MAHE Bengaluru to Host Inaugural alèy Literature Festival, Championing ‘Waves of Solidarity’
Bengaluru, September 11, 2025 – The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bengaluru, will host the inaugural “alèy Literature Festival 2025” on September 18 and 19, a flagship event designed to harness the power of storytelling to build community, celebrate diversity, and amplify vital voices in literature. The two-day festival, themed “Waves of Solidarity,” will bring together acclaimed authors, translators, performers, and literary enthusiasts for a series of panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, and performances.
Organized by the Department of Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the festival aims to create a dynamic platform for cross-cultural dialogue and creative expression, moving beyond traditional academic boundaries to engage the public in meaningful literary discourse.
International Booker Laureate to Inaugurate Festival
The festival will be inaugurated with a keynote address by Banu Mushtaq, the 2025 winner of the International Booker Prize. Her presence sets a prestigious tone for the event, highlighting the festival’s commitment to literary excellence and global perspectives.
“This festival is born from a deep-seated belief in literature’s transformative power to build bridges,” said a festival organizer. “By bringing together diverse voices—from international prize winners to local community activists—we aim to create waves of solidarity that resonate far beyond our campus.”
A Lineup of Critical Dialogues and Masterclasses
The program is structured to explore the nuances of contemporary literature through critical dialogues. Acclaimed author Perumal Murugan will feature in a major book talk, discussing his work “Students Etched in Memory” with Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta, IAS. The session promises intimate insights into the lives of rural students and literature’s capacity to highlight marginalized narratives.
Panel discussions will tackle a range of pressing topics. “Women Publish Women: Waves of Feminist Publishing,” featuring publishers Arpita Das and historian V. Geetha, will examine the evolving landscape of feminist literary production. Another session, “Big Little Stories: Navigating Complexity in Children’s Literature” with Menaka Raman and Sharanya Manivannan, will delve into the sophisticated world of children’s storytelling.
The art of translation will be front and center in “Bridging the World with Words: Literary Translation Today,” a conversation with renowned translators Srinath Perur and Rahul Soni.
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Fostering Community and the Next Generation of Writers
Beyond panels, the festival emphasizes interactive learning and community engagement. Masterclasses will be led by literary figures including S. Joseph on the subjectivity of poetry and V. Geetha on the contemporary relevance of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s works.
A dedicated fiction writing workshop for school children, “Hatch a Plot!” led by author Neelima Vinod, aims to nurture young creative talents. The festival will also host a vibrant array of competitions for students, including a Quiz, Stand-up Comedy, Cosplay, Slam Poetry, and Book Cover Designing.
A significant discussion, “Spaces of Solidarity: Reading in the City,” will bring together community leaders Athul T (Cubbon Reads), Rajassekar (Sollazhi), and Lalitha Murugesan (Lalitha’s Book Nook) to explore the growing movement of public reading groups and their role in urban community building.
Performance Art as a Catalyst for Change
The festival will leverage the power of performance to underscore its themes. The Qabila Collective will present the play “We Push the Sky,” and an interactive “Theatre of the Oppressed” session titled “Listen-Connect-Amplify!” will be conducted by Radha Ramaswamy, demonstrating how performing arts can be a potent tool for social commentary and change.
Commitment to a Inclusive Literary Culture
The alèy Literature Festival 2025 reinforces MAHE Bengaluru’s commitment to fostering a inclusive literary culture that encourages dialogue and understanding across diverse sections of society.
Registration for the festival is open to the public. For more details and to register, visit bit.ly/aley2025.
Key Quotes
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“This festival is born from a deep-seated belief in literature’s transformative power to build bridges. By bringing together diverse voices, we aim to create waves of solidarity that resonate far beyond our campus.” — Festival Organizer, MAHE Bengaluru
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“The session will explore the evolving landscape of feminist literary production and the importance of creating spaces for women’s voices in publishing.” — On the “Women Publish Women” panel feat. Arpita Das & V. Geetha
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“The conversation will provide intimate insights into the lives of rural students and literature’s critical capacity to highlight marginalized narratives.” — On the book talk with Perumal Murugan
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“The panel will explore the growing movement of public reading groups and their vital role in fostering urban community building.” — On the “Spaces of Solidarity” session with Cubbon Reads, Sollazhi & Lalitha’s Book Nook
