THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 11, 2026

The 12th Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) 2026 concluded on Sunday with a day rich in intellectual depth and cultural resonance, bringing the four-day international literary celebration to a memorable close at the Mayfair Convention, Bhubaneswar. The fourth and final day unfolded as a vibrant confluence of literature, journalism, philosophy, poetry, cinema and civilisational discourse, reaffirming KLF’s stature as one of South Asia’s most credible and inclusive platforms for ideas.

Day four witnessed a wide spectrum of sessions across multiple venues, engaging audiences in conversations that seamlessly connected tradition with contemporary thought. Eminent writers, journalists, diplomats, poets, thinkers, artists and cultural commentators explored themes ranging from governance and literature to media, humour, poetry as resistance, cinema’s literary influence and India’s civilisational narratives.

The day opened with compelling sessions including “Prashasan O Odia Sahitya” featuring Amrit Ruturaj, Kiran Kumar Mohanty, Debaprasad Das and Chittaranjan Nayak; “Humour in Media: Rethinking Cartoons” with Bibhu Acharya in conversation with Chinmay Hota; and “Life and Times of a Journalist” where senior journalist Chitra Subramaniam spoke with Satish Padmanabhan. A special musical-literary presentation, “Hamara Geet Zamana Gayega” by Niteshwar Kumar, added a lyrical note to the morning.

Mid-morning discussions further deepened the intellectual engagement with sessions such as “Hrudae Shabda Hruda Ku Chhuen – Music and Literature” featuring Bijaya Mall, Paanchanan Nayak, Srikant Gautam, Sarat Nayak and Ratikanta Satpathy, alongside “Nepali Literary Journeys Across South Asia” with Dhirendra Premrishi, Kewora Bhattray, Ranjana Niraula, Rupa Jha and Suman Barsha, moderated by Birat Anupam. Conversations on literature, theatre and cinema featured Dr. Subodh Pattnaik, Biyat Pragnya Tripathy and Dr. Gourahari Das, while a session on Bharatiya Darshan, Parampara and Yuva by Acharya Prashant and an inter-school competition reflected the festival’s engagement with youth and philosophical inquiry.

One of the major highlights of the day was the session “Poetry as Resistance, Fiction as Freedom”, where acclaimed writer and translator Daisy Rockwell was in conversation with Kanishk Gupta. Other notable sessions included “The Eternal Sun: The Legacy of Surya Deva” with Shalini Modi in conversation with K. K. Dash, “Forgotten Footprints: Untold Stories of Humanity’s Past” with Prateek Dasgupta and Upasana Sarangi, and enriching Odia literary discussions featuring Prakash Chandra Das and other prominent voices.

Post-lunch sessions continued the momentum with thought-provoking dialogues such as “Why India Matters: An Australian Perspective” featuring Ambassador Philip Green OAM, Australia’s High Commissioner to India, in conversation with Satish Padmanabhan, and “Mrs. Happily Single” with Shubha Sarma in conversation with Sambit Tripathy. The day also saw in-depth engagements on Odia literature, cinema and contemporary society involving a wide range of writers, filmmakers and critics.

The evening was marked by extended poetry readings, reflections on Odia poetic traditions and special literary performances, culminating in the concluding session that formally marked the close of KLF 2026.

Reflecting on the journey of the festival, KLF Founder and Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida said, “Kalinga Literary Festival has always stood for dialogue, diversity, and dignity of ideas. Day 4 reaffirmed our belief that literature is not just about books, but about society, conscience, and the courage to question and connect across cultures. During last three days more than 100 sessions were organised.” KLF Patron and CEO Ashok Kumar Bal added, “Over four days, KLF 2026 became a living bridge between languages, generations, and geographies. The final day captured the essence of this journey – where poetry met policy, art met activism, and tradition engaged meaningfully with the future.”

With enthusiastic participation from readers, students, scholars and cultural enthusiasts, and the presence of leading voices from India and South Asia, the 12th Kalinga Literary Festival once again reaffirmed its role as a powerful forum for literary and cultural exchange. In its 12th edition, KLF emerged as a dynamic platform for dialogue across literature, culture, public policy, history, translation, media, cinema and civilisational thought, hosting hundreds of speakers from India and abroad.

From its opening in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha; Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister from Sri Lanka; Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; and Ambassador Philip Green OAM, to its closing reflections on plurality and inclusivity, KLF 2026 stood out for its emphasis on diverse voices, multilingual expression and respectful debate. Conducted across English, Hindi, Odia and several South Asian languages, the festival offered a rare space where ideas were explored with depth, empathy and intellectual rigour, reinforcing KLF’s position as one of South Asia’s most significant literary and cultural forums.