Jaipur Literature Festival Concludes with Debate on Freedom of Expression Risks

The 19th Jaipur Literature Festival concluded with a debate on whether freedom of expression is a dangerous idea. Supporters like NCP's Ashish Gawande, historian Farah Dabhoiwala, and Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi argued that freedom of expression can be risky if limited to a few or misused, citing issues like censorship and online trolling. Opponents including poet Alice Oswald, journalist Ian Hislop, and diplomats Navtej Sarna and Navdeep Suri emphasized the importance of free speech despite challenges. Participants agreed that silence poses the greatest threat to democracy.