The 3rd SOA Literary Festival in Bhubaneswar witnessed rich discussions on culture, tribal traditions and the evolving role of artificial intelligence, while also celebrating emerging literary talent. One of the key highlights of the event was the conferment of the newly instituted SOA Yuva Sahitya Purashkar on young Odia writer Suryasnata Tripathy for his acclaimed short story collection Thia Puchi Naranga. The award, comprising a silver plaque, citation, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, was presented by Saswati Das, Vice-President of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA).

Addressing the audience, Padma Shri Santali writer Damayanti Besra stressed the importance of embracing tribal culture to address societal issues. She highlighted that tribal communities follow customs free from dowry, uphold deep respect for women and proudly worship Lord Jagannath, reflecting Odisha’s cultural roots. Besra said the Santals, Kondhs and Sabaras worship the Trinity,Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra,similar to mainstream Odia traditions. She also emphasised the urgent need to promote 64 tribal languages as many Adivasi children are unable to learn their native tongues.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who could not attend the event due to prior commitments, sent his greetings and congratulated SOA for hosting the festival. He said literature strengthens culture and shapes a nation’s identity, adding that the festival theme,Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence, was timely and relevant.

In his acceptance speech, awardee Suryasnata Tripathy reflected on the role of literature in overcoming negative emotions such as jealousy, pride and self-gratification. He underlined that AI can never surpass humans because it lacks heart and emotion, reinforcing the festival’s central debate on the impact of technology on creativity.

Speaking at the event, Saswati Das highlighted that no society can progress without a strong foundation in literature and culture. She noted that such festivals are crucial at a time when interest in literature among the youth is declining.
The program was presided over by Prof Prasanta Kumar Patra, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SOA, and also featured remarks from Prof Gayatribala Panda, Head of PPRACHIN and Festival Director, and Prof Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean of Students’ Welfare and Chief Coordinator.

The two-day literary festival successfully brought together authors, scholars, students and cultural thinkers, reaffirming the vital role of literature in preserving heritage, inspiring thought and navigating the evolving landscape shaped by creativity and artificial intelligence.