Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi, marking the first time in 71 years that the prestigious literary conference is being held in the national capital. The three-day event, running from February 21 to 23, celebrates Marathi literature’s rich heritage and its evolving role in contemporary discourse.
The inaugural ceremony saw PM Modi being felicitated in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, renowned Marathi writer Tara Bhawalkar, and Sammelan president Usha Tambe.
Originally organized in Pune in 1878 by Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, the conference has a long-standing literary legacy. In 1954, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the chief guest at its inauguration.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted that the gathering aims to underscore the “timeless relevance of Marathi literature” while addressing modern literary challenges such as language preservation, translation, and the impact of digitalization. The event follows the government’s recent decision to grant Marathi classical language status.
The Sammelan features a diverse lineup of panel discussions, book exhibitions, cultural performances, and interactive sessions with eminent literary figures. Notably, a symbolic literary train journey from Pune to Delhi, carrying 1,200 participants, has been organized to showcase the unifying spirit of literature.
The event will also include over 2,600 poetry submissions, 50 book launches, and 100 bookstalls, bringing together distinguished scholars, authors, poets, and literary enthusiasts from across the country.
