Symbiosis Literary Festival 2023: Success in Fostering Diverse Views and Intellectual Conversation

The 4th Symbiosis Literary Festival was a huge success, thanks to the hard work and organisation of the Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA), a prestigious division of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU), which took place on December 16–17, 2023. Prominent speakers at this literary feast included TV journalist Rajat Sharma, scriptwriter Javed Akhtar, editor of Loksatta Girish Kuber, and CEO and co-founder of Newslaundry, Abhinandan Sekhri.

An initial session full of intellectual brilliance opened the festival. Renowned Indian scientist Prof. (Dr.) Raghunath A. Mashelkar gave the keynote speech, which was followed by remarks from SIU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman and Pro-Chancellor Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar. The festival's goal was articulated by SSLA Director Dr. Shweta Sinha Deshpande, who emphasized the importance of creating a forum for thought-provoking dialogue.

Speaking thoughtfully with Dr. Suchetana Banerjee, Assistant Professor at SSLA, Javed Akhtar explained the significance of cultural discourse in allowing for a range of viewpoints. Throughout carefully chosen talks covering subjects including "Traditional Knowledge and Heritage Diplomacy," "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Language," and a perceptive biography examination of Usha Uthup, the festival's dedication to varied viewpoints was evident.

An introspective discussion on "Regional Media and Public Opinion," which examined how Hindi news media shapes public opinion in India, capped up the event. A fascinating conversation took place during this session between Rajat Sharma and Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan. With thanks, Drs. Yeravdekar and Sinha Deshpande said goodbye to the festival and announced the much-anticipated in-person SLF in 2024.