DB Corp Limited (DBCL), India’s largest print media company and home to flagship newspapers Dainik
Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar today announced the
successful completion of the second edition of it’s signature annual Marathi Literature festival
presented by Divya Marathi in Nashik.
The Marathi Literature Festival with the theme ‘Confluence of Independent Thinkers’ was held in
Kusumagraj Smarak – a much revered venue, named after Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, popularly known
by his pen name Kusumagraj. The 3-day festival concluded on 5th Nov 2017 with a live performance by
neo-fusion rock band Kabir Café that beautifully fused the mystic saint’s age-old independent philosophy
with a modern outlook. The festival also brought mesmerizing live performances by Music Maestro
Hariharan and Illusionist Abhishek Acharya.
72 eminent speakers fascinated audiences with the most engaging, captivating discussions and debates
through 30 sessions covering diverse subjects including Democratic Polity, Literature, Mythology, Medical
Ethics in Literature, Literature and Social Movement, Graphic Arts, Tea and Book Pairing, Fake News and
even Food Archaeology.
Mr. Girish Agarwaal, Promoter-Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group said, “At Dainik Bhaskar, we believe
that the quality of everything we do, depends first on the quality of our thinking. This continues to be at
the core of our operating philosophy from inception that has propelled us to often take contrarian steps
which have helped us create great organizational value. We see leaders, professionals, parents,
teachers and all individuals who understand this, are at the top of their fields and inspire some of the
finest independent thinking in their environments. This is the fundamental objective of Divya Bhaskar’s
Marathi Literature festival that is themed on ‘Celebrating the power of independent thinking’. India’s
economic success lies in its diversity. Divya Marathi’s Literature Festival is a way to expand
understanding and improve the quality of decision-making by welcoming perspectives of people with
varying views.”
A special segment ‘Celebrating the power of Independent Thinking’ felicitated highly-acknowledged
personalities in Maharashtra for pursuing their passion led by independent thinking. Eminent speakers
included Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik (Renowned Mythological Author), Ms. Savi Sharma (Self-published
Bestselling Author), Mr. Rajiv Dogra (Indian Diplomat and Author), Ms. Sheela Reddy (Seasoned
Journalist and Author), Ms. Neelima Dalmia Adhar (Best-selling Author), Mr. Nilotpal Mrinal (Sahitya
Akademy Yuva Puruskar winner), Mr. Aabid Surti (Cartoonist and Environmentalist), Mr. Niranjan
Chapalgaonkar (Former High Court Judge), Mr. Sambhaji Bhagat (Social Activist and Revolutionary
Poet), Mr. Uday Deshpande (Mallakhamb player), Mr. Virag Gupta (Cyber Law Expert), Mr. Ashish
Chaudhary (Contemporary Hindi Author), Dr. Neelima Chauhan (popular Hindi writer) and Mr. Mahesh
Kothare (Marathi Superstar & Film Producer).
This festival also hosted unique and interesting sessions on disappearing traditional games of India by
Sreeranjini (Founder-Kavade), Blind Photography by Partho Bhowmick (Founder-Blind with Camera), Tea
& Book Pairing by Snigdha Manchanda (India’s first and finest Tea Sommelier), while workshops on
Blogging, ‘Kavya Katta’ (Poetry) and Reading added vigour to enchanting literary sessions.
