Lucknow: Koshala Literature festival 2024 kicked off its third edition with great enthusiasm, bringing a vibrant mix of literature, culture and storytelling. Held in the heart of Lucknow, the festival celebrates the rich heritage of the region while connecting contemporary audiences to the transformative power of words and ideas. The first day witnessed an exceptional lineup that grew in attendance and energy, reflecting the festival’s wide appeal.
The day began with historian and author Ira Mukhoty exploring the fascinating rise and fall of Awadh during the eighteenth century.
In conversation with Eric Chopra, Mukhoty delved into the power dynamics of the Mughal Empire, the British and French East India Companies, and the influential Nawabs and Begums of the region. Kicking off with an interspersed narrative of Awadh’s transformation and cultural legacy, TCA Raghavan followed with a captivating discussion on lesser-known freedom fighters featured in the book “In Circles of Freedom”. In conversation with Jayant Krishna, Raghavan illuminated the lives of giants like Asaf Ali Khan and Sarojini Naidu, offering new perspectives on their contribution to India’s freedom.
Tributes paid to eminent poets like Subhada Kumari Chauhan, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Harish Rai Bachchan and Gopaldas Niranjan
The day’s events culminated in a nostalgic and powerful Retro Kavi Sammelan, directed by Gopal Sinha. Contemporary poets Rupalichandra, Yogesh Shukla, Amit Sinha and others delved into the past and present through the timeless art of poetry.
Renowned writer and poet Nilotpal Mrinal captivated the audience with his thought-provoking storytelling and poetry, demonstrating his unique ability to weave contemporary socio-political issues into compelling narratives. Ajay Jain along with Sumati Mishra explored Sahir Ludhianvi’s timeless poetry in an intimate way, enriched by musical performances rich with themes of love, social justice and the human spirit.
The afternoon continued with a heartfelt session in which Ila Arun shared excerpts from her autobiography ‘Parde Ke Peechhe’ with co-author Anjula Bedi. The candid conversation revealed Arun’s journey from Rajasthani folk music to Bollywood stardom, providing a rare glimpse of her life behind the scenes. Concluding the day, historian Sanjeev Sanyal gave a riveting account of India’s revolutionary freedom fighters, including Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Vinayak Savarkar. In conversation with Shailvi Sharda, Sanyal shared thrilling narratives of armed resistance and espionage that shaped India’s freedom struggle, as documented in his latest work Kranti.
Day one of Koshla Sahitya Mahotsav 2024 set a high standard, leaving the attendees excited for the session to come. The growing audience highlighted the festival’s role as a dynamic platform for storytelling, culture and dialogue.
The festival continues over the next two days, promising an even more enriching experience for all participants. The Sahitya Mahotsav is open and registration can be completed on our website.
The Koshala Literature Festival 2024 kicked off its third edition with great enthusiasm, bringing together a vibrant mix of literature, culture and storytelling. Held in the heart of Lucknow, the festival celebrates the region’s rich heritage while connecting contemporary audiences to the transformative power of words and ideas. The first day saw an exceptional series of sessions, with attendance and energy soaring, reflecting the festival’s wide appeal. The day began with historian and author Ira Mukhoty exploring the fascinating rise and fall of Awadh during the eighteenth century. In conversation with Eric Chopra, Mukhoty shed light on the power struggles of the Mughal Empire, the British and French East India Companies, and the influential Nawabs and Begums of the region, and offered an insightful account of Awadh’s transformation and cultural legacy. TCA Raghavan held an interesting discussion on lesser-known freedom fighters featured in his book Circles of Freedom. In conversation with Jayant Krishna, Raghavan shed light on the lives of figures such as Asaf Ali and Sarojini Naidu, and offered new perspectives on their contribution to India’s independence.
Renowned author and poet Niloptal Mrinal enthralled the audience with his thought-provoking storytelling and poetry, showcasing his unique ability to weave contemporary socio-political issues into compelling narratives. Ajay Jain along with Sumati Mishra offered an intimate exploration of Sahir Ludhianvi’s timeless poetry, enriched with musical renditions that celebrated themes of love, social justice and human emotions. A heartfelt session continued in the afternoon with Ila Arun, joined by co-author Anjula Bedi, sharing insights from her autobiography Behind the Scenes. The candid conversation revealed Arun’s journey from Rajasthani folk music to Bollywood stardom, giving a rare glimpse into his life behind the scenes. Concluding the day, historian Sanjeev Sanyal spoke about India’s revolutionary freedom fighters, including Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Vinayak Savarkar presented an interesting account of the TA fighters. In conversation with Shailvi Sharda, Sanyal shared thrilling stories of armed resistance and espionage that shaped India’s freedom struggle, as recorded in his latest work Revolutionaries. The day’s events culminated in a nostalgic and powerful retro kavi sammelan directed by Gopal Sinha, which paid tribute to renowned poets such as Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Gopal Das Neeraj. Contemporary poets Rupalichandra, Yogi Yogesh Shukla, Amit Sinha and others presented soulful poems, blending the past and the present through the eternal art of poetry.
The first day of Koshla Sahitya Mahotsav 2024 set a high standard, leaving the attendees inspired and eager for the sessions to come. The growing audience highlighted the festival’s role as a dynamic platform for storytelling, culture and dialogue. The festival will continue for the next two days, promising an even richer experience for all participants. Entry to this literary festival is free and registration can be completed on our website. For media inquiries:
