Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 18 (NationPress) Travel has proven to be as much a journey of self-discovery as it is an exploration of the world—a notion that resonated during the inaugural session of 'Yaanam 2025', India’s pioneering travel literature festival, organized by the Kerala Tourism Department.

In a dialogue with K.R. Meera, a prominent Malayalam author, and journalist Pallavi Aiyar, Booker Prize-winning Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka reflected on how travel writing transcends mere destinations, revealing the inner realms of the author.

“Travel writing can be political, profoundly personal, or even whimsical. More often than not, it showcases the writer’s identity rather than just their location,” Karunatilaka noted, sharing personal anecdotes from his journeys.

Moderated by festival curator Sabin Iqbal, the session set the groundwork for a festival that aims to explore continents, cultures, and consciousness.

Karunatilaka expressed his admiration for writers like A.A. Gill, whose incisive critiques of places visited reflect both humor and boldness.

Reflecting on his own experiences, he remarked that distancing himself from Sri Lanka provided him with a clearer perspective, stating, “I became obsessed with my country only when I was outside it, more than when I was living there.”

K.R. Meera, sharing her experiences in Kazakhstan, pointed out the striking similarities between disparate cultures.

“Some shamanic practices there echoed rituals in Kerala. It made me contemplate humanity’s common roots,” she stated.

For Meera, travel is intertwined with creativity; her celebrated novel 'Aarachar' was inspired by her travels through Calcutta, with all her narratives beginning on the road.

Pallavi Aiyar highlighted the universality of human experiences.

“From Japan to Europe, people face similar daily challenges like traffic, food, and routines,” she said.

She added that travel is a pathway to self-discovery, stating, “Venturing abroad taught me what it means to be Indian.”

However, she emphasized the varying nature of travel experiences, noting that escaping conflict as a refugee is vastly different from leisurely backpacking through Europe.

The three-day festival, which commenced on Friday evening in Varkala, will feature approximately 50 speakers from both India and abroad, weaving personal narratives with reflections on identity, culture, and the art of observation.

As the participants navigated through far-off lands and their own inner realms, Yaanam emerged not merely as a festival of places, but as a celebration of people, their histories, stories, and the connections that unite us all.