The Raipur Literature Festival 2026 burst into life today with a grand inauguration that paid heartfelt tribute to legendary Chhattisgarh litterateur Vinod Kumar Shukla. Held at the specially named Vinod Kumar Shukla Mandap, the event drew top dignitaries including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh as chief guest and Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai as presiding officer. Deputy CM Arun Sao, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University Dr. Kumud Sharma, and acclaimed thespian Manoj Joshi graced the occasion as special guests.
In a highlight of the ceremony, guests released a commemorative booklet marking 25 years of Chhattisgarh statehood, a lavish coffee table book on the state’s literary heritage, J. Nandakumar’s ‘National Selfhood in Science,’ Prof. Anshu Joshi’s ‘Red Walls, White Lies,’ and Rajiv Ranjan Prasad’s ‘Your Rule Won’t Come.’ These unveilings set the tone for a festival brimming with intellectual fervor.
Harivansh opened his address with a profound bow to Shukla, celebrating Chhattisgarh’s ancient and vibrant literary traditions rooted in local culture. He praised the festival’s innovative approach and drew parallels between poet Kabir’s ties to Kashi and his deep connections to Chhattisgarh’s Kawardha. ‘A single book or author holds the power to transform the world,’ he declared, quoting Rashtrakavi Maithili Sharan Gupt to underscore literature’s role in guiding society, igniting hope, and instilling courage.
Turning to national pride, Harivansh highlighted India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing economy, eyeing a developed nation by 2047. He spotlighted leadership in steel, rice production, and startups. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai echoed this enthusiasm, calling Chhattisgarh Lord Ram’s maternal homeland and hailing the festival as a ‘grand literary Kumbh Mela.’ Over 120 renowned writers from across India are participating in this three-day extravaganza.
Sai drew a vivid analogy between the freedom struggle and the mythical ocean churning, where heroes endured poison-like suffering to gift nectar of independence to future generations. He honored freedom fighters who doubled as writers, journalists, and lawyers, citing Makhanlal Chaturvedi’s jail-born ‘Pushp ki Abhilasha’ and Madhavrao Sapre’s pioneering ‘Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti.’ Tributes flowed to Pandit Lochana Prasad Pandey, Padumlal Pannalal Bakshi, and Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh, with the Triveni Museum in Rajnandgaon as a living testament to their legacy.
The festival pavilions honor Shukla, Shyamlal Chaturvedi, Lala Jagdulpuri, and Aniruddha Nirav—titans who shaped Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity. Sai emphasized poetry’s power to resist injustice, invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s enduring ‘I won’t give up.’ Arun Sao dubbed the Basant Panchami-timed event a literary colossus, while Dr. Sharma positioned literature as a vehicle for self-realization and cultural awakening in Amrit Kaal, branding India the forge of human civilization.
Post-inauguration, sessions delved into contemporary literature, culture, democracy, and society, buzzing with youth energy and massive crowds. This launch promises a vital platform for literary dialogue and cultural renewal.
