GLF is a free, multi-day literary festival held during winter in Ahmedabad — and periodically in other cities. It is language, genre and ideology neutral: no bias, no prejudices, open arms to all.
WHAT IS GLF
The GLF Story
GLF is a movement to protect and conserve our linguistic, literary and cultural identities. Its purpose is to reignite youth interest in reading, writing and all cerebral pursuits — not just celebrate what already exists.
Unlike most Indian and Anglophone lit-fests — which are exclusively about English books — GLF actively programs in Gujarati, English, Hindi, Urdu, Rajasthani, Bengali, Malayalam, Sindhi and more. Nearly 50% of programming is in languages other than Gujarati.
Entry is free. Attendees spend an average of 8 hours per day at the venue. Literature is not limited to books — it extends to films, web series, journalism, theatre, social media, blogs and oral traditions. Everyone participates — poets, playwrights, screenwriters, bloggers, lyricists.
GLF has hosted foreign authors and featured global literary works. It exports Gujarati literature to the world, while importing the best of world literature to Gujarat.
Nearly 70% of GLF’s audience is under 35. Every design choice — ambience, programming, celebrity presence, format — is calibrated to attract young readers who would otherwise stay away.
Every edition introduces new formats and ideas. Celebrities and crowd-pullers present literature with mass appeal. The festival keeps evolving to stay ahead of the culture.
Writing must be financially viable for it to thrive. GLF pays all its speakers. Dignity for creative people is at the heart of the festival — always.
Nearly 20–25% of event time is earmarked for audience interaction — Q&A, open debates and live discussions. Sessions feel like conversations, not lectures.
GLF has an exclusive partnership with the apex body of Indian screen writers — the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA). No other lit-fest enjoys this collaboration.
- Promote Gujarati reading, writing and literary culture — essential for creating better communicators and a stronger identity.
- Provide a platform to both fresh talent and established literary figures across languages and mediums.
- Create the most exciting and well-attended literary event in the region — one that is aspirational, not scholarly.
- Bridge the gap between local writers and the latest global literary trends.
- Serve as an inclusive umbrella event for the Indian diaspora — celebrating Indian literature and culture globally.
- Build the capacity of emerging writers to become financially self-sustaining professionals.
- Continue being Gujarat’s oldest, largest, most popular and most representative literary event — growing in participants, events and reach every year.
- Expand to Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and other Indian cities. Globally: US (LA, Bay Area, New Jersey, Chicago, Charlotte), Toronto, London, Dubai, Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Kampala.
- Incubate bestselling books, film scripts and TV/web series scripts in multiple Indian languages every year.
- Establish a digital publishing platform — a democratic space where literary creators of all forms can publish their work.
- Scale up Tabariya as an independent movement — publishing books and animated videos in Gujarati and regional languages.
- Launch author fellowships for promising young writers and support the publishing of new works each year.
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