Odisha: The fourth and concluding day of the 12th Kalinga Literature Festival (KLF) 2026 presented a rich confluence of literature, journalism, philosophy, poetry, cinema, and cultural discourse, bringing the four-day international literary festival to an intellectually satisfying conclusion in the Odisha capital.
The fourth day featured a diverse range of sessions spread across multiple venues, engaging audiences in conversations that bridged tradition with contemporary thought. Eminent writers, journalists, diplomats, poets, thinkers, artists, and cultural commentators discussed topics such as literature and governance, media and humor, poetry as resistance, the literary influence of cinema, and India’s civilizational stories.
The day began with engaging sessions such as “Administration on Odia Literature,” featuring Amrit Rituraj, Kiran Kumar Mohanty, Debprasad Das, and Chittaranjan Nayak; Satish Padmanabhan’s conversation with senior journalist Chitra Subramaniam, “Life and Times of a Journalist”; and a special musical-literary session, “Humara Geet Zamana Jayega,” by Nitesh Kumar.
Mid-morning discussions included “Hridaye Shabd Hridaye Ku Chhuye – Music and Literature,” featuring Bijay Malla, Panchanan Nayak, Shrikant Gautam, Sharat Nayak, and Ratikant Satpathy; “Nepali Literary Journeys Across South Asia,” featuring Dhirendra Premrishi, Kevora Bhattarai, Ranjana Niraula, Rupa Jha, and Suman Varsha, moderated by Virat Anupam; and a session on literature, theater, and cinema featuring Dr. Subodh Patnaik, Biyat Pragya Tripathi, and Dr. Gourahari Das. Acharya Prashant also delivered a session on Indian philosophy, tradition, and youth, and an inter-school competition.
A particular highlight of the day was “Poetry as Resistance, Fiction as Freedom,” featuring renowned writer and translator Daisy Rockwell in conversation with Kanishka Gupta. Other special sessions included K.K. Dash’s conversation with Shalini Modi on “The Eternal Sun: The Legacy of Surya Deva,” Pratik Dasgupta and Upasana Sarangi on “Forgotten Footprints: Untold Stories of Humanity’s Past,” and Prakash Chandra Das and other renowned personalities in an Odia literary discussion.
Post-lunch sessions included thought-provoking discussions such as Satish Padmanabhan’s conversation with Ambassador Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of Australia to India, on “Why India Matters: An Australian Perspective”; Sambit Tripathi’s conversation with Shubha Sarma on “Mess. Happily Single”; and in-depth discussions with a variety of writers, filmmakers, and critics on Odia literature, cinema, and contemporary society.
The evening featured long poetry sessions, discussions on Odia poetic traditions, and special literary performances, culminating in the final session that formally concluded KLF 2026.
Hundreds of speakers from India and abroad participated in KLF 2026.
Reflecting on the festival’s journey, KLF Founder and Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida said, “Kalinga Literary Festival has always stood for dialogue, diversity, and the dignity of ideas. The fourth day further strengthened our belief that literature is not just about books, but about society, conscience, and the courage to question and connect with cultures. Over 100 sessions were organized over the last three days.”
KLF Patron and CEO Ashok Kumar Bal said, “Over four days, KLF 2026 became a living bridge between languages, generations, and places. The final day captured the essence of this journey – where poetry met policy, art met activism, and tradition meaningfully connected with the future.”
With the participation of eminent personalities from India and South Asia and an overwhelming response from readers, students, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts, the 12th Kalinga Literary Festival once again cemented its place as one of India’s most trusted and inclusive platforms for literary and cultural exchange.
In its 12th edition, the Kalinga Literary Festival emerged as a robust platform for dialogue on literature, culture, public policy, history, translation, media, cinema, and civilizational thinking. The festival commenced in the presence of Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo; Sri Lankan Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage; Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh; Australian High Commissioner to India Ambassador Philip Green OAM; and a host of prominent parliamentarians, diplomats, writers, artists, and cultural leaders. Over four days, KLF 2026 featured hundreds of speakers from India and abroad, including award ceremonies, keynote talks, poetry sessions in multiple languages, book discussions, youth-focused dialogues, and in-depth conversations on South Asian literary and cultural events.
