The three-day Ahmedabad International Literature Festival begins November 24

Ahmedabad : The 8th Ahmedabad International Literature Festival, with the theme “Literature and Human Development,” will be inaugurated on 24th November 2023 at CEE Ahmedabad by Dr. Justice K.J. Thaker, Hon. Chairperson of the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission, Dr. SK Nanda, IAS (Retd.), noted actor and poet Shri Akhilendra Mishra, and the festival’s founder, Umashanker Yadav.

Dr. SK Nanda, IAS (Retd.), the festival’s mentor, said at the pre-event press briefing that, in light of the worldwide decline in human values, the organisers had chosen to examine the function of literature in human progress in this edition. Sessions on mental health, children’s literature, social projects, poetry, the role of creative industries in schools, literature on partition, North East literature, world literature, children’s literature, and the importance of literature in shaping better people with broader worldviews, more empathy, and a stronger sense of community have been planned.

Rajendra Gupta, Yashpal Sharma, and Akhilendra Mishra are some of the notable speakers. At the event, you may catch journalists Mayank Shekhar, Jyoti Yadav, Dr. Shirish Kashikar, and Kumud Verma among others. Lyricist Dr. Sagar, novelist Shirish Khare, journalist Ketan Trivedi, and Dr. Heera Lal IAS will also be there. Speakers include Prince Manvendra Sinh Gohil of the former Rajpipla state, renowned neurologist Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir V. Shah, poet and actor Ravi Yadav, professor Sunil Maheshwari of the Indian Institute of Management (IIMA), literary agent and writer Preeti Gill, professor KB Veio Pou of the North Eastern region, and student writers and authors from Bangladesh and other African countries. Also appearing are renowned Gujarati poets Anil Chavda, Krushna Dave, and Harsh Brahmbhatt.

Umashanker Yadav, the festival’s founder and director, said that throughout the course of the three days, over 30 sessions, over a hundred speakers and performers from many walks of life in India and beyond would take part. Several schools, colleges, and universities are actively involved in this edition—with principals, teachers, and students serving as moderators, speakers, performers, and volunteers—thanks to his and his team’s proactive approach, he said. The goal is to inspire creativity in young people from a young age.As part of the 7th edition of the India International Folk Festival, which is organised by the ICCR (M.E.A.) Government of India, one of the highlights of this year is a ballet dance performance by the Naz Group of Kazakhstan.

In addition to Ikon Barcode Solutions Pvt. Ltd., ONGC, PATRON, Enertech Fuel Solutions Pvt. Ltd., GMDC, and Gujarat Tourism, the event is being organised by the Ikon Education Foundation.