Bhubaneswar: The 12th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) was ceremonially inaugurated, here on Thursday, marking the commencement of a four-day confluence of literature, ideas, arts and cross-cultural dialogue.

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, highlighted literature as a force that unites rather than divides, echoing shared values of justice and dignity rooted in Odisha’s history.

Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, remarked, “Literature is the engineer of the soul. In an era dominated by technology and Al, it remains the true keeper of our humanity nurturing empathy, preserving hope, and showing us a thousand paths when life seems uncertain. A strong democracy is built not just by voters, but by alert, thoughtful citizens shaped by such dialogue.”

Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister from Sri Lanka, stated, “For Sri Lanka, Kalinga is not merely a geographical name, but a living civilizational idea where history and humanity meet. Our connections were forged not by conquest, but by the sea, through trade, ideas, and values. Such people-to-people connections enrich diplomacy in ways no formal agreement ever can.”

Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, said, ” In the age of Al, literature remains the true measure of human intellect. To honor this legacy, we are digitizing lakhs of rare manuscripts and launching new fellowships for writers. By 2036, our vision is for Odisha to become the intellect ual capital of India.”

Renowned author and Jnanpith Awardee Dr. Pratibha Ray observed, “Literature is the conscience of society. KLF’s emphasis on young writers and diverse narratives ensures that this conscience remains vibrant, inclusive and questioning.”

Ashok Kumar Bal, Patron & CEO, KLF, said, “KLF was conceived as a platform where literature engages with contemporary realities and future possibilities. Over the years, it has grown into a global forum that connects cultures, languages and ideas while remaining deeply rooted in Odisha’s intellectual traditions.”

Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Founder & Director, KLF, said, “The idea behind KLF has always been to break silos–between languages, nations and disciplines. The twelfth edition strengthens our belief that literature can shape dialogue, empathy and informed citizenship in an increasingly complex world.”

The inaugural session also featured the release of notable books, including Made in Nepal by Dr. Binod Chaudhary and Samanta Chandrasekhara Patravali by Ashok Kumar Bal.

Several prestigious awards were conferred during the ceremony, including the Kalinga International Living Legend Award to Dr. Binod Chaudhary; Kalinga Literary Award to Achyutananda Pati; Kalinga International Literary Award to Daisy Rockwell; Kalinga Literary Award (Youth Writer) to Ranjana Niraula; Odisha Living Legend Awards to Pandit Harmohan Khuntia and Govardhan Dora; along with the KLF-Penguin Review Project Award and the KLF-Sambad Book Review Award.

Other guests present in the inaugural ceremony included Dr. Soumya Ranjan Samal, industrialist and philanthropist; and Ms. Tanaya Patnaik, Executive Director, Sambad Group.