Surat Literature Festival returns to VNSGU with broad intellectual and cultural programming

The fourth edition of the Surat Literature Festival will be held from January 9 to 11 at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, reinforcing the expanding role of public universities as spaces for cultural and intellectual exchange beyond metropolitan centres.

The three day programme brings together writers, academics, artists and students for discussions spanning literature, education, social issues and contemporary thought. Organisers have positioned the festival as a forum that connects scholarship with wider public discourse, while also encouraging student participation in literary and cultural conversations.

Alongside panel discussions and readings, the festival will feature performances in theatre and dance, reflecting an effort to integrate academic dialogue with creative expression. The university campus is expected to serve as a meeting ground for multiple disciplines, with sessions designed to appeal to both academic audiences and the general public.

In parallel, departments within Veer Narmad South Gujarat University have initiated a hands-on workshop on campus biodiversity documentation, focusing on photography and digital archiving. The programme aims to strengthen observational skills and scientific communication among students through practical training.

Taken together, these initiatives point to a broader trend in Indian higher education, where universities are increasingly positioning themselves as cultural anchors in their regions, extending their role beyond classrooms and examinations to public engagement and knowledge dissemination.