New Delhi / Kolkata: Leading social, cultural, corporate and literary organizations of the country came together for the first time to host ...
New Delhi / Kolkata: Leading social, cultural, corporate and literary organizations of the country came together for the first time to host a unique literature festival - `Muskaan Litfest for Child Authors’ - under the Muskaan initiative of Kolkata-based non-for-profit trusts, Prabha Khaitan Foundation and Education for All Trust. The three-day event from Jan 10 to 12 was held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) premises in Delhi.
The festival was
inaugurated in the presence of Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman, National Commission
for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Also present on the occasion were
Sachchidanand Joshi, member secretary, the executive and academic head of
IGNCA; K N Shrivastava, Director of IIC, and K Sreenivasarao, Secretary,
Sahitya Akademi.
“Literature is the
mirror of society. It is important to provide child authors the right environment
and upbringing to promote literature,” Kanoongo said. He asserted that instead
of social media, the children should take more interest in writing and literature.
Union Minister of State
for Women and Child Development, Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, was
present on the first day and interacted with 30 school-going young authors who
got an opportunity and a national forum to tell their stories and share
literary ideas over 15 sessions, workshops, interactions and performances. There
were heart-warming poetry recitations by Aviraj Singhvi from Udaipur and Saina
Sarin from Gurugram.
“Muskaan is a brilliant
initiative of PKF to give a platform for the young talented writers to showcase
their works and inspire future talents,” the minister said. He also gave away certificates
to the young authors.
Ruskin Bond, popular,
loved and revered author among children, in a message lauded the PKF for its
commendable efforts to promote the habit of reading among children through the
Muskaan initiative.
The litfest was
organized in collaboration with IGNCA and in association with India
International Centre and Sahitya Akademi as the knowledge partner. Shree Cement
supported the event as a part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.
The evening was marked
by a scintillating cultural programme ‘Udaan’ conceptualised by Shinjini
Kulkarni, Ehsaas Woman of Prabha Khaitan Foundation. Huma Khalil Mirza, Ehsaas
Woman of Delhi and Unnati Singh, Ehsaas Woman of Indore, also livened up the
show. Teams of women achievers who work to create cultural capital and assets
are a part of a Ehsaas Woman network in major cities of India under the aegis
of Prabha Khaitan Foundation.
Dancer and
choreographer Avirup Sengupta, who works with specially-abled children through
Prayas Foundation, presented an enthralling performance. The Foundation had
flown in children from Kolkata for the special performance.
The latest issue of PKF
newsletter Prabha, based on the theme of children’s literature, was formally
released on the occasion.
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