Raipur came alive with the spirited launch of the 2026 Literature Festival, a three-day celebration of words and wisdom presided over by Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh served as chief guest at the Vinod Kumar Shukla Mandap, joined by Deputy CM Arun Sao, Dr. Kumud Sharma, and theater maestro Manoj Joshi.
The inauguration featured book releases galore: a 25-year Chhattisgarh anniversary publication, a coffee table tome on its literary legacy, and new works like ‘National Selfhood in Science’ by J. Nandakumar, ‘Red Walls, White Lies’ by Prof. Anshu Joshi, and ‘Your Rule Won’t Come’ by Rajiv Ranjan Prasad. These moments underscored the festival’s commitment to literary excellence.
Harivansh’s speech commenced with reverence for Vinod Kumar Shukla, lauding Chhattisgarh’s rich storytelling heritage and the event’s creative vision. Linking Kabir’s legacy from Kawardha to broader influences, he asserted literature’s world-changing might, invoking Gupt’s verses on its societal guidance. He touted India’s economic surge toward 2047 development goals, dominating in steel, rice, and innovation hubs.
CM Sai, beaming with pride, described Chhattisgarh as Ram’s nanihal and the festival as literature’s mega-confluence, welcoming 120+ writers nationwide. Likening independence to Samudra Manthan, he noted fighters’ sacrifices—many litterateurs themselves—highlighting Chaturvedi’s inspirational prison poetry and Sapre’s milestone short story. He saluted Pandey, Bakshi, and Muktibodh, pointing to cultural preservation via museums.
Pavilions dedicated to Shukla and peers symbolize Chhattisgarh’s literary renaissance. Sai stressed verse as rebellion against wrong, recalling Vajpayee’s motivational lines. Arun Sao hailed the Basant Panchami spectacle as a nod to the state’s literary giants, while Dr. Sharma framed literature as self-reliance’s cornerstone in India’s cultural minting.
Vibrant discussions followed on modern themes, with enthusiastic youth turnout signaling a bright future. The Raipur Literature Festival 2026 emerges as a beacon for intellectual exchange and heritage revival.