Even though the culture of literary festivals in India is just over a decade old, it has quickly become a game-changer for the publishing world, which harnesses it to introduce its finest writers and newest books to readers. Words from the pages of a book become more real, when its author, sitting just an aisle away from you, discusses it; not to mention, being able to steal a chat with your favourite poet. It's an experience now, denied due to the pandemic. Tata Literature Live! that hosted its first digital edition this week (November 16 to 22), ensured that readers didn't miss the fest's spirit. With a vast roster of writers, local and international, and its expansion into a week-long online affair from a four-day physical event, the festival in its 11th edition, has made itself accessible, not just to Mumbai, but to the world.

By Thursday, the virtual festival had crossed over 2.5 lakh views, a number too large to have navigated the auditoriums of The National Centre for the Performing Arts, where it is usually held. "We also kept the sessions alive on YouTube [for 72 hours], as a lot of them were happening simultaneously. In real life, it's quite a wrench to have to choose [between two sessions]," says Anil Dharker, founder and director of Tata Literature Live!, who despite missing the vibe and energy of the festival, says the response over the last few days, has made him less uneasy about switching to virtual. "The biggest upside is that all of us in the [festival] committee have actually been able to sit down, and listen to each and every session. It has never happened in the last 10 years. When we are at the venue, we are constantly on duty. There have been several occasions, when I have sat in the auditorium, and within minutes been called out to deal with a minor crisis. Now, I solve that problem over a call."