NEW DELHI : Literature has been the mirror of our culture ever since we began to think and write, or since human civilization has evolved. The union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said “Language is a medium of expression and today in the exhibition we all will see books written in different languages. Our body, mind, intellect and soul are of great importance and as time is changing with new technologies.
Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal made this comment while inaugurating the world’s largest literary festival organized by the Sahitya Akademi on Monday. Inaugurating the Festival of Letters 2024, he said that literary writing is a separate art and a writer is a seeker. Only aspiring writers create better culture, better society and better country. He further said that literature has had a great influence on him too and that is why he has learned to speak eloquently. Meghwal emphasized that the 21st century should be of India and it is our belief that the 21st century will be ours. Minister  congratulated the Sahitya Akademi for successfully organising the literature festival for almost 40 years now.
Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, K Sreenivasarao said the festival is a celebration of Indian languages and literature in the true sense of the word. “This is the 70th year of Sahitya Akademi and the 40th year of Festival of Letters. It is a big achievement in itself for a literary festival to keep the country’s diverse literature dynamic for 40 consecutive years,” he said during the inaugural event.
26 young writers representing 24 Indian languages recognized by Akademi participated in “The Rise of Young India” event held at the Rabindra Bhavan Lawns from 10.30 a.m. onwards today. Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, eminent Assamese writer, inaugurated the Meet. Later in the day, reputed publishers and authors representing different Indian languages participated in the “Panel Discussion on Publishing in Indian Languages”.
The prestigious Sahitya Akademi Awards will be presented to the 24 Award winners. Marg. Dr Bhalchandra Nemade, eminent Marathi poet and critic will be the Chief Guest at the Award Presentation Ceremony. Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar, President, Sahitya Akademi will present the Awards. The Festival of Letters’, which will see the participation of more than thousand authors in over 170 languages.
The 3-day National seminar (13 – 15 March) on “Impact of Literature on Indian Independence Movement” will be held.. Dr Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, eminent Hindi writer and Fellow, Sahitya Akademi, will inaugurate & Dr Harish Trivedi, eminent scholar, will deliver the keynote address. 42 eminent scholars from all over country will participate and present papers on various aspects of the impact of literature on Indian independence movement.
A Panel Discussion on “Media & Literature” will be organised on 14 March. Venudhar Reddy, Director General, All India Radio will inaugurate, Vishwas Patil,  Marathi writer, will preside and Rajendra Rao, Literary Editor at Dainik Jagran will be the Guest of Honour.
Other writers and poets who will take part in the literature festival include Badri Narayan, Jeet Thayil, Mamta Kalia, Nachhatar, Arundhathi Subramaniam, Damodar Mauzo, Geet Chaturvedi, and Maitreyi Pushpa. Children’s writers, young writers, short story writers  literature will also be part of separate panel discussions and meets.
The six-day literary gala, which will also mark the 70 years of the foundation of the Sahitya Akademi, will felicitate the 24 winners of the Sahitya Akademi Award on Tuesday. Renowned Odia writer, Pratibha Ray, will be the chief guest of the award presentation ceremony. The event will feature lectures and sessions by eminent writers and poets including Gulzar, who will deliver the Samvatsar lecture. Other writers and poets attending the event include Arjun Deo Charan, Oscar Pujol, Paro Anand, Manisha Kulshreshtha, Humra Quraishi, Yatindra Mishra, and Ranjit Hoskote.

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