: Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors
• Sunita Kohli:  Book Talk: The India Cookbook: From the Tables of My Friends,
• In conversation with Simi Nitin Shah

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 12:00 – 12:50 PM | Dodge Room (1FL)

• Archana Maniar:  Book Talk: Dry Spells, In conversation with Jafreen Uddin

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 12.00 – 12.50 PM | Home Room (2FL)

• Stephen Huyler:  Book Talk: Transformed by India: A Life, In conversation with Dr. Nirmal Mattoo

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 02.00 – 02:50 PM | Dodge Room (1FL)

• Priya Doraswamy:  Industry Panel – From Page to Premiere: Adapting Books to Screen
• Reena Singh

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 02.00 – 02:50 PM | Home Room (2FL)

• Amish Tripathi: Book Talk: The Chola Tigers In conversation with Makarand ParanjapeSaturday, 15 November 2025,  03.00 – 03.50 PM | Dodge Room (1FL)
• Arjun Mahatta: Book Talk: Maha Kumbh: A Spiritual Odyssey, In conversation with Josheen Oberoi

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 03.00 – 03.50 PM | Home Room (2FL)

• Vasant Dhar: Book Talk: Thinking with Machines, In conversation with Mukul Devichand

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 04.00 – 04:50 PM | Dodge Room (1FL)

• POETRY
• Usha Akella:  Book Talk: Embayed
• Srinivas MandavilliL Book Talk: Howrah Bridge
• Sunayana Kachroo:  Book Talk: Songs of Paradise
• Amit Majmudar: Book Talk: Three Metamorphoses
• Yuyutsu Sharma: Book Talk: An Alchemy of Nine Smiles,
• In conversation with Ravi Shankar

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 04.00 – 04.50 PM | Home Room (2FL)

• Meenakshi Ahamed: Book Talk: Indian Genius: The Meteoric Rise of Indians in America
• Vik Malhotra: Book Talk: A CEO for all seasons: Mastering the Cycle of Leadership,
• In conversation with Liaquat Ahamed

Saturday, 15 November 2025, 5.00 – 5:50 PM | Dodge Room (1FL)

• Poetry: Matwaala Films,  In conversation with Ravi Shankar

Saturday, 15 November 2025. 05.00 – 05.50 PM | Home Room (2FL)

• Param Vir: Book Talk: Twelve Buddhist Tales, In conversation with Jamshed Bharucha

SESSION2 – 16 November 2025, 12.00 – 01.00 PM

• Devdutt Pattanaik: Book Talk: Escape the Bakasura Trap,  In conversation with Mathew Veedon

Sunday, 16 November 2025, 04.00 – 05.30 PM

• Sadhguru: Book Talk: Death: A Yogi’s Guide to Living, Dying and Beyond,  In conversation with Chandrika Tandon

Sunday, 16 November 2025,  05:45 – 06:45 PM

• Yakub Mathew: Book Talk: Seeking The Infinite Maha Kumbh 2025
• Diana Eck,
• Rabbi Scott,
• Gurudev Sri Anish,
• The Very Reverend Winnie Varghese
• In conversation with Suhel Seth