On May 29, 2025, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated a two-day literary conference titled "How Much Has Literature Changed" at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The President expressed her deep respect for literature and emphasized the importance of Indianness within the country's diverse literary traditions. She noted the evolving nature of literature in response to societal changes while highlighting the enduring relevance of core human values. The conference is set to explore topics including feminist literature, the relationship between change and literature, and new directions in Indian literature from a global perspective. The event will conclude with a celebration of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th anniversary.
Key Entities Referenced
President's Secretariat: The office of the President of India.
PRESIDENT OF INDIA: The head of state of India.
RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN: The official residence of the President of India.
29 MAY 2025: Date of the press release regarding the Literary Conference.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi office, responsible for the press release.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu: The President of India who inaugurated the Literary Conference.
Literary Conference: How Much Has Literature Changed: The name of the two-day literary conference held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre: The venue within Rashtrapati Bhavan where the Literary Conference was held.
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry possibly involved in organizing the conference.
Sahitya Akademi: An Indian literary academy involved in organizing the conference.
Feminist Literature of India: Breaking New Grounds: One of the topics to be deliberated on at the Literary Conference.
Change in Literature vs. Literature of Change: One of the topics to be deliberated on at the Literary Conference.
New Directions of Indian Literature in GlobalPerspective: One of the topics to be deliberated on at the Literary Conference.
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar: A historical figure whose 300th anniversary will be celebrated at the conference.
MJPSSR: Likely an acronym for a department/initiative, but needs more context.
2132474: Release ID for the press release.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA INAUGURATES TWO-DAY
LITERARY CONFERENCE: HOW MUCH HAS
LITERATURE CHANGED? AT RASHTRAPATI
BHAVAN
Posted On: 29 MAY 2025 7:35PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a two-day Literary Conference: How Much Has
Literature Changed? at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (May 29, 2025).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that since her student days, she has had a feeling of respect and
gratitude towards literature and litterateurs. With time, this feeling of special respect for literature has become
even deeper. It was her wish that many litterateurs should come to Rashtrapati Bhavan. She appreciated the
Ministry of Culture and Sahitya Akademi for organizing this conference.
The President stated that our country boasts a multitude of languages and an infinite diversity of literary
traditions. But in this diversity, the vibration of Indianness is felt. This sense of Indianness is also deeply
ingrained in the collective subconscious of our country. She said that she considers all the languages and
dialects of the country as her language and dialect and the literature of all languages as her own.The President said that the establishment of enduring human values amidst changing contexts is the identity of
timeless literature. As society and social institutions have changed, challenges and priorities have changed,
and changes have been seen in literature as well. But there is something in literature that remains relevant
even after centuries. The literary contexts of affection and compassion keep changing but their emotional
background does not change. Taking inspiration from literature, human dreams and makes them come true.
The President said that today's literature cannot be didactic. Today's literature cannot be a sermon. Today's
literature cannot be a book of morals. Today's writer walks along like a fellow traveler, sees and shows;
experiences, and makes others experience. She expressed confidence that in this literary gathering, a
constructive dialogue will be established between the speakers and the participants.
Tomorrow, the Conference will deliberate on topics such as ‘Feminist Literature of India: Breaking New
Grounds’; ‘Change in Literature vs. Literature of Change’; and ‘New Directions of Indian Literature in GlobalPerspective’. It will conclude with the saga of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar celebrating her 300th anniversary.
Please click here to see the President's Speech-
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MJPS/SR
(Release ID: 2132474)