The 5th edition of Chennai LitFest 2025 unfolded not merely as a literary gathering, but as a manthan — a profound churning of ideas rooted in Bharatiyata, civilisational consciousness, and cultural pride. Inaugurated with the traditional Deepa Prajwalanam at Shri Mohanmull Chordia Indoor Stadium, AM Jain College, Chennai, the festival declared its intent with clarity: to reclaim and reaffirm Bharat’s indigenous narratives in literature, thought, and public discourse.
The theme for this year, “Jambudweepe – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, echoes the soul of our civilisational ethos. Lt. Gen. Karanbir Singh Brar, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, delivered a stirring keynote that called upon scholars and youth to reconstruct the Bharat-centric narrative that has long been displaced. Recounting the bravery of Indian soldiers during the World Wars—valour that remains under-acknowledged—he praised the Lit Fest for being a platform of critical reflection where tradition meets new India.
Chennai Lit Fest 2025 begins with a grand lamp-lighting ceremony!
Chief Guest Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar, PVSM, AVSM, underscores the role of armed forces in shaping national thought.
A powerful celebration of ideas, literature & intellect kicks off! #CLF2025 #Indoi pic.twitter.com/5HSa6N68wU
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 5, 2025
Also present on stage were Dr. Shantishree Pandit VC of JNU, Shefali Vaidya, author and curator of Chennai LitFest, Prof. Srinivas Varkhedi , VC, Central Sanskrit University, Puri and Bharat Gopu Founder Indoi Analytics.
The opening session, Sanskrit, Sanskar, Sanskriti, featured speakers like Sadhvi Divya Prabha (Dr. Lucy Guest), Swami Narasimhananda, and Prof. Srinivas Varkhedi, who articulated how Samskrita is not merely a language but a medium of jnana, moksha, and civilisational unity.
Dr H. Lucy Guest (Sadhvi Divya Prabha), originally from the UK and now settled in Bharat, spoke extensively on the importance of Sanskrit, emphasising that it has the potential to illuminate the world with its rich intellectual resources—a treasure trove that can guide humanity.
In her address, she explained that Bharat signifies light, a land that radiates knowledge to the entire universe. This knowledge, she said, leads to liberation—moksha—and frees the individual from delusion. Sanskrit, according to her, is a medium that grants such power, and thus, learning Sanskrit is not only relevant but essential for a deeper, more enlightened existence.
Swami Narasimhananda, Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kozhikode (Kerala), spoke on the significance of one’s mother tongue and the complementary role of Sanskrit in understanding culture and identity. He asserted that language is a tool not just for communication but for connecting with our roots. One does not need to abandon the mother tongue in order to learn Sanskrit or other languages; rather, they can coexist, enriching the learner’s experience.
He urged the audience to value their native language while embracing Sanskrit, which opens up the vast Bharatiya Jnana Parampara (Indian knowledge tradition) and offers a truly pan-Indian outlook.
Other sessions included powerful explorations of Murugan Bhakti across the world, an insightful discourse on Dharma Shastra and Social Justice by Shenbaga Perumal, and a moving presentation on Bharathiyar’s literary call for awakening by Uma Bharathi, the great-granddaughter of the legendary poet Subramania Bharathiyar.
A major highlight was the launch of Delimitation & States Reorganisation by Gautam Desiraju, who offered a deep constitutional and historical context to the issue and its relevance in present-day Bharat.
This was followed by the evocative session “Sacred Geography of Bharat Through Yatras”, where Mugdha Sinha, IAS (Director General, Tourism), delivered an insightful address on the spiritual and cultural significance of Yatras and festivals as expressions of Sanatana Dharma’s living continuity. She emphasized how these sacred journeys are not merely acts of devotion but threads that weave together Bharat’s vast civilisational fabric. Referring to the recently concluded Mahakumbh Mela 2025, she described it as a profound demonstration of India’s unity in diversity and its enduring cultural strength—an Adhyatmika and societal convergence unparalleled in the world. We must be cautious that our sacred pilgrim centres are not commodified into leisure spots, losing their spiritual essence in the process
Deepak Sharma, CEO of Linkage Technologies, spoke about the purpose of life talking yatras and Kashi, kanchi, Mathura, Avanthika connecting and visiting these areas is continuous in our thougts for generations. Now, bringing out and connecting the same with technology, it gives beautiful picture.
The final session of the day, The Civilisational Identity of Bharat, brought together Swami Narasimhananda and Swami Mitrananda, who spoke about restoring the narratives erased under colonial frameworks and reviving our Atmabodha through Sanatana Dharma.
The books launched on this occasion included Viratrahan, authored by Ratul Chakraborty, and Śankarayaṇam, authored by Subramaniam Chidambaram.
Bharat, from Indio anaylitcs said “This is not about the establishment of an academic institutions and discourse but also about igniting a comprehensive cultural and intellectual movement among the people.
