IIT-K all set to host a grand literary festival celebrating the phenomenal life & works of Shivani

A feast for bibliophiles, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is hosting a first-of-its-kind literary festival, Akshar, from October 14-16. The three-day IIT-K Literary Festival would also exhibit a grand book fair with eminent publishers, and host a kavi sammelan.

IIT-K defines the affair as "an intellectually vibrant event that would help them contemplate, discuss and reflect on language, literature and life."

Jointly organised by the Shivani Centre for the Nurture and Re-Integration of Hindi & Other Indian Languages, Rajbhasha Prakoshth, an audio platform Gaatha, and Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur, the fest is all set to celebrate the phenomenal life and works of distinguished Hindi writer Gaura Pant, better known by her pen name 'Shivani'.

Gaura Pant 'Shivani' engineered the women's writing in India and was one of the foremost Indian writers to centre her work around women, entirely, with puissant female protagonists. A Padm Shri awardee, Shivani is an emotion for the litterateurs. She has written some 40 novels, numerous short stories, travelogues, and essays. Some of her seminal contributions to the literature of the country and the women's movement include Chaudah Phere, Lal Haveli, Krishnakali, Smashan Champa, Bharavi, Apradhini, and so on. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and her novels are still appreciated by book lovers throughout the world.

At IIT-K Literary Festival, besides a panel discussion on Shivani's literary works, a story recital of the preeminent author's popular stories will also take place. It will be implemented by Katharang - A Storytelling Group and 'Apradhini' by 'Nisha' - a Theatre Group.

As per the official release, the event will feature esteemed literary personalities like Dr Mrinal Pande, Dr Pushpesh Pant, Professor Shambhunath Tiwari, and renowned performers and poets like Veeru Sonker, Dr Naresh Saxena, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Praveen Shukla, Shlesh Gautam.

This festival would involve poets and writers of regional languages sharing their work and exchanging ideas about literature and culture with talks, panel discussions, book signings and book readings being organized over the course of the festival. Workshops in creative writing and contests would also be a part of the festival.

A few of the events include a panel discussion on "Aaj ke Daur Mein Sahitya ki Praasangikta", open mics, story recitals and poetry discussions, amidst others, and will take place on the premises.

A vibrant celebration of the literature of the land, the purpose of the fest is to make people acquainted with the rich Hindi literature that India carries in its blood and familiarise attendants with Gaura Pant Shivani's life.