Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
Navtej Sarna, diplomat, prolific writer and translator, and Justin Rowlatt, Climate Editor for BBC News, explore the unforeseen zenith that the British Raj in India rose to, and the compelling factors that led to its unravelling. Sarna’s Crimson Spring, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025, revisits the Jallianwala Bagh massacre through the eyes of ordinary individuals - soldiers, farmers, householders and rebels of Punjab. As a BBC correspondent, Justin Rowlatt has explored the legacy of the British Empire in India through a personal and historical lens, covering the economic, cultural, and human consequences of colonial rule. In conversation , they discuss the tumultuous events that were a prelude to the independence of India.
Presented by Rajasthan Tourism
Navtej Sarna is a distinguished diplomat and acclaimed author who has served as India’s Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and Ambassador to Israel. His distinguished diplomatic career also includes senior roles as Secretary to the Government of India and Foreign Office Spokesperson. Sarna is the author of celebrated novels, including Crimson Spring, The Exile, and We Weren’t Lovers Like That, alongside notable works of non-fiction and translation. A prolific columnist and commentator, he is widely respected for his contributions to literature, diplomacy, and foreign policy discourse.
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Navtej Sarna, diplomat, prolific writer and translator, and Justin Rowlatt, Climate Editor for BBC News, explore the unforeseen zenith that the British Raj in India rose to, and the compelling factors that led to its unravelling. Sarna’s Crimson Spring, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025, revisits the Jallianwala Bagh massacre through the eyes of ordinary individuals - soldiers, farmers, householders and rebels of Punjab. As a BBC correspondent, Justin Rowlatt has explored the legacy of the British Empire in India through a personal and historical lens, covering the economic, cultural, and human consequences of colonial rule. In conversation , they discuss the tumultuous events that were a prelude to the independence of India.
Presented by Rajasthan Tourism
Navtej Sarna is a distinguished diplomat and acclaimed author who has served as India’s Ambassador to the United States, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and Ambassador to Israel. His distinguished diplomatic career also includes senior roles as Secretary to the Government of India and Foreign Office Spokesperson. Sarna is the author of celebrated novels, including Crimson Spring, The Exile, and We Weren’t Lovers Like That, alongside notable works of non-fiction and translation. A prolific columnist and commentator, he is widely respected for his contributions to literature, diplomacy, and foreign policy discourse.
Follow us on –
Website - jlflitfest.org
Facebook - facebook.com/JLFInternational
YouTube - youtube.com/@JLFInternational
Instagram - instagram.com/jlfinternational
X - twitter.com/JLFLitfest
#empire #jalianwalabagh
