The Cat and Shakespeare
Set in South India during World War II, the story follows a humble clerk named Ramakrishna Pai. Despite the global chaos, the narrative focuses on his simple desire to build a three-story house and his philosophical conversations with his eccentric neighbor, Govindan Nair.
The book uses the "Way of the Kitten" (Marjara-nyaya) philosophy. Just as a kitten allows itself to be carried by its mother without effort, Rao suggests that humans should surrender to divine grace. The "Shakespeare" in the title refers to the universal, play-like nature of reality.
The Mithila Literature Festival, held in Bihar's historic Mithila region, aims to rejuvenate and celebrate the area's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.