The 39th edition of 'Sahityotsav: The Festival of Letters' is set to commence on March 11, featuring over 1,100 writers representing approximately 170 languages from across the nation, as announced by the Sahitya Akademi.
During this annual literary event, attendees can expect engaging lectures and sessions by renowned writers and poets such as Gulzar, slated to deliver the Samvatsar lecture, along with Arjun Deo Charan, Oscar Pujol, Paro Anand, Manisha Kulshreshtha, Humra Quraishi, Yatindra Mishra, and Ranjit Hoskote.
The festival will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Sahitya Akademi's establishment.
A national seminar focusing on 'Post-Independence Indian Literature' will be held on March 14, featuring a keynote address by Hindi poet and critic Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, followed by the inaugural address by English and Hindi scholar Harish Trivedi.
The Sahitya Akademi Award winners, totaling 24, will be honored during a ceremony on March 12. Notable figures such as Odia writer and Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan, and West Bengal's CV Ananda Bose are expected to attend.
Secretary K Sreenivasarao highlighted the significance of this year's Sahityotsav, noting the inaugural participation of differently-abled writers. He emphasized the festival's scale, boasting over 1,100 writers across 190 sessions, solidifying its status as the largest literature festival worldwide.
Over the six-day event, special attention will be given to writings from Northeastern regions, tribal areas, and the LGBTQ community through various discussions, meetings, and readings. Separate panels will feature children's writers, young writers, short story writers, and authors of women's literature.
The literary extravaganza will take place across venues including the Rabindra Bhawan Lawns, Kamani Auditorium, and Art Galleries of Lalit Kala Akademi and Sahitya Akademi Auditoriums.
'The Festival of Letters' is slated to conclude on March 16.
