What happens when you grow up in the middle of a revolution? In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi tells the story of her childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, through the eyes of a young girl trying to make sense of a world being transformed around her. Funny, rebellious, heartbreaking and deeply personal, Persepolis is as much a coming-of-age story as it is a portrait of a country in upheaval. It asks questions about identity, freedom, belonging and what it means to find your own voice when the world is telling you who you should be.
The Book in Focus contest at Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest celebrates readers and their love for great stories. This year, participants will turn their attention to Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, a powerful coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of revolution and war. Through Marji’s eyes, the book explores identity, freedom, family and belonging, inviting readers to reflect on what it means to grow up in a world undergoing profound change.
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Eligibility: The contest is open to all readers who wish to participate.
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Entry: Participants must submit an original response inspired by Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
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Originality: All entries must be the participant’s own original work and must not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere.
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Format: Entries may take the form of a poem, personal reflection, short piece of prose, or any other creative response to the book.
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Submission: Only one entry per participant is permitted. Entries must be submitted by the stated deadline.
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Selection: Entries will be reviewed by the Literature Live! team/jury. Winning entries will be selected based on originality, creativity, and engagement with the book.
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Live Reading: Selected winners will be invited to read their entries aloud at *Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest 2026*. Participation in the live reading is a condition of selection.
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Availability: Selected participants must be available to attend the festival on the date and time communicated by the organisers.
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Entry Length: Entries should be suitable for a live reading and must not exceed.
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Travel & Transport: Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel to and from the festival venue. Literature Live! will not provide transportation to or from the festival.
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Publication & Promotion: By submitting an entry, participants grant Literature Live! permission to reproduce, publish, and share their entry, with due credit, across festival platforms and promotional material.
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Disqualification: Entries that contain plagiarism, hate speech, artificial intelligence, discriminatory or defamatory content, or material unrelated to the contest may be disqualified at the organisers’ discretion.
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Organisers’ Decision: The decision of the jury/organisers regarding the selection of winning entries will be final.
Note: By submitting an entry, participants confirm that they have read and agreed to these Rules & Regulations
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