Inaugural Session of Mahi Talk Fest 4.0

Banswara.The three-day literary, dialogue, and arts festival Mahi Talk Fest (MTF) 4.0, jointly organized by Govind Guru Tribal University, Banswara and Vishva Samvad Kendra, was formally inaugurated on Saturday at the university auditorium. The festival is being held from January 23 to 25 on the university campus, featuring in-depth discussions on literature, folk culture, media, art, national consciousness, and contemporary issues.

Inaugural Session Focused on the Concept of ‘Ekatma Bharat’

The central theme of Mahi Talk Fest 4.0 is “Ekatma Bharat” (Integral India), under which various sessions are being organized to deliberate on national unity, cultural harmony, tribal consciousness, dialogue, and creative expression.

The inaugural session was graced by District Collector and District Magistrate, Banswara, Dr. Indrajeet Yadav, IAS, as the Chief Guest. In his address, he emphasized that nation-building can be given new direction only through dialogue, ideas, and culture.

Describing the theme of the festival as inspired by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Integral Humanism, Dr. Yadav narrated a short parable, stating that development should progress steadily and in balance like a millipede, rather than being distracted by misleading forces symbolized by a jackal. He urged the youth to actively participate in such ideological and intellectual platforms.

Vice Chancellor Calls Upon Youth Participation

Presiding over the session, Vice Chancellor Prof. Keshav Singh Thakur highlighted the crucial role of youth in achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” Describing literature as the mirror of society, he stressed the need to take initiatives like Mahi Talk Fest beyond district headquarters to the tehsil level as well.

Emphasis on Self-Awareness and Cultural Consciousness

Special Guest Prof. N.K. Pandey, Vice Chancellor of Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication, emphasized self-awareness, stating that in its absence, societies lose the memory of their rivers, mountains, and ancestors. Highlighting the cultural significance of the Mahi River, he described the Himalayas as Devatma (the divine soul) and said that any harm to it is an assault on the soul of India.

On this occasion, Sant Ramswaroop Maharaj appreciated the Notra tradition of the Vagad region and described such events as inspiring for the younger generation.
K.L. Bairwa, Chancellor of Sagar Central University, remembered the inspirational personality of Govind Guru and described Mahi Talk Fest as a significant initiative for educational and intellectual advancement.

The welcome address was delivered by University Registrar Kashmi Kaur, while Dr. Kamlesh Sharma, Convener of Mahi Talk Fest, presented an overview of the festival and its activities. The programme was conducted by Dr. Lokendra Kumar, and the vote of thanks was proposed by Shafqat Rana.

First Session Dedicated to Folk Literature

The first session following the inauguration featured a dialogue by Prof. N.K. Pandey on Folk Literature and Ekatma Bharat, moderated by Dr. Kamlesh Sharma. Prof. Pandey stated that folk literature is the voice of the collective soul, representing not only the past but also the consciousness of the present and the direction of the future.

During this session, University Registrar Prof. Rajesh Joshi delivered an address on the theme of Tripura Sundari. The session was conducted by Arpit Jain.

Sessions on Media and the Digital Age

On the second day, Prof. Amitabh Srivastava from Central University of Rajasthan engaged in dialogue on Community Radio. The session was moderated by Archana Sharma and conducted by Neeraj Shrimali.
This was followed by a presentation by Prabhav Upadhyay on The Form of Literature in the Digital Age.

Dialogue on Social Media Responsibility

Social media and IT expert Yogesh Rajpurohit emphasized the need for responsible behavior on social media while discussing literature in the digital era. Citing the example of a viral penguin video, he explained how content shared without context can mislead society. This session was moderated by Vikas Chhajed and conducted by Mamraj.

Book Release

On the second day of the festival, the book “Cultural Consciousness in the Essays of Vidyanivas Mishra” by Dr. Sarla Pandya was formally released.

Collector Visits Book Fair and Exhibition

District Collector Dr. Indrajeet Yadav also visited the NBT Book Fair and the Constitution-themed exhibition organized as part of the festival. He was briefed by Vikas Chhajed and Dr. Kamlesh Sharma about the exhibits and books on display. The Collector described the exhibition and book fair as highly beneficial for students and youth and encouraged them to make full use of it.

Prominent attendees included Prof. Rajesh Joshi, Prof. Narendra Paneri, Dr. Pramod Vaishnav, Dr. Rakesh Damor, Dr. Lokendra Kumar, and representatives from Vishva Samvad Kendra including Madan Mohan Tank, Dr. Kamlesh Sharma, Dr. Sunil Kumar Khatik, Vikas Chhajed, Neeraj Shrimali, Mamraj, Jayraj, along with a large number of students, youth, and university staff.

Festival to Conclude with Reels, Workshops, and National Consciousness Dialogues

On January 25, the festival will feature a Reels Making Competition, Art of Reading workshop, media–society dialogue, and a special discussion marking 150 years of “Anand Math” and “Vande Mataram.” Cultural programmes will also include a musical storytelling presentation.

The valedictory session will be held on January 25 at 12:30 PM at the university auditorium. On this occasion, Shri Nimbaraam Ji, Regional Pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Rajasthan, will be the Chief Guest and will deliver a thought-provoking address on “100 Years of National Service.”