Robin S. Ngangom Honoured as Toshali Literature Festival Concludes in Bhubaneswar
Udaygiri Foundation celebrates literary excellence in Bhubaneswar gathering
Bhubaneswar: Literary enthusiasts, scholars, and poets gathered in the Temple City as the 4th edition of the Toshali Literature Festival came to a vibrant close yesterday. Organized by the Udaygiri Foundation, the two-day event held at Ranch Resort on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar served as a melting pot for diverse literary voices and critical dialogue.
Celebrating Poetic Excellence
One of the major highlights of the event was the presentation of the prestigious Jayanta Mahapatra National Award for Literature 2026. This year, the honour was bestowed upon eminent poet Robin S. Ngangom. He was recognized for his exceptional and enduring contributions to Indian English poetry.
Festival Director Paresh Kumar Patnaik opened the proceedings by welcoming a galaxy of dignitaries, including literary stalwarts Dr. Pratibha Ray, Haraprasad Das, and Dr. K.V. Dominic. Jay Jagadev, President of the Udaygiri Foundation, reiterated the organization's mission to propel Odia literature onto both national and international stages.
Thought-Provoking Sessions
Keynote speaker Haraprasad Das challenged the audience to look inward, urging writers to step away from Western-centric paradigms and instead embrace India’s rich indigenous storytelling traditions. Chief Guest Dr. Pratibha Ray added depth to the discourse, defining literature as a reflection of life itself. She emphasized the urgent need to amplify the voices of women and marginalized communities through writing.
Curated by noted poet Pradeep Biswal, the festival featured engaging sessions that bridged traditional literature with modern challenges. Topics ranged from "Climate Change and Literature" to the timely debate of "Poet’s Poetry versus AI Poetry." Over 150 participants from across the country engaged in these discussions, alongside multilingual poetry readings.
Launches and Tributes
Several new books were released during the festival, including Unbridled by Divya K. Unni and Architects of Odisha by Sambit Dash. A special screening of a movie documenting the life of the late literary legend Jayanta Mahapatra added an emotional touch to the second day.
Ms. Tanya Mallick anchored the event, which concluded with a pledge to continue fostering meaningful literary dialogue in Odisha.
