Tag: National Book Trust India

Events in Goa

Day 4 at Goa Book Festival Explores Literature, Technology, History and Creative Expression

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Day 4 at the Goa Book Festival 2026 offered a rich and reflective journey through literature, philosophy, technology, law, history and creative engagement, bringing together some of the country’s most insightful voices. The DB Bandodkar Grounds buzzed with activity as families browsed bookstalls, tourists explored the festival out of curiosity, schoolchildren engaged enthusiastically with learning spaces, and college students participated in intellectually stimulating sessions.

At the Author’s Corner, the session “Stories of the Soul: Life, Death, and What Endures” featured author Medha Khasgiwale in conversation with Sanjay Chakrane. The discussion examined humanity’s fear of death and the misconception of identifying the self solely with the physical body. Drawing from philosophical and spiritual traditions, Khasgiwale spoke about the physical, subtle and conscious dimensions of human existence, presenting death as a transition rather than an end.

This was followed by “Moving Towards Digital Library”, led by Dr Sushant Tandel, Curator, Goa Central Library. Addressing librarians, he discussed evolving reading habits and the urgent need for libraries to adapt in the digital age. While acknowledging the vast availability of online information, he emphasised the role of librarians in verification, curation and authenticity. The session outlined digital library infrastructure and highlighted benefits such as wider access and round-the-clock availability.

The session “Translation & Accessibility: Making Literature Inclusive” explored how translation and emerging technologies, including AI, can expand literary access. In conversation with Purnanand Chari, Gopinath Vishnu Gawas stressed the importance of ethical and thoughtful use of technology to preserve originality and cultural nuance while bridging linguistic divides.

A Publishers’ Meet, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, brought together 35–40 publishers from across India. Held in the presence of Shri Kiran Thakur, Chief Patron, Goa Book Festival; Shri N Sampath, Assistant Director (Exhibitions); and Shri Ashok Dhankar, Project Officer, the meet focused on ISBN facilitation, publisher support systems, visibility, and professional capacity building. Publishers offered suggestions to streamline processes and strengthen the national publishing ecosystem.

In “A Discussion on After Me, Chaos: Astrology in the Mughal Empire”, journalist M J Akbar, in conversation with Vedanta Agarwal, examined astrology’s role in Mughal administration. Drawing from historical sources, he explained how astrology influenced governance, military campaigns, succession and daily imperial life, positioning it as an institutional and rational decision-making tool rather than superstition.

Lawyer and author Sumant Batra discussed his book “The Life and Legacy of Arun Jaitley” with Vedanta Agrawal. The conversation highlighted Jaitley’s ability to build political consensus, his formative experiences during Partition, and his career as a lawyer and policymaker, offering insights into the values that shaped his leadership and public life.

At the Children’s Corner, creativity and learning continued to flourish as over 2,500 students participated in interactive sessions. Activities included “Let’s Design a Mascot” by Team NCCL, “Tell a Tale” by storyteller Akanksha Datta, and a Cartoon Making Workshop by cartoonist Ajit Narayan, introducing young minds to storytelling, problem-solving and visual expression.

The day concluded with ‘Shivpratap’, a powerful musical-theatrical production that poetically traced the life and vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Narrated through symbolic voices of nature, the performance brought history alive, capturing the journey from birth and mentorship under Rajamata Jijabai to the founding of Swarajya.

Events in Goa

“Sky Was Never the Limit”: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Inspires Students at Goa Book Festival 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Day 3 of the Goa Book Festival 2026 witnessed a powerful convergence of inspiration, intellect and imagination, highlighted by an electrifying interaction with astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC, who addressed over 1,200 school students and took them on a journey beyond Earth.


“I travelled to space with a billion hearts with me. The sky was never the limit—not for me, not for you,” Shukla said, reflecting on his historic mission to the International Space Station. In a session moderated by Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, the astronaut spoke candidly about fear, discipline, perseverance and the realities of life in space.

Sharing rare personal moments, he recalled the anxiety he felt during launch, likening it to opening an examination paper despite months of preparation. He described the intense physical strain of take-off, the mental challenge of isolation away from family, and the long process of relearning how to walk after returning to Earth. Through humour and videos, he brought space closer to students—sharing stories of playing basketball in zero gravity, walking on ceilings, momentarily forgetting gravity after returning, and listening to Vande Mataram while heading to the launch pad.

Answering questions from students, Shukla spoke about missing home-cooked food, coping with separation from family, and the importance of focusing on the present. He encouraged students to dream big, stay resilient and see setbacks as part of growth. Reflecting on identity, he said that beyond borders and planets, humanity shares a single home—Earth.

He also spoke about India’s space ambitions, including the Gaganyaan mission and plans for India’s own space station, telling students that the future of the nation’s space programme would be shaped by their aspirations.

The day also featured a felicitation ceremony, where Padma Shri Vinayak Khedekar and 52 eminent literary figures from Goa—including writers, poets, novelists and emerging authors—were honoured. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT; Dr. Kiran Thakur, Chief Patron of the Goa Book Festival; and Kiran Kendre, Editor of Kishor magazine, among others.

