Team GLFTeam GLF

SHYAM PAREKH – Festival Director

Editor and Educator

A former resident editor of DNA Ahmedabad for over a decade, he has been a life-long student of literature and an acclaimed journalist with experience spanning over 25 years. Apart from being the founding editor of his paper, he played a significant role in the launch of several newspapers and their editions. Shyam had nurtured a secret dream of building a literature festival in Gujarat for years, which materialised in 2013 when GLF was planned.

SAMKIT SHAH – Festival Producer

Serial Entrepreneur

Samkit is a first-generation entrepreneur who draws from his depths of eternal curiosity to bring a refreshing outlook to GLF. He earns his bread and butter by manufacturing highly customised engineering products for the European markets and oversees a translation business in dozens of global languages. When urban life gets difficult he goes on stage as a stand-up comedian for some retribution. An ardent traveller and effervescent optimist, Samkit is the Festival Producer of GLF who achieved the impossible – made the two ends meet to put up one after the other editions of the Festival.

JUMANA SHAH – Programming Director

Editor and Journalism Educator

Jumana is a career journalist. She is a former editor who has worked with print, TV and digital mediums in DNA, Times of India and India Today. She has written profusely about politics and environment-wildlife. Her body of work includes political analysis, a column reflecting on social issues in DNA and elections reportage since 2005. She is a Martial Arts exponent, fond of travelling and an adventure sports junkie. She is a certified scuba diver and a keyboard evangelist for saving the marine environment.