Prelude to Chhattisgarh Sahitya Utsav Held in New Delhi, Focus on Literature Beyond Commercialisation

The Chhattisgarh government previews the Raipur Sahitya Utsav with a focus on serious literary discourse and a glocal approach, aiming to balance global voices with local writers. It stresses depth, curatorship, and minimal commercialisation, while honouring Vinod Kumar Shukla and highlighting children’s literature and traditional storytelling.

Ahead of the proposed Chhattisgarh Sahitya Utsav to be held in Nava Raipur in January 2026, the Chhattisgarh government organised a literary prelude programme titled "Aadi Se Anant Tak" at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.

The programme featured two major discussion sessions-"Sahitya Utsav Mein Kitna Sahitya" (How Much Literature Is There in a Literature Festival) and "Vinod Kumar Shukla Ka Na Hona", a remembrance session dedicated to the celebrated writer Vinod Kumar Shukla. Eminent writers, poets, critics and journalists from across the country participated in the deliberations.

Speaking during the session on the role of literature in literature festivals, senior journalist and writer Anant Vijay said that such festivals would become more meaningful if they were freed from excessive commercialisation. He observed that inviting celebrities with little connection to literature merely for publicity weakens the core objective of literary gatherings. He also praised Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai for honouring litterateur Vinod Kumar Shukla beyond ideological boundaries, calling it a rare and commendable gesture.

Journalist and writer Pratap Raghuvanshi, commenting on changing literary trends, said that although contemporary writing has seen a shift towards OTT-style content, there are still many writers who continue to follow traditional, content-rich literary styles and enjoy a strong readership.

Writer Anil Joshi suggested that local writers should be given greater representation at literature festivals. Responding to this, Anant Vijay said that the upcoming three-day Sahitya Utsav in Raipur would follow a "glocal" approach, bringing together global literary voices along with renowned and emerging writers from Chhattisgarh, with the emphasis firmly on serious literary discourse rather than commercial appeal.

Anant Vijay further noted that while literary expression and sensibilities evolve with time, the depth of literature must remain intact. He stressed the need to recognise depth in contemporary writing and ensure that festival sessions are content-driven and thoughtfully curated so that audiences can genuinely connect with them.

He assured that the Raipur Sahitya Utsav would remain free from commercial interests. Even if personalities from the film industry were invited, they would share the stage with literary figures to ensure that literature remained central to the discussion. Criticising the growing "selfie culture," he said that inviting film personalities merely to draw crowds dilutes the essence of literature, which leaves a lasting impact only through depth and substance.

During the remembrance session on Vinod Kumar Shukla, writer Anil Joshi described Shukla's writing as akin to abstract painting, which requires readers to pause, observe and feel in order to grasp its deeper meaning.

Writer and poet Dr Sachchidanand Joshi recalled his interactions with Shukla, describing him as a towering literary figure who was remarkably simple, warm and unpretentious. He said these qualities were clearly reflected in Shukla's writing as well.

President of the Chhattisgarh Sahitya Academy, Shashank Sharma, said that young readers were deeply attracted to Vinod Kumar Shukla and that his home was always frequented by young visitors. Highlighting Shukla's contribution to children's literature, Sharma recalled that when asked about his shift towards writing for children, Shukla had said he felt a responsibility towards the younger generation and wanted to do justice to them.

Literary critic and poet Alka Joshi said that Vinod Kumar Shukla's greatest strength lay in his ability to find beauty in ordinary, everyday situations. Referring to "Naukar Ki Kameez", she noted how Shukla expressed resistance to authority with remarkable simplicity. His works often portrayed the "invisible man"-a figure struggling against erasure.

She added that whether in "Naukar Ki Kameez" or "Ek Deewar Mein Khidki Rehti Hai", Shukla's characters dream of extraordinary possibilities despite limited circumstances. The gradual vividness of his narratives draws readers deeply into the story, which, she said, formed the foundation of his enduring literary success.