Rajgir: Far from the usual metro circuits of literary festivals, conversations this winter are unfolding amid history in Bihar. The Nalanda Literature Festival (NLF), currently underway at the Rajgir Convention Centre, has drawn writers, thinkers, students and culture enthusiasts from across the country, seeking to reconnect contemporary discourse with the intellectual legacy of ancient Nalanda.
Running from December 21 to 25, the festival consciously draws inspiration from the Nalanda Mahavihara, once among the world’s foremost centres of learning and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The idea, organisers say, is not nostalgia but revival - of debate, plurality and the free exchange of ideas that once defined Nalanda. The festival’s theme, “States of Stories: Bihar & the North East,” underlines this intent by placing regional narratives at the centre of national literary conversations.
Over five days, the programme spans discussions on history, culture, politics and literature, alongside sessions on folklore, oral traditions and contemporary writing. Regional languages such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Assamese and Bodo find prominence alongside English and Hindi, offering a rare platform to voices often missing from mainstream literary spaces. Youth-focused sessions, poetry readings and interactive formats aim to draw students and emerging writers into a tradition of critical thinking rather than passive listening.
Among the festival’s most anticipated moments was a session featuring acclaimed author and parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor, who spoke on learning beyond classrooms and the enduring relevance of literature in shaping public thought. His participation lent national visibility to the festival, reinforcing its ambition to combine intellectual depth with wider public engagement.
The festival experience extends well beyond panel discussions. Folk performances, art exhibitions, book stalls and showcases of local cuisine bring Bihar’s cultural texture to the fore, while heritage walks around Nalanda and Rajgir offer participants a tangible connection to the land that once attracted scholars from across Asia. As evening sessions blend poetry and music, the setting itself becomes part of the narrative.
Even as this edition unfolds, the organisers are looking ahead. Plans include translation initiatives, writer fellowships and sustained cultural programming aimed at positioning Nalanda as a year-round centre for literary exchange. The larger vision is to re-establish Nalanda - not just as a historic site - but as a living idea in India’s cultural imagination.
As the festival moves into its final days, it is clear that Nalanda’s story is being told anew. In Rajgir, amid winter light and ancient echoes, literature is once again doing what it once did here best — fostering dialogue, curiosity and the exchange of ideas.
BI Bureau
