Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 March 2025
The three-day Literature Festival, ‘Beyond Horizon – All India Writers’ Festival,’ organized by the Department of Art & Culture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, has reached its final day at the TGCE Auditorium in Sri Vijaya Puram.
As part of the closing schedule, two insightful sessions have been planned for March 29, 2025, offering participants a chance to immerse themselves in the rich literary diversity of the islands. The Sixth Session, titled “Mini India: Weaving Stories of Unity in Diversity,” will be held from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Chaired by Dr. Rashida Iqbal, this session will feature readings and discussions by distinguished authors and scholars. Mr. Ch. Hemant Rao will present works in Telugu, while Mr. R. Gopalan will contribute with his Tamil narratives. The session will also witness the participation of Dr. Manju Nair, Professor at JNRM, and Dr. Swapan Kumar Biswas, also from JNRM, along with Ms. Kalyani Halder, a dedicated teacher. Adding to the richness of the session, Mr. Krishna Kumar Vishwendra, Mr. Basu Kumar, and Dr. Ram Kripal Tiwari will share their perspectives, making it a vibrant exploration of India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Following this, the Seventh Session, a “Composite Session of Poetry and Storytelling – Voices of the Archipelago,” will take place from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM. This engaging session will be chaired by Keshav Chandra, IAS, and will feature captivating readings and discussions by Niharika Bhatt, IPS, Jyoti Kumari, IAS, Vinayak Chamadia, IAS, and Ms. Priyanka Kumari, DANICS, among others. This session promises to be a platform where the essence of the islands’ voices will echo through poetry and storytelling, reflecting the vibrant cultural ethos of the region.
The festival provides a golden opportunity for local authors, poets, and literature enthusiasts to engage with diverse literary voices and contribute to strengthening the cultural fabric of these islands. All literature lovers are encouraged to attend and make the most of these enriching sessions, as the festival concludes with a celebration of the literary spirit that binds the nation and its islands together. (Story Based on PR)