THE JAIPUR Literary Festival, inspite of the absence of the controversial author Salman Rushdie, did pretty well as it had Oprah Winfrey attracting a lot of attention. As Barkha Dutt interviewed the costliest anchor on international television, people were seen jostling in lines to be near her. Oprah on the other hand gave her version of India and surprisingly said that she would want to return to India. However, while Indians might have won her heart but Indian roads are not her favourite as she said that she would never be able to drive here. She sent everyone in splits, when she added, “What is it with the red lights! Does the red light mean stop or not? Is it for your entertainment?"
Barkha Dutt talked with Oprah about some of the issues that the American hostess always campaigns about such as sexual abuse, self-actualisation, her Leadership Academy in Africa and women's rights. Apart from the issues that shaped her entire 25 years of chat show career, Oprah also went personal and talked about her grandmother who instilled in her religiosity and to have faith.
Apart from Oprah Winfrey, taking the centre stage, people in Jaipur Literay Festival were also greeted with some more controversy, thanks to the four authors who read excerpts from ‘the satanic verses,’ after which, sources say that the authors were asked by the organisers to leave the premises in order to do away with any untoward incident. Present or not, Salman Rushdie seems to have won - as even when not being present - his presence was felt.