Finance
The 10th Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) commenced in Bhubaneswar on Friday, setting the stage for a journey through the ‘Legends of Ancient Bharat and Beyond’.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, along with other distinguished guests, gave a virtual speech to kick off the event.
Prominent authors, poets, and journalists held a variety of sessions on the first day, during which they had intelligent conversations about a wide range of subjects, including women, nationalism, media, literature, and more.
In his opening address, the Chief Minister said, “The Kalinga Literary Festival is more than an event; it is a bridge connecting the past with the present, ancient wisdom with contemporary insights. As participants immerse themselves in Bharat’s literary legacy, the festival becomes a platform to explore solutions proposed by ancestors for societal challenges and rediscover the beauty and relevance of tales in the modern world.”
Welcoming the dignitaries, Founder and Director of KLF, Rashmi Ranjan Parida, emphasised the responsibility that comes with this inheritance — to ensure the wisdom of the ages enlightens and guides humanity toward compassion, justice and harmony.
Notable figures, including Santrupt Mishra, Amish Tripathi, Sitakant Mahapatra and Paramita Panda shared their insights into Odisha’s ancient culture, celebrated literature and art, as they highlighted the symbiosis between literature and art.
They also emphasised the opportunity to dismantle barriers between thought leaders and artists.
Nasira Sharma and Beena Paudyal were given the KLF Literary Honour, and writer Amish Tripathi and novelist and seasoned journalist Sandeep Bamzai were given the National Living Legends Awards in recognition of their achievements to writing and journalism.
The event’s centerpiece, the Kalinga Art Festival, highlighted Odisha’s creative talent in addition to the literary talks. The virtual gallery featured more than seventy paintings by well-known painters, offering art fans a feast for the eyes.
The show showcased the variety of Odisha’s artistic expressions and provided an insight into the minds behind the state’s cultural narrative.
