Lucknow, June 7 -- A discussion on journalist and author Jyoti Yadav's recently published book, Faith and Fury: COVID Dispatches from India's Hinterlands, was organised by Westland Books at the All India Kaifi Azmi Academy, Lucknow, along with the book's launch on Saturday. The event brought together prominent figures from the media, literary, and cultural spheres on a common platform, where they engaged in a meaningful discussion on the essence of the book. Alongside Jyoti Yadav, the distinguished panel included writer Akhilesh, senior journalist and former BBC correspondent Ram Dutt Tripathi; and senior journalist Sharat Pradhan. Speaking about her work, Jyoti Yadav said that the horror of Covid was not limited to the pandemic itself. It introduced people to an entirely new way of life and brought profound changes to society. While there was widespread anger during that period, there was also a ray of hope that reflected humanity's resilience. Sharing his views on the book, Akhilesh remarked that Jyoti Yadav's work reads like a travelogue written on the painful pages of history. Many of its characters are shown grappling with the diverse crises that emerged during the pandemic. Senior journalist Ram Dutt Tripathi congratulated Jyoti Yadav on producing such an important work. He noted that documenting a difficult period like the pandemic must have been an immensely challenging task and one that required great courage. Another senior journalist Sharat Pradhan observed that Jyoti Yadav's narrative also consistently highlights several contradictions and systemic flaws within Indian society that made the impact of the pandemic even more severe. At the conclusion of the first session, former university vice-chancellor prof Roop Rekha Verma, speaking as a special guest, said that there must be a serious discussion about the way India's healthcare system collapsed under the strain of the pandemic-a subject that the book addresses effectively. The lively discussion was moderated by journalist Arshana Azmat, who guided the conversation while delving into the book's central themes. During the discussion, the panelists reflected on the moving stories of courage documented in Jyoti Yadav's book, which has become an authentic record of the lived experiences of rural and underdeveloped India during one of the most turbulent periods in recent history. The programme ended with an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience....