Pablo Ganguli#Further reading

Ganguli was born in a Bengali family in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Some sources state that one of his great-grandfathers was the private secretary to Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali poet who was Asia's first Nobel laureate. As an infant, Ganguli was brought up by his grandmother. He claimed he had never met his mother, and throughout his childhood was only visited by his art-historian father once a month.[http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23790891-the-talented-mr-ganguli-one-of-londons-best-connected-people.do 'The talented Mr Ganguli, one of London's best connected people'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107054616/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23790891-the-talented-mr-ganguli-one-of-londons-best-connected-people.do |date=7 January 2010 }}, London Evening Standard, 5 January 2010 He grew up in Kolkata in a creative environment pursuing artistic interests.[http://hypebeast.com/2012/4/interview-with-pablo-ganguli-the-founder-of-liberatum 'Interview with Pablo Ganguli'], Hypebeast, 26 April 2012

In 2001 at the age of 17 Ganguli founded his company, Liberatum, to organise events around the world.[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/a-meeting-of-minds-on-the-bosphorus-2293430.html?origin=internalSearch "A meeting of minds on the Bosphorus"], The Independent, 6 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2018.

In August 2006, in an article "The Boy Who Beguiled London's Literary Luvvies", a columnist in the Evening Standard of London noted that Ganguli had made 'the remarkable journey from a student studying French in Calcutta to, seemingly, one of the world's leading literary salonistas in just three years'.

In November 2010 and 2011, Ganguli was selected as one of the 1000 most influential figures in London by the Evening Standard.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-24007174-londons-1000-most-influential-people-2011-literati.do |date=15 November 2011 |title=London's 1000 most influential people 2011: Literati |author=ES |work=Evening Standard |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126124959/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-24007174-londons-1000-most-influential-people-2011-literati.do |archivedate=26 January 2012 }}

In March 2011, Ganguli said with regard to the festivals he puts on: "It’s not a job. It’s my life. It’s what I dream about and have nightmares about". The principal source of income for his festivals is sponsorship, which he says is "never easy to get and requires a lot of hard work". He does not pay the speakers at his festivals: "It’s like giving a fee to someone for attending the Oscars."{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c2a7f5fa-4e56-11e0-a9fa-00144feab49a.html |date=24 March 2011 |title=Lucrative celebration: earning money from festivals |author=Emma Jacobs |work=Financial Times}}

In 2001, Ganguli created Connect UK, a Papua New Guinea based organisation,[http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/writers-in-papua-new.html "Writers in Papua New Guinea convene on the 'importance of volunteerism'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924153054/http://www.unv.org/en/news-resources/news/doc/writers-in-papua-new.html |date=24 September 2016 }}, United Nations Volunteers, 11 December 2001 whose stated purpose was to forge cultural ties between the South Pacific and Britain. In November 2002, the British High Commission and Connect UK jointly put on the first 'British Week' in that country, 'a celebration of British arts, culture, design, education and science and technology'.[https://web.archive.org/web/20021124085517/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1026490772427 'UK Embassies Overseas: British Week, Papua New Guinea'], British Foreign Office Festival participants included Janet Street-Porter and Benjamin Zephaniah.

Ganguli directed the first Women's Rights Conference in Papua New Guinea supported by the PNG, Australian, United States and British governments. Baroness Valerie Amos, the then British Secretary of State for International Development sent a message of good wishes for the conference.[http://www.liberatum.org/papua_content.htm 'Connect UK, Papua New Guinea'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011722/http://www.liberatum.org/papua_content.htm |date=28 September 2007 }}, Liberatum Papua New Guinea The British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office supported the work of Ganguli in Papua New Guinea. Connect UK organised events promoting human rights, youth issues and Aids awareness projects.

Between 2003 and 2006, Ganguli spent part of his time in Morocco.Laurie Werner, [https://www.forbes.com/fyi/2005/1212/045.html 'Travel'], Forbes magazine, 12 December 2005Tim Bullamore, [http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,19969-2251146.html 'Making a home in Marrakesh']{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Times, 30 June 2006 Ganguli was head of public relations and events at Kasbah Agafay and Kssour Agafay,{{cite web|url=http://www.kssouragafay.com/contact.htm |title=Kssour Agafay |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217114825/http://www.kssouragafay.com/contact.htm |archivedate=17 December 2006 }} a private member's club and luxury hotel in Marrakech.{{cite web|url=http://www.kssouragafay.com/index.htm |title=Kssour Agafay |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104015507/http://www.kssouragafay.com/index.htm |archivedate=4 January 2007 }} Tim Willis in The London Evening Standard on 5 January 2010 reported of Ganguli's deportation from Morocco in 2005 thus: "when, returning from a trip to India in 2005, he learnt that his ex had been expelled from Morocco and that he had 48 hours to leave the country. "I was never given a reason", he says. Ganguli moved into a house owned by Scaddan (his ex lover) in Edinburgh".