At the Author’s Corner, the panel discussion “Konkani, Marathi, English: Multilingual Future of Goa” explored Goa’s layered linguistic identity, emphasising multilingualism as a lived cultural strength rather than a conflict. Speakers highlighted dialogue, balance and adaptability as key to preserving Goa’s linguistic harmony.

In “Ancient Stories, Modern Dreams,” author Shantanu Gupta reinterpreted the Ramayana as a framework for leadership, ethics and entrepreneurship, drawing parallels between Rama’s vanvaas and modern crises that demand resilience, responsibility and integrity.

The session “History as a Living Conversation” saw Mohan Shete, in conversation with Sanjay Chakanne, bring history alive through engaging narratives drawn from Anandmath and episodes from the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. By recounting battles such as Basrur and Palkhed, Shete reinforced the idea of history as a living dialogue shaping collective identity.

Filmmaker Chandraprakash Dwivedi, in conversation with Dev Kanya Thakur during “From Text to Screen: The Art of Adaptation,” reflected on transforming literature and history into visual narratives, emphasising research, inference and creative intuition. The session was attended by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, who later felicitated Dwivedi.

The Children’s Corner buzzed with energy as nearly 2,500 students participated in dance, movement and storytelling workshops. Activities blended learning with creativity, including digital literacy through the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya platform, culminating with a staged presentation of the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Saga.

Cultural evenings added vibrancy to the festival, with instrumental ensemble Maluhaa presenting immersive compositions blending Indian and Western classical traditions, followed by powerful folk and martial art performances by Team Mammalan from Puducherry, led by Padma Shri awardee Master Kalia Mamani K. Palanivel.

Day 3 of the Goa Book Festival 2026 stood out as a celebration of curiosity, courage and cultural continuity—where space science met storytelling, and ancient wisdom inspired modern dreams.

Events in Goa

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Inaugurates First-Ever Goa Book Festival 2026 in Panaji

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Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

In a landmark moment for Goa’s cultural calendar, the first-ever Goa Book Festival 2026 was inaugurated on February 4 at the D.B. Bandodkar Ground in Panaji by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, marking the beginning of a five-day celebration dedicated to books, ideas, art and dialogue. The inaugural ceremony brought together eminent dignitaries including Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman of the National Book Trust, India, Dr Kiran Thakur, Chief Patron of the Goa Book Festival and Chairman of Lokmanya Cultural Foundation, Shri Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Secretary (Education), Government of Goa, Shri Rajesh Pandey, Trustee, NBT and Chief Convenor of the Pune Book Fair, and Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India.

Following the inauguration, the Chief Minister visited the book stalls and explored the festival’s special exhibitions, including “Goa: Stories of Light and Delight,” along with exhibitions commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He also spent time at the Authors’ Corner and the Children’s Pavilion, interacting with participants and appreciating the diverse range of literary, educational and creative activities curated as part of the festival. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of a special video presentation capturing the spirit of the Goa Book Festival and showcasing the cultural and natural beauty of the state.

Expressing his happiness at the launch of the festival, Dr Pramod Sawant lauded the National Book Trust, India for bringing the initiative to Goa and encouraged citizens to support the Goa Book Festival with the same enthusiasm as other popular festivals in the state. He highlighted that the festival goes beyond book sales by offering cultural performances and child-centric activities, and urged NBT to make the festival an annual fixture in Goa’s cultural calendar.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe reflected on the enduring value of books, quoting author George R. R. Martin to emphasise how reading enriches lives. He noted that books act as silent companions offering guidance and emotional support, and said that if visitors could find answers to why to read, what to read and how to read, the festival would have fulfilled its purpose. He further stressed that the vision of a Viksit Bharat rests on informed and thoughtful citizens, making the cultivation of readers an essential foundation.

Dr Kiran Thakur described the Goa Book Festival as an initiative that would give the state a distinct literary identity, noting the participation of over 200 publishers offering books in English, Hindi, Marathi and Konkani. He spoke of India’s rich intellectual heritage and expressed confidence that the festival would grow into a major hub of literary dialogue, reflecting Goa’s pluralistic and inclusive cultural ethos.

Shri Yuvraj Malik, delivering the vote of thanks, remarked that the Goa Book Festival filled a long-standing gap in the state’s cultural landscape. He encouraged visitors to take home at least one book that could inspire or influence their lives, underscoring the transformative power of reading.

The festival opened with vibrant children’s activities including puppet-based storytelling, cartooning workshops inspired by Mario de Miranda, drawing sessions and poster-making activities. The first day concluded with a graceful Ganesh Vandana, a Kathak performance by Laheja – The School of Performing Arts, and a lively musical performance by the 24K India Band, creating a celebratory close to Day One.

Organised by the National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education, in association with the Government of Goa, Samarth Yuva Foundation and Lokmanya Cultural Foundation, the Goa Book Festival 2026 features over 250 book stalls by more than 100 publishers, special exhibitions, cultural performances and interactive sessions for readers of all ages. With free entry, a 10% discount on all books, and daily timings from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM from February 4 to 8, the festival sets the foundation for a lasting cultural tradition that celebrates books as bridges connecting ideas, generations and imaginations.