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. It was inaugurated with the traditional Deepa Prajwalanam at Shri Mohanmull Chordia Indoor Stadium, AM Jain College, Meenambakkam, Chennai. With this year’s theme, “Jambudweepe – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” the two day festival (April 5 & 6) declared its intent with clarity: to reclaim and reaffirm Bharat’s indigenous narratives in literature, thought, and public discourse.
In his keynote address, Lt. Gen. Karanbir Singh Brar, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, delivered an awe-inspiring speech urging attendees to make sincere efforts to protect Bharatiya tradition, culture, and ethos. He presented the role of the armed forces during natural calamities through a detailed PowerPoint presentation. 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.
“Hindu religion treats all equally without any disparity,” he stated, highlighting India’s unmatched humanitarian role during the pandemic as the only nation to extend aid to others.
“Literature makes you think what India is. The organisers of this great event brought together the diversity of real issues in society. India should start writing its own history—and this is the right time. We should promote ourselves.”
Reflecting on his personal experience, he shared that he had lived in Tamil Nadu for a long time and was deeply familiar with its culture and rich literary heritage. “There are a lot of temples. Literature is a get-together personifying the slogan of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he added.
Also present on stage were Dr. Shantishree Pandit VC of Jahawarlal Nehru Unveristy (JNU) Delhi , 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.
Shefali Vaidya, writer and social media activist, spoke at length about the need to take the Sankalp of Jambudweepe.
Swami Narasimhananda, a polyglot and monk of the Ramakrishna Mutt, and currently Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kozhikode, stressed the importance of learning multiple languages besides one’s mother tongue.
“It is a tool for conversation to understand culture. We should not shy away from learning additional languages. Learning Sanskrit would help us understand history and open the treasure trove of our culture,” he said.
He cited a Harvard University publication titled Tamil, authored by a foreigner after extensive research, and lamented that no such research-oriented books had been written in India’s mother tongues.
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.
“Many words in Tamil, English, and other languages are rooted in Sanskrit. Unfortunately, many native words have been given a decent burial after we moved to alien languages. Appreciate Tamil and Sanskrit—they are rich in knowledge, history, architecture, science, and mathematics. If you learn Sanskrit, that knowledge equips you to learn foreign languages more easily and quickly.”
Dr H Lucy Guest (Sadhvi Divya Prabha), a UK-born scholar now residing in Varanasi, highlighted the significance of Sanskrit, in which she earned her doctorate. Quoting extensively from Sanskrit literature, she narrated her transformative journey—from being a successful corporate professional in the UK to settling in Kashi. She elaborated on her current mission to revive the Sanskrit language and the profound impact it has had on her life.
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.
The speakers also lamented how language, which once united people, has now become a divisive factor.
“People who can’t speak in their mother tongue are now forced to learn and follow alien languages. It is not meant for division. Bharat is divided by language. We are Indians first. Tamil is an identity for us, just as other languages are for others. If we do not learn our mother tongue, our identity will disappear.”
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.
Tamil writer Prabhakaran delivered a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating how Lord Murugan is a universal deity, highlighting similarities in worship, names, and rituals across regions. He observed that in Sangam-era literature, Lord Murugan was the most frequently mentioned deity.
Senba Perumal addressed the misconceptions surrounding Manusmriti and the persistent narrative that Hinduism is a Brahminical religion.
“There is a campaign to belittle Sanatana Dharma. Caste divisions were made not by birth but by the profession people followed. After 18 years, everyone had to attend a Gurukul. The Guru would teach astrology, medicine, Vedas, Ayurveda, astronomy, and more. The student who excelled became a doctor, Vedic scholar, or teacher. The Guru would identify their potential and encourage them. The Guru’s son would study in another Gurukul to avoid favouritism. Admission was not based on caste. Those who did not study were called Shudras. The Gurukul period lasted 12 years. This is called the second birth.”
He also traced the historical impact of Emperor Ashoka, who made Buddhism the official religion of his administration. Ashoka ceased grants to Gurukuls, which led to their disappearance. He spread Buddhism across Bharat—except in Tamil Nadu. He further quoted Ambedkar to reinforce his points.
In the post-lunch session, renowned chemistry professor from IISc, Gautham Desiraju, author of Delimitation and States Reorganisation: For a Better Democracy in Bharat, discussed the key ideas from his book. Professor Raju highlighted the need for delimitation, arguing that it should not be population-based.
“Northern states are underrepresented, while southern ones are overrepresented. It must be rectified. Delimitation is a problematic one. I am from Bangalore North, which has 60 lakh voters, whereas Central Chennai Lok Sabha constituency has over 6 lakh voters. When vote values are calculated, my vote carries very little weight. How are SC/ST constituencies decided?”
The next speaker was Uma Bharathi, great-granddaughter of Poet Subramania Bharathi and Surya Narayana Sastri.
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.
The day concluded with a panel discussion on the tourism potential of the country, capping off a vibrant and intellectually invigorating edition of the Chennai Lit Fest that left attendees both enlightened and inspired.