Beginning in 2005, Ganguli moved to the United Kingdom to make it his base. Around the same time, he started creating and directing cultural festivals in different parts of the world.

Arts in Marrakech Festival

The Arts in Marrakech International Festival, a festival of English and Arabic art and literature, was organised by GanguliSam Leith, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3620112/Notebook.html 'The king of Morocco and his carpet magic'], The Daily Telegraph (UK), 3 October 2005 and held in Morocco from 29 September to 3 October 2005,{{cite web|url=http://www.kssouragafay.com/pdf/AiM%20Press%20Release.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104080117/http://www.kssouragafay.com/pdf/AiM%20Press%20Release.pdf |archivedate=4 January 2007 }} and was preceded by Scottish Week Marrakesh, 21–28 September, also organised by Ganguli.Tim Bullamore, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/services/avantgo/article/0,,1765267,00.html 'Bagpipers facing a battle to be heard']{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Times (UK)

Kitab New Delhi

Kitab, sponsored by the Hindustan Times, with The Times (UK) as its English media partner, was held at the India Habitat Centre in south Delhi, India,Boyd Tonkin, [http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/article357548.ece 'A Week in Books']{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Independent (UK), 14 April 2006 7–9 April 2006.Subuhi Jiwani, [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1019841 'Literary festival gets a novel spin'], Daily News and Analysis, India, 24 March 2006 It was India's first international literary festival.Geordie Grieg, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,923-2133343,00.html 'Giggles and some Goldie philosophy']{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Times (UK), 15 April 2006

Kitab Mumbai

The second Kitab was held in Mumbai, India, February 23–36, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.kitabfest.org/aboutus.htm |title=About us |accessdate=2007-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214103426/http://www.kitabfest.org/aboutus.htm |archivedate=14 February 2007 }}Farrukh Dhondy, [http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/SUNDAY_SPECIALS/Book_Mark/Confessions_of_a_festival_fly/articleshow/1343990.cms 'Confessions of a festival fly']{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Sunday Times (India). Retrieved 24 January 2007.

Liberatum Hong Kong

Asia Tatler and the Wall Street Journal announced that Ganguli would present Liberatum in Hong Kong in 2012.[http://www.asiatatler.com/hong-kong/luxury-news/pablo-ganguli-brings-liberatum-hong-kong 'Pablo Ganguli Brings Liberatum To Hong Kong'], Asia Tatler, 6 February 2012 Participants include Pharrell Williams, Rossy de Palma, Paul Schrader, Thomas Heatherwick, Daniel Wu and Khalil Fong.[https://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/03/14/liberatum-releases-festival-lineup 'Pharrell Williams, V.S. Naipaul, Marianne Faithfull on Liberatum’s Lineup'], The Wall Street Journal, 14 March 2012 Vogue China editor in chief said it was one of the very few free cultural events open to the public. The event was reportedly a wild ride with Pharrell Williams as the headliner.[http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/liberatum-diary/ 'Nobel Laureates Take Hong Kong'], Interview

Majestic Petra

The Majestic Petra Festival was originally scheduled to be held in December 2006 in Petra, Jordan. Ganguli postponed the festival in October, citing 'security concerns'.Oliver Marre, [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/7days/story/0,,1922721,00.html 'Looks like no Rania on their literary parade'], The Guardian (UK), 15 October 2006 In mid-December 2006 it was reported that the festival's location had changed to Dubai.Oliver Duff, [http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article2073007.ece ' Festival moves to save Amis and Greer from al-Qa'ida'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063106/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article2073007.ece |date=1 October 2007 }}, The Independent (UK), 14 December 2006 It eventually did not take place.

Jewel of Russia

An international festival of arts, literature and musicJames Collard, 'Culture Clubber', Saturday Times Magazine (Saturday Times Newspaper), 28 October 2006, pages 52–54 called "Jewel of Russia" was held in St Petersburg from 27 to 31 October 2007. As of February 2007, Ganguli was hoping to stage talks, readings and discussions.

