LitFest (Literature Festival) was conducted at UEM JAIPUR on 8th and 9th March, 2025, as a celebration of Literature, Storytelling, and Cultural Dialogues in collaboration with Voices. Top poets and storytellers of the country came together, forming an esteemed gathering of literary minds, scholars, and creative voices for an enriching day of discussions, readings, and reflections on its 1st day.
The theme of the event was “A Journey from Puranas to New Stories,” capturing the essence of bridging classical narratives with contemporary storytelling.
The dignitaries present in the event and details of the event were:-
– Prof. Rajul Bhargava, Founder and Editor of Voices (shared her opening remarks, emphasising the evolving landscape of literature)
– Prof. Sudhi Rajiv, Vice Chancellor, Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Jaipur (spoke on “Making the World Women Fit”, highlighting gender narratives and empowerment in literature)
Poetry, Conversations, and Storytelling:-
– Meenakshi Bharat (Writer, Translater & Reviewer) and Neha Bansal (Poet & Writer) were in conversation with Dr. Sudha Rai (Former Professor & Dean, Department of English, University of Rajasthan) (exploring Troubled Testimonies & Nostalgic Reminiscences, delving into memory, trauma, and literature).
– Rachna Singh (Writer) and Tabeenah Anjum (Author and Journalist) engaged with Dr. Mini Nanda (Former Professor & Head, Department of English, University of Rajasthan) (on Myriad Musings and Pictorial Storytelling, highlighting the visual and textual interplay in storytelling).
– Ashutosh Singh (Writer and Translater) discussed with Dr. Jaishree Bhargava (Educational Leader, Consultant – Digantar Vidyalaya) (on Mythopoesis & Mythology Revisited, reinterpreting ancient myths in modern contexts).
– Misna Chanu (Writer, Poet and Translater) discussed with Dr. Urmil Talwar (Former Professor and Joint Director, RUSA) (sharing insights on Flames of Distant Mountains, exploring themes of displacement, identity, and belonging).
– The final session featured Ronojoy Sircar (Writer, Musician and Filmmaker) discussing with Dr. Maheeka Nanda (Educator & Researcher) (in an insightful discussion on Ways of Seeing—Reseeing, encouraging new perspectives on literature and art).
Honoring Literary Excellence:-
The day concluded with the Literary Excellence Icon Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of literature.
