Kolkata : Dhanu Bihar, in collaboration with the Centre for Indian Classical Dances, IGNCA, Sahitya Akademi, Nalanda University and Nav Nalanda Mahavihara University, hosted an Interactive Workshop-cum-Press Meet at The Bengal Club, Kolkata, to announce the forthcoming Nalanda Literature Festival (NLF) 2025.
The event was graced by Chief Guest and Festival Advisor Harshavardhan Neotia, along with Chairperson D. Aaliya, Festival Director Ganga Kumar, and several distinguished personalities from the world of art and literature. The gathering brought together noted writers and cultural figures including Amar Mitra, Satyabrata Dey, Diwakar Singh, Gauri Basu, Mehul Mohanka, Dinyer Mucaden, Rachita Dey, Joy Mukherjee and others, who shared insights on India’s literary and linguistic diversity.
Speaking on the occasion, Harshavardhan Neotia reflected:
“Nalanda has been our crowning glory — the symbol of our wisdom and scholarship. Though its manuscripts were lost in a tragic fire centuries ago, the revival of Nalanda’s spirit through this festival rekindles that legacy of knowledge, debate, and enlightenment.”
Chairperson D. Aaliya emphasized that Nalanda stands for “knowledge that liberates both the mind and society,” adding that Kolkata’s intellectual warmth perfectly mirrors the festival’s essence of dialogue, dignity, and diversity.
In his address, Festival Director Ganga Kumar encouraged a new outlook towards literature:
“We must view literature like modern science — as a source of innovation and opportunity. Nalanda’s holistic approach to education showed that debate itself was a form of learning. We must connect that wisdom to today’s youth.”
The meet also spotlighted the Nalanda Literature Development Programme (September 2025 – March 2026), a series of cultural exchanges and creative dialogues leading up to the main festival. Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh joined the session online, appealing to audiences to participate in this cultural celebration.
The Nalanda Literature Festival 2025, to be held at the historic sites of Rajgir and Nalanda, promises to be a grand confluence of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage — reaffirming the nation’s timeless spirit of knowledge, imagination, and literary excellence.
