Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest Ends on High A Note with Prestigious Godrej Awards

NATIONAL:

The 16 th edition of Literature Live! The Mumbai
LitFest presented by Godrej Industries Group successfully concluded on Sunday,
reaffirming the city’s place as India’s cultural and literary capital. Over three
engaging days, the festival brought together more than 120 celebrated authors,
thinkers, and artists from India and around the world.

Nadir Godrej, Chairperson and Managing Director, Godrej Industries Group,
said: “Literature has the power to distil the essence of our times, to question, to
comfort, and to connect. Through Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, we celebrate
not just stories and ideas, but the spirit of curiosity that drives innovation and
progress. Every edition strengthens our belief that creativity, whether in science,
business, or art, is rooted in the courage to imagine differently. We’re honoured to
help sustain a platform that keeps that imagination alive.”

The festival featured an exceptional lineup, including Nobel Laureate Venki
Ramakrishnan, Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, former CJI Dhananjay
Chandrachud, Shashi Tharoor, Shobhaa De, Jerry Pinto, Luke Countinho, Anindita
Ghose, Swati Pandey, Paromita Vohra, Tarini Mohan. A special installation titled
“Letters to the Future” offered a reflective space for attendees to share their hopes
for the next generation of readers and writers. Themes such as diversity, inclusion
and creativity, the evolution of Indian identity, and the power of narrative to drive
social change dominated this year’s conversations.

Among the highlights was the prestigious Godrej Literature Live! Awards, honouring
excellence across Fiction, Non-Fiction, Business Writing, and Playwriting. The
festival’s top honours — the Poet Laureate Award and the Lifetime Achievement
Award — were conferred upon Shri Sitanshu Yashaschandra and Shri Vinod
Kumar Shukla, respectively, in recognition of their outstanding literary contributions.
Amy Fernandes, Festival Co-Director, added, “A fabulous finish to the 16th year of
the Mumbai LifFest.  What began as a gathering of readers and writers 15 years ago
has grown into a vibrant exchange of ideas that transcends genres and generations.
With Godrej Industries as our partner in purpose, we continue to nurture this spirit,
keeping literature relevant, inclusive, and deeply intertwined with the cultural pulse of
our city, Mumbai and the world around us.”

Building on its commitment to inclusion, this year’s LitFest took accessibility a step
further with over 15 sessions interpreted in Indian Sign Language (ISL) by Access for
All. The organization also conducted a zine-making workshop for children, aimed at
nurturing empathy and creative expression. Additionally, a sensory-friendly tent at
the Open-Air Plaza offered a soothing space for neurodivergent children and others,
featuring tactile materials, soft seating, noise-cancelling aids, and support from
trained facilitators.