Eighth edition of Mangaluru Lit Fest to be held on January 10–11

Eighth edition of Mangaluru Lit Fest to be held on January 10–11

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 9, 2026: The eighth edition of the two-day Mangaluru Literature Festival, organised by the Bharath Foundation, will be held at the TMA Pai Convention Centre in Mangaluru on January 10 and 11.

Dedicated to promoting the “Idea of Bharat,” the festival will pay tribute to renowned novelist S L Bhyrappa through a special session titled “Literature Inspired by Bhyrappa.” The session will be conducted by Shatavadhani R. Ganesh and G. B. Harisha, Bharath Foundation Trustee Sunil Kulkarni said.

He said the Mangaluru Lit Fest Award 2026 will be conferred on Rajya Sabha member and historian Meenakshi Jain during the inaugural session, followed by a special interaction with her.

The festival will feature participation from eminent thinkers and diplomats, including former RAW chief Vikram Sood, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, and Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti.

Explaining the sessions, Kulkarni said Vikram Sood, Dr Sriparna Pathak—Professor of China Studies and Founding Director of the Centre for Northeast Asian Studies at OP Jindal Global University—will discuss “Global Power Games.” Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Dr Swasti Rao, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, and Dr Bidanda Chengappa will deliberate on India’s neighbourhood relations. Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti, Dr Sreeram Chaulia, and Vijit Kanahalli will explore “Indian Thought in a Globalised World.”

Under the art, media, and literature segment, Shatavadhani Dr R. Ganesh and Dr Ajakkala Girish Bhat will speak on “The Search for Values Through Literature.” Representing the media, Smita Prakash (Editorial Director, ANI), Padmaja Joshi, and Surabhi Hodigere will discuss how digital news is shaping the public sphere.

The session “Film and Thought” will feature P. Sheshadri, Malavika Avinash, and Pallavi Rao Karanth. Journalist Vishweshwar Bhat’s book “Badukulidavaru Kandante” will be discussed by Shrikant Shetty Karkala. Actress Ranjani Raghavan, Poornima Suresh (Su From So), and author Seema Burude will take part in a session on “Imagination, Narrative, and Camera.” A traditional puppetry (Bombeyata) performance by Ujjwala Krishnaraj will also be a major attraction.

Kulkarni added that the festival will include a Sanskrit session titled “Chinnara Angala” by Sanskriti Bharathi, Mangaluru, along with sessions on the Kodava language and the Tulu script. A book exhibition and sale will also be organised as part of the event.