Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar.27:The much-anticipated three-day Literature Festival-Beyond Horizon: All India Writers’ Festival, being organized by the Department of Art and Culture, A&N Administration in association with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi commenced this morning in the auditorium of TGCE with its inauguration by Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency as chief guest. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, Shri Srinivasarao, representatives from Sahitya Akademi, senior officers from A&N Administration, writers and poets from different parts of the country and local writers/poets were also present on the occasion.
This vibrant festival is a celebration of literary creativity, offering a platform for writers, poets and literary enthusiasts from across the country to come together, exchange ideas and explore the rich tapestry of Indian literature.
More than just a celebration of words, it is a confluence of cultures, languages and ideas that aims to inspire and empower the people. For local authors and aspiring writers, it provides an invaluable opportunity to interact with eminent literary figures, gain insights into different literary traditions and refine their craft. Poetry readings, discussions and interactive sessions encourage creative expression and foster a deep appreciation for literature among participants.
In his introductory address, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS while welcoming one and all to this festival of words, stated that this 3 days Writers’ Festival is the beginning of the Literary Festival in A&N Islands as this will be followed by a ‘Book Fair’ to be held at the ITF Ground from April 1 to 10, 2025. He said that the Hon’ble Lt. Governor has desired that this LitFest should be incorporated in the list of year-round activities carried out by the A&N Administration and the LitFest should be made an annual event for greater participation by the people of Islands and mainland alike.
The Chief Secretary further said that literature always grooms us and has the power to unite people. Pointing that literature unites hearts, the Chief Secretary mentioned that Literature Festivals provide a platform for intellectual discussions & literary debates allowing us to introspect and providing opportunity to connect with country’s vibrant culture.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, Shri Srinivasarao thanked the A&N Administration for organising this event at Sri Vijaya Puram and the support provided to the Sahitya Akademi for the conduct of the festival. He said, beauty of nature always inspires writers and poets and bounties of nature prevailing in A&N Islands are bound to inspire thousands of writers, thinkers and poets who visit this place. “This Writers’ Festival is our fourth national level meet in Sri Vijaya Puram”, the Secretary said and showered all praise for the unity in diversity prevailing in A&N Islands.
Proposing the vote of thanks, the Secretary (Art & Culture), Ms Jyoti Kumari, IAS, thanked the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands for inaugurating the Literature Festival. She also expressed her gratitude to the Chief Secretary for conceiving the idea of this Literature Festival and also for the guidance at every stage. The Secretary (Art & culture) also thanked the Secretary, Sahitya Akademi for bringing together renowned authors & poets from different parts of the country for participating in this event. She also thanked all the Departments of A&N Administration for their timely support in organising the event.
During the inaugural function, the artistes of Kailashpati Dance Academy presented a colourful classical dance (Saraswati Vandana). Kumari Divyanka Prasad of Govt. Model Senior Secondary School, Aberdeen read the poem written by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan titled ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ while Kumari Alia Noeen presented a poem on ‘Tree’, highlighting its natural beauty in Nicobari language giving a strong message that there is no life without trees.
The Sahitya Akademy, New Delhi has also set up Book Stall at TGCE auditorium which was frequented by the visitors today. The stall which has 2700 titles and 6000 books in Hindi and other languages will remain open from 2.30 pm to 6 pm till March 29.
The Writers’ Festival has been meticulously structured into various sessions, each designed to highlight different facets of literature. The opening session, Poetry Unbound: Multilingual Poets Meet, was chaired by Shri Harish Meenashru. He also presented his self-composed poem. Esteemed poets such as Monikuntala Bhattacharjya (Assamese), Anju Rajan (Hindi), Jagdish Narayan Rai (Hindi), M.S. Heaven (Hindi), R. Gopalan (Tamil), S. Sathyan (Tamil) and C. H. Hemant Rao (Telugu) presented their captivating poems.
Following this, the second session, ‘Poetry with the Ocean: Literary Waves of Mini India’, chaired by Pronob Kumar Sircar, delved into the diverse linguistic and cultural literary traditions of India. Poets and writers such as Ayush Dubey (Hindi), Chandran Kokkadan (Malayalam), Lucas Robert (Nicobari), Job (Nicobari), Krishna Kumar Vishvendra (Hindi) and Sudershan Raja (Russian, Hindi & Maithili) shared their thought-provoking verses, stories and engaged in discussions on the evolving literary landscape.
Beyond showcasing literary talent, the festival serves as a catalyst for nurturing a vibrant literary community in the region. It encourages young writers to find their voice, motivates readers to explore new perspectives and strengthens the literary fabric of the Islands. The exchange of ideas and experiences between established writers and emerging talents ensures the continuity of literary excellence, making this festival a beacon of inspiration for generations to come. Literary enthusiasts have been invited to be part of the rest of the sessions in the coming days.
