“Akshar 2025” Festival Sparks Literary & Cultural Renaissance at IIT Kanpur

Kanpur, 10 October 2025 — The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has officially launched its much-anticipated three-day literary and cultural festival, Akshar 2025, weaving together tradition, expression, and intellectual dialogue. The grand opening fused the vibrancy of music, art, and literature to celebrate India’s linguistic heritage and creative spirit. 

Setting the Stage: Philosophy & Partnerships

Akshar is organized in collaboration with bodies such as the Shivani Centre, Rajbhasha Prakoshth, Gatha, and Hindi Sahitya Sabha. Through Akshar, IIT Kanpur reaffirms its mission to not only excel in technology and engineering but also uphold India’s rich cultural traditions and linguistic diversity. 

Day One Highlights

The inaugural day offered a full schedule:

A keynote lecture by Vyomesh Shukla, titled "Premchand and Banaras," traced the influence of Varanasi in the works of Munshi Premchand. 

Literary and cultural sessions followed, including Siddharth Singh’s exploration of folk traditions in Uttar Pradesh. 

In the evening, Mohammad Vakil performed soulful ghazals and classical music, enthralling the audience. 

A traditional storytelling event, “Dastan-e-Kaifi Azmi,” was staged by storytellers Himanshu Bajpai and Pragya Sharma. 

The day concluded on a musical note with a performance by Pallabi Purkayastha, leaving attendees immersed in artistic ambiance. 

Professors Santosh K. Mishra (of Rajbhasha Prakoshth) and Ark Verma (Festival Coordinator) emphasized that Akshar is designed to bridge technology students with the expressive power of literature and art. 

What’s Ahead

Over the next two days, the festival will host:

Panel discussions on women’s discourse, child rights, and the role of literature in society 

Theatre and dramatizations bringing classical and modern works to life

Poetry recitals, open-mic events, and book stalls

More musical performances and storytelling sessions

Akshar 2025 is expected to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indian languages, create creative collaborations across disciplines, and give students a platform to express themselves beyond technical domains.

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