Javed Akhtar honoured with SOA Sahitya Samman 2025 at university’s Literary Festival in Bhubaneswar

Renowned lyricist, poet, and author Javed Akhtar received the SOA Sahitya Samman 2025 on Saturday, during the inauguration of the third SOA Literary Festival-2025 at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University in Bhubaneswar.

The award was conferred by Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, recognising Akhtar’s contributions to literature, poetry, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Festival Inauguration and Key Attendees

Reports mentioned that the two-day literary festival commenced today at the SOA Campus-2 Auditorium and drew participation from over 100 distinguished personalities from across India, including authors, poets, playwrights, painters, translators, publishers, and media professionals.

The event was inaugurated in the presence of Governor Kambhampati, while the Chief Minister of Odisha is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony. Organisers described the festival as a platform for national and regional literary interaction and cultural exchange.

Focus On Language, Literature, And AI

This year, the festival theme is ‘Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence’. The agenda includes panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions on literature, language, cinema, society, education, and technology.

Experts will examine the role of artificial intelligence in creative and cultural processes, exploring how AI intersects with artistic expression and literary traditions.

The festival is organised under the aegis of SOA University, with support from the Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PRACHIN). 

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Activities at the festival include seminars, cultural discussions, and workshops that span two days. Organisers intend to make the event a recurring national platform for writers, artists, and scholars to converge and exchange ideas on literature, heritage, and technology.

It is worth noting that participants include not only leading figures from Indian literature and arts but also representatives from media, theatre, and cinema, reflecting the festival’s broad focus on interdisciplinary cultural dialogue.