The Kolkata Literary Meet 2025

The Kolkata Literary Meet 2025, held at the Horticulture Garden in Alipore, was a resounding success. It was a 6-day long event with each day having its own specialty and elements.

On Day 1, our team of six volunteers participated in the event, which commenced with a briefing on our roles. The inauguration ceremony featured Guest of Honour Bernardine Evaristo, acclaimed Anglo-Nigerian writer, and 2019 Booker Prize winner. The highlight of the day was a conversation between renowned author Francesc Miralles and Ruchira Das on his book ‘Ikigai’, followed by a book signing session. Additionally, we also had the opportunity to interview Subodh Sarkar, gaining valuable insights into his work. Furthermore, our team conducted an exclusive interview with Francesc Miralles, delving deeper into his thoughts and experiences. Overall, the event promoted cultural exchange, intellectual discourse, and a deeper appreciation for literature.

Day 2 of the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025 was a day of enriching experiences, with a diverse range of sessions held across two venues, The Grand Lawns and The HSBC Piazza at The Grand Lawns, our team attended engaging sessions, including a conversation between Sabana Azmi and Rajat Kapoor on the impact of filmmakers on the country’s cinema, moderated by Priyanka Roy. We also had the privilege of interviewing Sabana Azmi and gaining valuable insights into her experiences. Other notable sessions included Angela Saini’s discussion on “How Men Can Rule the World” with Sumona Chakraborty, Kanan Gill’s witty conversation about his debut book “Acts of God” with Ankita Mukherji, and Abraham Verghese’s reflections on the influences that shaped his writing. The highlight of the day was Sir Venki Ramakrishnan’s discussion on his book,   “Why We Die,” exploring the science and philosophy of human mortality, followed by an exclusive interview with our team. We also attended a session by Dayanita Singh, who spoke about her book “The Zakir Hussain Maquette.” Throughout the day, our volunteers worked tirelessly, coordinating with event managers to ensure the smooth execution of the program. Their dedication and hard work were instrumental in making the event a success. The day concluded with a mesmerizing musical performance, “Bulleh Shah’s Sufiyana,” by Harpreet, based on Bulleh Shah’s Sufi lyrics. Overall, Day 2 of the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025 was a resounding success, offering a unique opportunity for literary enthusiasts to engage with acclaimed authors and thinkers.

Day 3 of the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025 was a fitting culmination to the three-day extravaganza, with engaging sessions held across both The Grand Lawns and The HSBC Piazza. The day’s programming was diverse and captivating, featuring esteemed authors and thinkers, including Deepa Malik, Bernardine Evaristo, Manu S. Pillai, Anupam Roy, and Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, among others. Our volunteers played a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless execution of the event, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, coordination, and dedication. Their efforts, coupled with meticulous planning and management, resulted in a truly enriching experience for attendees. Notably, our team took the opportunity to conduct exclusive interviews with Manu S. Pillai and Anupam Roy, gaining valuable insights into their works and creative processes. Throughout the day, our team also actively engaged with authors, participating in book signing sessions and taking photographs. The day concluded with a theatrical performance, “Samuho Atho Hidimba Kotha”, bringing the curtains down on the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025. Overall, the event was a resounding success, showcasing the power of literature to inspire, educate, and unite people.

Day 4 of the Coal India Kolkata Literary Meet was nothing short of spectacular! The day began with an engaging session featuring renowned personalities like Rajit Kapur, Gaurav Chakraborty, Agnijit Sen, and Srijit Mukherjee, discussing the intriguing topic “Saranindu @125: Byomkesh in Bengal and Beyond.” This session turned out to be the highlight of the day, drawing literary enthusiasts into the captivating world of Byomkesh Bakshi.

Adding to the excitement, BESC student volunteers had the opportunity to interact with and interview Gaurav Chakraborty and Agnijit Sen. Agnijit even dropped hints about some exciting future projects with Mirchi Bangla, leaving everyone curious and eager for more!

The event wasn’t just limited to Indian authors and artists; it also welcomed international authors and representatives from prestigious publishing houses like Penguin.

The day was packed with insightful sessions and vibrant interactions, with student volunteers interviewing celebrated personalities like Rajit Kapur, Ruchir Joshi, Novoneel Chakraborty, Srijato Mukherjee, and Claire Betita De Guzman. Truly, it was a day brimming with literary inspiration and creative exchanges!

Day 5 of the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025 was a day of captivating sessions and enlightening discussions. Devdutt Pattnaik discussed his new book “_Sati Savitri_” with Shruti Mohta, setting the tone for the day. The session “He Said, She Said” was a huge success, featuring Anuja Chauhan, Durjay Dutta, Navoneel Chakraborty, and Swati Hedge. Durjay Dutta’s presence enthralled the crowd, making this session unforgettable.

Other notable sessions included Amol Palekar and Sandhya Gokhale’s discussion on “VIEWFINDER”, Ananda Lal’s exploration of a rare English play, and Dan Morrison’s discussion on “The Poisoner of Bengal”. We conducted exclusive interviews with Anuja Chauhan, Durjay Dutta, and Swati Hedge, gaining valuable insights into their works. Day 5 was a resounding success, offering unique perspectives and memorable experiences.

Day 6 of the Kolkata Literary Meet 2025 concluded on a high note with a diverse range of engaging sessions. The day commenced with “Putul Nacher Iti Kotha”, a discussion on the film adaptation of Manik Bandyopadhyay’s classic, featuring Abir Chatterjee, Jaya Ahsan, and Dhritiman Chatterjee.

Other notable sessions included Anuja Chauhan’s discussion with her daughter Nayantara Violet Alva on “The Writing Gene”, exploring inheritance and influence in families. Esther Duflo’s conversation on “Poor Economics for Kids” and Durjay Dutta’s session on his new book “World’s Best Ex-girlfriend” were also highly appreciated.

The day ended with Esther Duflo’s thought-provoking session on “Climate Change and the Moral Debt”, followed by a mesmerizing musical performance by Pandit Omkar Dadarkar, presented by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. The finale was a fitting tribute to the event’s success, leaving a lasting impression on the attendees.

In a nutshell, the Coal India Kolkata Literary meet 2025 was not just an incredible experience but also an insightful and meaningful one.

A report by student volunteers:
Diya Das
Suvam Bardhan
Sraddha Singh