The 15th edition of the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) began on Friday, drawing crowds to celebrate literature, culture, and important global issues. This year, the festival focused on two key themes—climate change and endangered languages.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who officially launched the event. Actress Shabana Azmi, celebrating her 50th year in the film industry, was the special guest of HLF 2025. One of the highlights of the day was the flagship cartoon series presented by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), which captivated the audience.
This year’s festival brought together prominent institutions such as IIT-Hyderabad, Mongabay, and Sanctuary Asia. Renowned speakers like Bittu Sahgal, Soumya Swaminathan, and Romulus Whitaker participated in workshops, panel discussions, and performances. The event provided a platform for dynamic conversations on topics ranging from science to environmental conservation.
As part of its tradition, HLF focuses on one Indian language and one guest nation each year. For 2025, the spotlight is on the Sindhi language, which is at risk of disappearing, and Lithuania as the guest nation. The festival also continued to strengthen newer streams introduced last year, such as Indigenous and Endangered Languages, Climate Conversations, and Science and the City.
One standout session was a workshop on river ecosystems conducted by speakers Anindita Majumdar and Asif Qureshi, in collaboration with IIT-H. They emphasized the need to rethink how we relate to rivers and stressed the importance of preserving their ecological value. Visitors appreciated the thought-provoking discussions and activities.
CEEW’s sustainability-themed cartoons, showcased under the title “What On Earth!”, were a major hit at the event. These cartoons added a fun, engaging element to topics that are often seen as complex and technical. Another crowd favorite was the “Mapping Threads” stall, which attracted significant attention.
Ramesh Reddy, a visitor, shared his excitement about the festival, saying, “Every year, we eagerly look forward to this event. The focus on endangered languages is such a great concept. This year, the spotlight on Sindhi is especially meaningful.”
An organiser highlighted HLF’s significance, stating, “This festival is consistently ranked among the top five literary events in India. It provides a platform for artistic and literary expression while engaging in diverse conversations.”
The Hyderabad Literary Festival continues to serve as a melting pot of ideas, creativity, and cultural exchange, inspiring attendees from all walks of life.
