Kumar Bahukhandi
In Short
*Literature is the most powerful medium for awakening hope, courage, and social consciousness: Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh
*Grand inauguration of Raipur Literature Festival 2026: 120 writers from across the country will participate in 42 sessions
Raipur: The Raipur Literature Festival 2026 was grandly inaugurated today on Friday January 23, 2026 on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami at the Purkhauti Muktangan complex in Nava Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. The inauguration ceremony was held under the chief patronage of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh , and presided over by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
The ceremony was held at the Vinod Kumar Shukla Pavilion, with Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha, Dr. Kumud Sharma, and renowned theater artist and actor Manoj Joshi as special guests.
Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Pankaj Jha, senior journalist Anant Vijay, and President of the Chhattisgarh Sahitya Akademi Shashank Sharma, along with many other dignitaries, were also present on the occasion.
On the occasion of the inauguration, a booklet based on the completion of 25 years of the state of Chhattisgarh, a coffee table book on the writers of Chhattisgarh, the book “National Selfhood in Science” written by J. Nandakumar, Professor Anshu Joshi’s book “Lal Deewarein, Safed Jhooth,” and Rajiv Ranjan Prasad’s book “Tera Raj Nahi Aayega Re” were released by the guests.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh began his address by paying homage to the great writer of Chhattisgarh, the late Vinod Kumar Shukla. He said that Chhattisgarh literature has a rich and ancient tradition, and the state has always strongly preserved its local culture. A highly creative approach is clearly visible in the organisation of the Raipur Literature Festival.
Referring to Kabir’s deep connection with Kashi, he mentioned that Kabir also had a special connection with Kawardha in Chhattisgarh. Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh also said that even a single book and a single author have the power to change the world. He quoted lines from the national poet Maithilisharan Gupt, saying that” literature guides society, instills hope, overcomes despair, and provides the courage to live life (Unquoted )
Deputy Chairman Harivansh said that today India is the world’s fastest-growing economy, and the resolve for a developed India by 2047 is our national goal. He said that India is playing a leading role in the fields of steel, rice production, and startups.
The country’s self-reliance has given a new direction to the world, and literature has played a powerful role behind this national strength. Harvansh added.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, in his address, said that Chhattisgarh is the maternal home of Lord Rama, and the inauguration of the three-day Raipur Literature Festival on this sacred land is a matter of pride for all of us.
Welcoming the writers and literature enthusiasts from across the country, he said that the Raipur Literature Festival 2026 is a grand confluence of literature, in which more than 120 renowned writers from the state and various states of the country are participating.
During the event, in a total of 42 sessions, there will be in-depth discussions on contemporary social, cultural, and political issues. This is the time of the Amrit Kaal of the Republic and the Silver Jubilee year of Chhattisgarh state, and this festival has been organised in accordance with this spirit.
The Chief Minister compared the freedom struggle to the churning of the ocean, saying that just as both poison and nectar emerged from the churning of the ocean, similarly, in the freedom movement, our freedom fighters endured the poison-like suffering themselves and provided the nectar of freedom to the coming generations, CM Sai noted .
He said that many of our freedom fighters were also writers, journalists, and lawyers. Works like “Pushp Ki Abhilasha” (The Desire of a Flower), composed by Makhanlal Chaturvedi in Bilaspur jail, inspired the countrymen. Madhavrao Sapre’s story “Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti” (A Basketful of Earth) is considered the first story in Hindi.
The Chief Minister mentioned writers like Pandit Lochan Prasad Pandey, Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi, and Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh, saying that preserving their memories is our cultural responsibility.
The construction of the Triveni Museum in Rajnandgaon is a symbol of this sentiment. The Chief Minister said that the pavilions at the Raipur Literature Festival have been dedicated to great literary figures like Vinod Kumar Shukla, Shyam Lal Chaturvedi, Lala Jagdalpuri, and Anirudh Nirav, who have given a new identity to the culture and literature of Chhattisgarh. He said that poetry teaches resistance against injustice, and this is the true power of literature, Sai added.
Referring to the poetry recitation program organised in memory of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chief Minister said that Atal Ji was a poet at heart and his poems inspired millions of people. Lines like “I will not give up…” still provide strength to the masses today.
Highlighting the role of writers during the Emergency, the Chief Minister quoted the famous lines of Dushyant Kumar and said that the large number of young literature enthusiasts participating in this festival clearly shows that the literary environment in the state is vibrant and strong. He expressed confidence that this three-day event would prove to be a milestone. On this occasion, he also paid tribute to the late Surendra Dubey.
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, describing the festival held on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami as a grand confluence of literature, said that the land of Chhattisgarh has given many great stalwarts to Hindi literature.
Dr. Kumud Sharma said that in this Amrit Kaal (era of nectar), the resolve for a self-reliant India and Swadeshi (indigenous) products is the foundation of our bright future. She described literature as a powerful medium for self-awareness and cultural consciousness and called India a crucible of human culture.
Following the inaugural ceremony, the guests and literary figures participated in various sessions, sharing their views on contemporary literature, culture, democracy, and society. A large number of literature enthusiasts were present at the event, and the active participation of the youth was particularly noteworthy.
This launch of the Raipur Literature Festival 2026 is proving to be a significant step towards literary dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and the expansion of cultural awareness.
