Dehradun, April 28 -- What is the USP of a literature festival? How is it different from a book reading club, or a seminar series or policy colloquia? How can it connect with knowledge institutions in its vicinity? How does it bridge the inter-generational gap? How can meaningful dialogues be created between academia and those who work with an ear to the ground? How do we evaluate successes and challenges faced by legacy institutions, especially when the context and technology have evolved beyond recognition over time? And last, but not the least, how does a festival look at the vast reservoir of archival material and research that needs to be resurrected and made relevant to the times we live in?

As Valley of Words enters its eighth yea...