The St PetersBall

Pablo Ganguli and Liberatum were commissioned by Corinthia Hotels to develop a festival in St Petersburg in November 2010. The St PetersBall celebrated ballet, art, film and fashion.[http://www.vogue.co.uk/article/liberatum-st-petersball-festival-2010 "Russian Revolution"],Vogue UK, 12 November 2010

Istancool

Ganguli founded and directed a major festival of cultural diplomacy and international arts in Istanbul in July 2010 under the title 'Istancool'.[http://www.anothermag.com/current/view/328/Istancool "In Pictures – Istancool"], Another Magazine, 8 July 2010

Istancool 2

Liberatum and Ganguli worked in partnership with Turkish agency Istanbul '74 and AnOther Magazine on the second edition of Istancool in May 2011.[http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/6/9/1494/istancool-diary 'Istancool Diary'], Nowness, 9 June 2011

England

On 23 November 2010, Pablo Ganguli launched the Liberatum Cultural Honour award and hosted a Liberatum dinner in honour of Nobel Laureate Sir VS and Lady Naipaul.[http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2010/11/great-and-good-salute-a-british-literary-giant.html "Great and good salute a British literary giant"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081102/http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2010/11/great-and-good-salute-a-british-literary-giant.html |date=16 July 2011 }}, Evening Standard, 24 November 2010 The dinner was held in London at the Langham Hotel.[http://www.tatler.com/bystander/events/2011/november/liberatum%E2%80%99s-10th-anniversary#/5833/image/1 "Liberatum's 10th Anniversary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105180904/http://www.tatler.com/bystander/events/2011/november/liberatum%e2%80%99s-10th-anniversary#/5833/image/1 |date=5 January 2012 }}, Tatler, 23 November 2011

In 2011, Pablo Ganguli, Liberatum and W Hotels hosted an event celebrating fashion and cinema with Andre Leon Talley, Dame Vivienne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik in London.[http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8386067/Manolo-Blahnik-and-Andre-Leon-Talley-talk-movies-and-fashion.html "Manolo Blahnik and André Leon Talley talk movies and fashion"], The Daily Telegraph, 16 March 2011

Inspiring Creativity

Ganguli directed a short film with illy[http://www.wallpaper.com/design/what-inspires-creativity-cultures-top-dogs-answer-the-burning-question-in-a-new-film-by-liberatum/7411 What inspires creativity? Culture's top dogs answer the burning question in a new film by Liberatum], Wallpaper, 15 May 2014 in international press. The film featured several world-renowned artists, musicians and actors such as James Franco, Tracey Emin and Hans Zimmer. It was co-directed by Tomas Auksas.[http://www.fastcocreate.com/3030718/hear-what-james-franco-hans-zimmer-tracey-emin-moby-and-others-have-to-say-about-creativity HEAR WHAT JAMES FRANCO, HANS ZIMMER, TRACEY EMIN, MOBY, AND OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CREATIVITY], Fast Company, May 2014

Artistry/Technology

Ganguli directed another short film with Tomas Auksas on the relationship between art and technology featuring Frank Gehry, David Hockney, Francis Ford Coppola and MIA.[https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/02/artistry-technology 'ARTISTRY/TECHNOLOGY' PROBES THE NEXUS OF DIGITAL CREATIVITY] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915174746/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/02/artistry-technology |date=15 September 2015 }}, Wired, 2 April 2015

In This Climate

Ganguli made a feature-length documentary with Tomas Auksas on climate change and the environment called in This Climate[https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/in-this-climate-documentary-cher-mark-ruffalo Cher, Mark Ruffalo Join Forces for Climate Change Documentary], Vanity Fair, November 2016 featuring Sir David Attenborough, Mark Ruffalo and Cher.[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2016/nov/29/david-attenborough-on-climate-change-the-world-will-be-transformed-video David Attenborough on climate change: 'The world will be transformed' – video], The Guardian, November 2016

In 2000, Ganguli met Simon Scaddan, then British Deputy High Commissioner to eastern India, at a musical soiree in the French Consulate in Calcutta. When Scaddan became British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea in 2001, Ganguli moved into his diplomatic residence as his official consort/partner. The relationship became public in 2003.Caroline Philips, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20060824/ai_n16700982 'The boy who beguiled London's literary luvvies'], Evening Standard (London), 24 August 2006Paul Gould, [http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto090120061146285852 'Diplomatic impunity']{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Financial Times, 1 September 2006

In August 2006 it was reported that the Ganguli and Scaddan had split,[https://www.theguardian.com/observer/7days/story/0,,1922721,00.html "Looks like no Rania on their literary parade"], The Observer, 15 October 2006 although remaining friends, and that Ganguli was living in Scaddan's Edinburgh apartment. In 2007, it was reported that Ganguli was living in Wales.David Robinson, [http://living.scotsman.com/books.cfm?id=293702007 "Ariel perspectives"], The Scotsman, 24 February 2007 In 2009, The Times stated that Ganguli was based in London.

The Times reported in 2009 that Ganguli's partner was the Lithuanian artist Tomas Auksas who joined him at his Moscow festival.Hugo Rifkind, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6228501.ece 'Britain goes to Moscow for AngloMockba']{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Times, 6 May 2009

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.liberatum.org Liberatum]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganguli, Pablo}}

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