The third edition of Unmesha – International Literature Festival, Asia’s largest and most inclusive international literature festival, was held at the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre, Patna, Bihar.
Third Edition of ‘Unmesha
- Organisers: Sahitya Akademi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Bihar.
- Participation: Over 550 eminent writers, poets, scholars, translators, publishers, and cultural personalities from India and abroad, representing 100+ languages.
- International Dimension: Writers from 15 countries participated, marking Unmesha as a global platform for literary and cultural exchange.
Festival Significance
- Meaning of “Unmesha” → Awakening / unfolding of ideas and perspectives.
- Promotes cross-cultural dialogue, celebrating diversity in thought, languages, and traditions.
- Reflects the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”, uniting India through literature and cultural dialogue.
Structure of the Festival
- Duration: 4 days.
- Sessions: 90+ sessions on diverse literary, social, cultural, and political themes.
- Themes Covered:
- Dharma Literature
- Postmodern Indian Literature & Cinema
- Promotion of Indian Literature in foreign languages
- Machine Translation of Classical Indian Literature
- Role of Literature in National Education Policy (NEP 2020)
- Dalit Literature in Social Progress
- Indian Literary Feminism
- Tribal Communities – Migration & Identity Crisis
- Bhakti Literature
- Historical Fiction
- LGBTQ Writers’ Meet & Tribal Writers’ Meet
- Authors, Publishers & Copyright Issues
- Cultural Events: Evening performances including a show by Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej.
- Accessibility: Entry free for the public.
Associated Initiative
Gyan Bharatam Project (Ministry of Culture):
- Aims to survey, digitize, conserve, and provide access to India’s extensive manuscript heritage.
- Ensures preservation of ancient knowledge systems.
Previous Editions
- 1st Edition (2022): Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
- 2nd Edition (2023): Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- 3rd Edition (2025): Patna, Bihar.
About Sahitya Akademi
- Established in 1954 by the Government of India.
- India’s National Academy of Letters, headquartered in New Delhi.
- Functions:
- Promotes Indian literature in 24 Indian languages recognised in its constitution, plus English.
- Awards the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, Yuva Puraskar, and Bal Sahitya Puraskar.
- Publishes books, journals, translations, and organises literary events globally.
About Patna, Bihar (Host City)
- Patna (ancient Pataliputra): One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
- Historical Importance: Capital of the Magadha Empire, Maurya Empire, and Gupta Empire.
- Samrat Ashok Convention Centre: A state-of-the-art venue for national & international conferences.
Bihar’s Spiritual & Historical Significance
- Bodh Gaya: Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
- Vaishali: Birthplace of Lord Mahavira; also one of the earliest known republics (democratic governance ~6th century BCE).
- Nalanda & Vikramshila Universities: Ancient global centres of knowledge attracting scholars from China, Korea, Tibet, and Central Asia.
- Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Mahatma Gandhi’s first satyagraha in India against indigo planters.
Bihar’s Leaders in National History
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad – First President of India.
- Jayaprakash Narayan (JP): Led the “Total Revolution” movement (1970s).
- Karpoori Thakur: Social justice leader; recently awarded Bharat Ratna (2024).
Cultural Heritage of Bihar
- Mithila Painting (Madhubani Art): UNESCO-recognised folk art form.
- Bidesia Theatre: Folk theatre highlighting social issues.
- Chhath Puja: Unique festival of sun worship, honouring both the rising and setting Sun
Sahitya Akademi
- India’s National Academy of Letters (est. 1954).
- HQ: New Delhi.
- Autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture.
- Confers Sahitya Akademi Awards in 24 languages.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
- Launched: 2015, by PM Modi.
- Aim: Cultural integration & unity through state-to-state partnerships.