Sahitya Akademi will be organising “Festival of Letters 2025”

by Latest UpdatesTourism and Culture

Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier literary institution working under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, will be organizing its annual Festival of Letters at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi from 7th March 2025 to 12th March 2025. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Government of India, will inaugurate the festival. Sri Mahesh Dattani, eminent English Playwright will be the chief guest of the award ceremony in which the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Awards in 23 languages will be presented and Sri Upamanyu Chatterjee, eminent Writer and Scholar will deliver this year’s Samvatsar Lecture.

This is Asia’s Largest Literature Festival with about 700 writers from different parts of the country representing more than 50 languages participating in the festival that spans over 100 sessions. The theme of the festival will be Indian Literary Traditions and a National Seminar on the topic featuring eminent thinkers and writers will be organized during the last three days of the festival.

The festival will feature Young Writers, Women Writers, Dalit Writers, Writers from North East, Tribal writers and poets, LGBTQ writers and poets along with many eminent writers, translators, publishers, poets and distinguished personalities from different walks of life and Festival of Letters continue its status as India’s Most Inclusive Literature Festival since 1985.

A daylong programme for children, Spin A Tale, will be organized on the final day of the festival. Throughout the festival, there will be presentations, readings and discussions by eminent authors, poets, translators, publishers and critics on a wide range of subjects.

On three evenings, cultural performances by eminent artists like Rakesh Chaurasia (flute recital), Nalini Joshi (Hindustani Vocal) and Fouzia Dastango and Ritesh Yadav (Dastan-e-Mahabharata) will be organized. The Festival of Letters is open and free for all the literary lovers and those who wish to taste the flavour of Indian’s longest running Literature Festival.

The Energy and Curiosity Here Are Truly Inspiring”: Dr. Brian Greene Visits Taj Mahal

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“The passion for science and innovation that I have witnessed in India is unparalleled. The energy and curiosity among students here are truly inspiring,” said Dr. Brian Greene during his visit to the Taj Mahal. Praising India’s distinctive approach to education and scientific research, he emphasized the enthusiasm and ambition of Indian students to make a global impact.

“India is even more beautiful from the ground,” remarked former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, who has observed the country from space. Expressing his admiration for India’s aesthetic appeal, he lauded the exceptional craftsmanship of the Taj Mahal, calling it a testament to India’s rich legacy of engineering and design.

Dr. Brian Greene and Mike Massimino are currently visiting India, immersing themselves in the country’s rich scientific, educational, and cultural heritage. As part of their visit, they explored the iconic Taj Mahal, where they shared their admiration for India’s advancements in science, engineering, and craftsmanship.

Prof. Brian Greene, a renowned theoretical physicist, author, and professor of mathematics and physics at Columbia University, is celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to superstring theory, including the co-discovery of mirror symmetry and the discovery of spatial topology change.

Mike Massimino, a veteran of two NASA space missions, holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and currently serves as a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University. As the first astronaut to tweet from space, he has played a significant role in space exploration, particularly in the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions in 2002 and 2009.

Throughout his career, Massimino has been honored with multiple NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the American Astronautical Society’s Flight Achievement Award. He currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Space Programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.

Dr. Greene and Mr. Massimino’s visit to the Taj Mahal highlights India’s growing influence in the global scientific community. Their journey serves as a bridge between India’s historical excellence in craftsmanship and its rapidly advancing role in science and innovation on the world stage.

Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property

by Tourism and Culture

The Government is taking necessary steps towards the prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural property. Besides regular watch and ward staff, Private Security Guards and Central Industrial Security Force have been deployed as per requirement at monuments, sites and museums. Whenever any theft of antiquity is reported, FIR is lodged and ‘Look Out Notice’ is issued to law enforcement agencies including Custom Exit Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity and prevent its export. A Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has also been signed with USA on 26th July 2024 that will make easy retrieval of antiquities. 

Exhibitions and workshops are organized for public awareness. Recently, exhibitions titled, “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” was held during the 46th Session of World Heritage Committee Meeting at New Delhi and exhibition titled, ‘Journey beyond the Borders: Return of Treasures’ was organized in Chennai as a part of the workshop on ‘Antiquities Trafficking Prevention’. India was also represented during UNESCO Regional Capacity Building Workshop on ‘Fighting Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property’.

Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme

by Tourism and Culture

Ministry of Culture implements a Central Sector scheme by the name of ‘Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant)’. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to eligible cultural organizations engaged in performing arts activities like music, dance, theatre, folk art, etc. for imparting training to artists/shishyas by their respective Guru on regular basis in line with Guru–Shishya Parampara across the country. The details of scheme are given at Annexure – I.

As per the scheme guidelines of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant), the organizations seeking grants are required to submit their applications/proposals every year, for its renewal as well as fresh selection. The applications / proposals, complete in all respect are reviewed by the Expert Committee constituted by the Ministry for the purpose. The Expert Committee gives its recommendations taking the provisions of scheme guidelines, cultural performances / activities / resources of the organizations, justification for financial support, interaction with the Guru/representative of the organization, etc. into consideration.

The Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) has been encouraging artists in the field of dance, music and theatre by providing financial assistance to shishyas of age 3 year and above. Further, every year, along with Renewal category, applications are also invited from new organizations under ‘Fresh category’ to encourage budding artists in the field of performing arts including traditional art styles.

The state-wise details of number of Gurus and Shishyas provided with financial assistance including Uttar Pradesh and Haryana state under Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) scheme during last three years is given at Annexure – II.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Adopt a Heritage Scheme

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The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was first launched by the Ministry of Tourism in September 2017. A revamped version titled “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” was launched by the Ministry of Culture in September 2023. The program seeks to provide a framework for collaboration with private and public sector companies/NGOs/trusts/societies, etc. to   develop/provide amenities in Protected Monuments through their CSR funds to enhance the visitors’ experience and make the adopted monument visitor-friendly. The amenities are categorized into four broad categories: Hygiene, including toilets, drinking water, waste management, baby care rooms, etc.; Accessibility, including pathways, barrier-free access, battery operated vehicles, signage, landscaping, Wi-Fi facility, parking, etc.; Safety, including CCTV, lighting, illumination, cloakrooms, first aid kits, etc.; and Knowledge, including publications, souvenir kiosks, cultural/light and sound shows, AR/VR tools, cafeteria, etc.

The program is open for all protected monuments. Under this program, 21 MoUs have been executed between Archaeological Survey of India and partnering entities so far across various states. Details of the monuments adopted so far are attached in Annexure.

The adopting organisation/agency is not permitted to carry out any modification in the structure of the adopted monuments. They are only permitted to develop/provide defined amenities for visitors with the approval of the Archaeological Survey of India to enhance the visiting experience.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.