Renowned author Dr. SL Bhyrappa will inaugurate the seventh edition of the Mangaluru Literature Festival, organized by Bharat Foundation, on January 11-12 at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre. Sunil Kulkarni, a trustee of Bharat Foundation, announced that the festival will host 72 prominent speakers across 34 sessions.
The event will feature the launch of 14 books—six in English and eight in Kannada. Key speakers include Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, former Intelligence Bureau Chief Vikram Sood, historian Dr. Vikram Sampath, ex-diplomat Dileep Sinha, and Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai K. JNU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and geopolitical expert Dr. Claude Arpi are also among the participants.
This year’s Litfest Award will honor Dr. Balasubramanyam, President of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement. The festival introduces unique elements like ‘Harate Katte’ for open discussions, an experimental session for the blind, and a session celebrating the Gondaliga community led by Vittal Gondale.
Highlighting regional culture, there will be sessions on Tulu literature by Dr. Tukaram Poojary and Shashiraj Kavoor, along with workshops for children on the Tulu script. Sanskrit enthusiasts can join dedicated conversations in the language.
With a focus on inclusivity and heritage, the festival also offers book stalls and opportunities to engage with authors. Bharat Foundation trustee Shreeraj Gudi emphasized the rich diversity of the program, ensuring something for everyone.
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