Actor Akhilendra Mishra Reflects on Literature, Chitrotsav Wins Children’s Hearts on Day 4 of Gomti Book Festival
Lucknow: The 4th Gomti Book Festival at the University of Lucknow brought together art, mindfulness, literature and performance in equal measure. Crowds of all ages continued to throng the bookstalls, browsing through treasures in every genre and language, while eagerly participating in the day’s vibrant sessions. In Lekhakganj, festival-goers engaged in conversation with celebrated writer Sheela Rohekar, while the evening added a dramatic flair with actor Akhilendra Mishra sharing insights from his creative journey.
Chitrotsav wins children’s hearts at Gomti Book Festival
The two-day art festival ‘Chitrotsav – Draw, Doodle, Discover’, organised by NBT-India in collaboration with Team Doodle at the Children’s Pavilion of the ongoing Gomti Book Festival 2025 saw another fun filled morning with schoolchildren of Lucknow, learning a variety of unique artforms.
The day began with a class on Pop Art Selfie by Suvidha Mistry, where children learned to create vivid portraits using a continuous single-line stroke without lifting their pens and coloured their creations with vibrant pop hues. The second session attempted to bring the children close to the calmness of nature. Titled ‘Meditative Treescapes’, the session moderator Vandana Bist introduced children to the calming practice of drawing tree line art and filling them with intricate patterns, an exercise which sought calmness through the practice of repetition.
The festival’s art-filled journey concluded with an engaging Doodle Art Competition led by Rima Kaushik, where Children were asked to creatively weave their names into doodle patterns, producing unique artworks that displayed the best of the Chitrotsav. The top 16 participants were awarded certificates and books by NBT-India.
Literature, Lineage and Language Take Center Stage
Lekhakganj at the Gomti Book Festival buzzed with literary exchanges, from digital literature to travelogues, along with special sessions. Well-known storytellers and novelists Vandana Raag and Tasneem Khan, along with Lalit Kumar, the founder of Kavita Kosh, delved deep into the world of Digi Literature. The session was moderated by Prof. Rajesh Kumar, former director of the National Open School. A deep discussion was held on the digital literature being published in online and web magazines and creative experiments.
NBT’s Yogita Yadav had a conversation with Sheela Rohekar, a Jewish Hindi author who is known for her novels Taviz, Miss Samuel: Ek Yahoodi Gatha and Pallipaar. “Literature always carries with it the political events of history. Without them, your work lacks significance. You don’t just describe events; you also need to reflect on their impact on the characters and society,” she said.
The 83-year-old author also spoke about her Jewish lineage reflecting in her writings. “I have experienced the humiliation and hardship that the Jewish community has faced, and I have also witnessed disappointments. The presence of my Jewish lineage in my literature is not limited to mere documentation. Tragedies are different for every individual,” she reflected.
Sharing her advice for young writers, she urged them to read more to gain command over the language. “I would simply advise you to read a lot of good books, read slowly, absorb them and contemplate. I used to read in the moonlight. It’s through that dedication that true command on language can be achieved,” she remarked.
The third session, titled ‘Safar Ki Dhoop-Chhaon’, featured well-known travelogue writers documenting their journeys across India and the world. They spoke about their experiences, the challenges they faced on their travels, and the safety measures they adopted.
Cinema, actor and literature: Akhilendra Mishra
A veteran actor in Indian cinema and theatre, Akhilendra Mishra breathed life into every character,, whether it’s Chandrashekhar Azad or the ruthless character “Kroor Singh” from “Chandrakanta.” In a special conversation at the Gomti Book Festival, he discussed his books “Abhinaya, Abhineta Aur Adhyatam,” “Akhilamrit,” and “Atmotthanam.”
“These books were written while I was at home during the Covid pandemic. I used to wake up at 3 AM and write. These poems came to me and they cover a wide range of topics. They touch on spirituality, life, and the environment,” he said, while emphasising the importance of speaking and reading Hindi.
“Whether it’s drama or writing, it’s a spiritual journey. On the stage, he no longer exists, his fate has changed. Now, what is seen on stage is not him, but his character,” he added. Akhilendra Mishra also recited his poem “Natak” for the audience and hailed ‘Natya Shastra’ as the most important text for actors today.
In the evening, the stage came alive with a grand cultural showcase by artists of Lucknow, featuring graceful Kathak performances, soul-stirring poetry recitations, and vibrant music and dance presentations by students of Lucknow University and MUIT Lucknow. The evening also featured a stirring poetry rendition by Dr. Krishna Singh, who recited his evocative composition “Aayo Re Suraj.”