The second day’s session began with an awe-inspiring talk by Madhusudan Kalaiselvan on temple architecture. With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, he eloquently detailed the splendour of temple architecture, delving into the deeper philosophy behind it, the patronage of kings who donated and built temples, and how they deliberately left them for public use instead of retaining them as private assets.
He explained that in earlier times, temples were referred to as Devalayas (comparable to cathedrals in English) and held profound religious and cultural significance. The construction of a temple involved meticulous planning—geometry, site selection, and resource allocation were all thoughtfully considered. The grandeur of these temples was often a reflection of the wealth and spiritual intent of the ruling kings. They built one temple after another, not for vanity, but to express their gratitude and devotion to the Almighty. Sacred architectural rules such as Agamas were framed, and structures were erected in accordance with these guidelines in a thoroughly pre-planned manner.
He emphasised that towns like Kumbakonam and Kancheepuram are home to countless such temples—treasures of our heritage. Today, many of these ancient structures have been recognised by UNESCO. However, he stressed that we, as inheritors of this legacy, must begin cataloguing these marvels and take ownership of preserving them. “We are best placed to declare their value to the world,” he said confidently.
Drawing a cultural contrast, he noted that while the Western world refers to such journeys as tourism, in the Hindu tradition, it is called pilgrimage. He passionately urged the audience to promote spiritual tourism in a more structured and impactful manner—identifying potential spiritual centres and developing them holistically.
When asked about temple customs, he observed, “In North India, devotees are allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum and touch the murthis during worship. In the South, it is restricted due to specific Agamic injunctions. These are traditions that may evolve slowly over time.”
This enlightening session was followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and their influence on society. The panel included Gopal Srinivasan, CEO of TVS Electronics; Deepak Sharma, CEO of Linkage Technologies; and was moderated by Bharat Gopu of Indio Analytics.
Gopal Srinivasan, representing the centuries-old legacy of the TVS Group, shared that CSR has always been integral to their companies’ ethos. Notably, many of their initiatives are carried out in partnership with the Ramakrishna Mutt. The panel highlighted how modern startups are shaping society and the nuances of foreign investment.
Both speakers discussed how foreign capital often comes embedded with cultural and ideological baggage. Subtly, these influences begin to dominate the workplace, shaping narratives under the guise of evolution. The panellists strongly advocated for fostering capital investment aligned with Bharatiya values—so that these values, in turn, permeate naturally into the broader fabric of society.
Next was a captivating panel discussion featuring Dr Lucy Guest, Shefali Vaidya, and Abhijit Joag, bestselling author of two books. The focus of this discussion was ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s empowerment).
Abhijit Joag quoted extensively from Sanskrit scriptures and ancient texts to illustrate the prominent roles women have played in shaping society and their revered status in the cultural ethos of Bharat.
In response to a question, Dr Lucy Guest—now Sadhvi Divya Prabha—spoke candidly about her experience as a woman living in India. She shared that she had never once faced any threat to her modesty or experienced harassment during her time here. “In fact,” she said, “I have felt safer in Bharat than in my own home country, Britain.” She fondly recalled how, wherever she travelled in India, she was greeted with warmth and deep respect. “In Bharatiya culture, women are revered,” she affirmed.
This was followed by a deeply engaging session by Dr Arun Krishnan from Bengaluru—a polyglot fluent in Tamil, English, Hindi, Bengali, Japanese, and Kannada. An amateur historian and musician, he is the author of the Battle of Vathapi trilogy and is soon to release Daughter of Two Rivers.
His talk focused on the falsification of Indian history. Dr Krishnan argued that the British colonial project systematically undermined native confidence and self-respect as a means of control. He explained how the education system was restructured to distort India’s past and glorify colonial narratives—effectively erasing real heroes and authentic accounts.
He pointed out the deliberate gaps in recorded history, especially those related to Indian kings and regional dynasties. The Aryan-Dravidian divide, he asserted, was a concocted theory, lacking historical evidence, with the intent of fragmenting Bharat. He also highlighted how post-independence, even Indian governments contributed to this distortion. “Indira Gandhi outsourced the rewriting of history to external experts who omitted key events and figures,” he noted. As a poignant example, he cited Chola Queen Chembian Maadevi, who built 14 temples in Tamil Nadu and standardised temple architecture—yet finds no mention in mainstream history textbooks.
The final session of the day featured an insightful panel talk by Gomathi Venkatachalam, CEO of the Anaadi Foundation, joined by Dr Lucy Guest. The discussion centred on the Gurukul way of education and its resurgence in modern Bharat. Both speakers elaborated on their institutions’ approach, which focuses on practical orientation, applied knowledge, innovation, and self-reliance.
They shared how their students are encouraged to adopt ‘learn and do it yourself’ methodologies—preparing them to solve real-life problems with clarity and confidence. These Gurukul-inspired frameworks nurture holistic growth and spark original thinking, blending tradition with modernity in meaningful ways.
The two-day literary and cultural celebration concluded with heartfelt gratitude extended to all guests, speakers, dignitaries, and the AM Jain College management for graciously offering their spacious, modern auditorium as the venue.
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