Bhubaneswar: The three-day Tata Steel Bhubaneswar Literary Meet (TSBLM) got off, here on Friday.

The 5th edition of the meet was inaugurated by eminent economist Lord Meghnad Desai and literature Perumal Murugan.

Speaking on the occasion Tata Steel vice president, corporate services, Chanakya Chaudhary, said: “As part of Tata Steel’s corporate philosophy, we have always believed in promoting sports, art, literature and culture. From its first year in 2016, TSBLM has drawn premier authors and speakers not just from Odisha, but from across India and the world. The event has grown from strength to strength, becoming an integral part of Bhubaneswar’s annual cultural calendar with a consistently high quality of participants and an inherent connection with local cultural ethos. I am sure this year’s edition will once again celebrate unexplored ideas and unstoppable voices.”

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on translation of the seminal Odia book on the political emancipation of women, Basanti. Thespian Anant Mahapatra, literary critique Himansu Mohapatra and actress Malabika Roy. The day ended with an engaging performance by YouTube sensation and spoken word performer Priya Malik.

In the coming two days famous film actor Amol Palekar, music maestro Hara Prasad Chaurasia and film actress and director Nandita Das, and eminent journalist Bachi Karkaria will keep engaged the audience of the literary meet.