Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA), a constituent of the prestigious Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), successfully organized the 4th edition of the Symbiosis Literary Festival from December 16th to 17th, 2023. The event gathered distinguished personalities from the realms of literature and beyond, featuring prominent speakers like screenwriter Javed Akhtar, Loksatta editor Girish Kuber, Newslaundry CEO and co-founder Abhinandan Sekhri, and TV journalist Rajat Sharma.

The inaugural session, highlighted by a keynote from renowned Indian scientist Prof (Dr.) Raghunath A Mashelkar, along with speeches by SIU Pro-Chancellor Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar and SIU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman, emphasized the pivotal role of literature in shaping minds and fostering creativity. SSLA Director Dr. Shweta Sinha Deshpande articulated the festival’s mission to create a space for meaningful conversations.

In a conversation with SSLA Assistant Professor Dr. Suchetana Banerjee, Javed Akhtar emphasized the necessity of cultural dialogue to accommodate a plurality of voices. The festival’s commitment to diverse perspectives echoed throughout the curated discussions, including panels on ‘Traditional Knowledge and Heritage Diplomacy,’ ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Language,’ and the biography of Usha Uthup.

The festival’s diverse sessions explored topics ranging from leveraging traditional knowledge for economic progress to the impact of AI technologies on language dynamics. Noteworthy discussions included a panel on Girish Kuber’s ‘The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation’ and an exploration of watchdog journalism’s influence, featuring Abhinandan Sekhri in conversation with Dr. Chindu Sreedharan.

The concluding session, ‘Regional Media and Public Opinion,’ delved into the role of Hindi news media in shaping public opinion in India, featuring a conversation between Rajat Sharma and Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan. Dr. Yeravdekar and Dr. Sinha Deshpande concluded the festival with gratitude and announced the eagerly awaited in-person edition of SLF in 2024.

As the literary community anticipates the next iteration, the resonance of this year’s festival promises to endure in the hearts and minds of those enchanted by its magical literary experience.

To know more visit Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA)

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