Prayagraj,
05 March (HS): The third day of the
five-day grand event ‘Sahitya Kumbh 2025’ was inaugurated at the Gandhi
Auditorium of Hindustani Academy. This event is jointly organized by Naya
Parimal, Hindustani Academy, and the Department of Hindi, University of
Allahabad, in memory of Dr. Kanhaiya Singh. The day’s proceedings began with
the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a tribute to the statue of
Goddess Saraswati and a floral tribute to Dr. Kanhaiya Singh’s portrait. The
opening session witnessed the welcoming of the dignitaries on stage with bouquets,
traditional shawls, and mementos presented by Prof. Amrendra Tripathi and Dr.
Shiv Kumar Yadav.
The
first session focused on the theme ‘Mahakumbh Prayagraj: A Confluence of
Literature and Culture’. Dr. Vijay Ravidas, Assistant Professor at the University
of Allahabad, highlighted the deep connection between the Mahakumbh and Indian
folk life, emphasizing the importance of river conservation, pollution control,
and crowd management during the event. Prof. Pradeep Singh from Delhi
University discussed the philosophy of Advaita, shedding light on the Indian
culture’s essence of coexistence and unity. He remarked that the Kumbh
symbolizes how different identities converge toward unity, reflecting India’s
inclusive and harmonizing culture.
Dr.
Satyendra Pratap explained the three types of pilgrimage – Sthavar, Jangam, and
Manas – and described the Mahakumbh as a celebration of Sanatan traditions and
folk culture.
In
his presidential address, Prof. Pramod Tiwari from the Open University, New
Delhi, urged people to reconnect with rivers and nature. He emphasized the role
of motherhood and fluidity, stating that fluidity can overcome the greatest
obstacles, while rigidity is temporary.
The
second session focused on the theme ‘Digital Era and Hindi Literature’. Dr.
Sudip Tirkey discussed how digital platforms have expanded the reach of
literature and bridged the gap between writers and readers.
Dr.
Ranjit Singh highlighted that literature and music have the power to untangle
the complexities of the human mind, while Dr. Amitesh Kumar explained that
digitalization has changed the role of editors, allowing writers to reach
audiences directly through social media.
In
his presidential remarks, Prof. Yogendra Pratap Singh commented that it is
still too early to definitively say whether digital literature can be
considered true literature. The program concluded with a vote of thanks
delivered by Vinmrasen Singh, Secretary of Naya Parimal.
Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi
