My first Indian literary festival was Kitabfest, in Mumbai, in 2007. It was hosted at the famous Taj hotel, just months before the infamous bombing there.

So it was with many memories I returned to Mumbai for a two-day training, helping relationship managers at a Swiss private bank use Business Storytelling for relational and consultative rather than transactional selling.

This week, I am happy to be on a writers’ panel at another Indian literary festival.

Pragatie Vichaar Literature Festival 2025

PVLF (Pragatie Vichaar Literature Festival) is a distinctive literature festival, organized by Frontlist Media, India’s leading news e-Portal for the publishing industry.

Frontlist has featured my books and work in the past so I was delighted to accept the invitation to speak.

Especially since I ended up in conversation with none other than Ram Gidoomal, a successful entrepreneur and author.

Ram’s Silk Road

I highly recommend Ram Gidoomal’s latest book, My Silk Road: The adventures and struggles of a British Asian refugee. His memoir brings together his experiences in international business, national politics, Indian and fusion music, and social entrepreneurship, as well as family, friendship and business relationships across time and distance.

As an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, Ram Gidoomal has worked for over 30 years in the private, public, and voluntary sectors, as Chief Executive, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair, Nominations Committee Chair, Remuneration Committee Chair, and Chair of the Board.

Among the numerous recognitions for his many contributions, including Honorary Doctorates from three UK universities, the most recent has been his inclusion in Highflyers 50 – the fifty most eminent people of Indian origin living and working outside India.

He is the author of seven earlier books, including  Sari n Chips (exploring cross-cultural issues and challenges faced by new migrants), How Would Jesus Vote (on politics), and The UK Maharajahs and The British and How to Work With Them (business).

Business Storytelling from Hype to Hack, at Indian literary festival

You can watch our conversation about storytelling, business, culture and change at PragatiE Vichaar Literature Festival 2025 | Frontlist Media