Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha officially announced the Nalanda Literature Festival (NLF) 2025 at a vibrant event in Mumbai, setting the tone for what promises to be a grand celebration of India’s intellectual and cultural legacy. Gracing the occasion as chief guest, Sinha was joined by an eclectic mix of personalities including soulful singer Kailash Kher and acclaimed actor Akhilendra Mishra, as the literary flame of Nalanda was ceremoniously reignited.
The festival, which will run from December 21 to 25, 2025, is set to take place at the historically rich sites of Rajgir in Bihar—once a center of learning and spiritual awakening. Speaking at the launch, festival director Ganga Kumar highlighted the event’s core mission: to revive and reconnect with the civilizational values and intellectual spirit that Nalanda has symbolized for centuries. With themes spanning from classical languages to contemporary issues, the NLF aims to create a melting pot of diverse voices.
In a major announcement, Sinha also unveiled the Nalanda Literature Development Programme, which will span from September 15, 2025, to March 26, 2026. The program, spearheaded by NLF chairperson D. Aaliya, trustee Dhanu Bihar, IMPPA president Abhay Sinha, director Ganga Kumar, and curator Pankaj Dubey, will feature a series of events, workshops, and dialogues that pave the way for the main festival. This initiative is expected to nurture creativity, dialogue, and cultural exchange across generations and geographies.
The event saw the presence of several other notable figures from the film and literature community, including Pahlaj Nihalani, Vineet Kumar, Shahu Patole, Rumy Jaffrey, Faisal Malik, Pradeep Sinha, Sushil Pandey, and Leena Yadav. The NLF 2025 will also witness the launch of its official website and host guests from over 10 Indian diaspora countries, promising to make this edition a truly global tribute to India's literary and cultural brilliance.