Javed Akhtar Calls on Youth to Reclaim the Power of Literature at SOA Literary Festival
Bhubaneswar: Celebrated poet, lyricist and scriptwriter Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar on Saturday urged young people to immerse themselves deeply in literature, culture and language, saying that true understanding and intellectual richness come only through consistent engagement with the written word.
Akhtar was speaking after receiving the first SOA Sahitya Samman 2025 at the inaugural ceremony of the third edition of the SOA Literary Festival at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University in Bhubaneswar.
Expressing gratitude for the honour, Akhtar said he was delighted to witness a massive turnout of young students and emphasised that literature remains one of the most powerful tools to shape thought and transform society.
“The more you explore literature, culture and tradition, the richer your understanding becomes,” he said, encouraging young minds to read widely and think critically.
A towering figure in Indian cinema and contemporary poetry, Javed Akhtar has had an illustrious career spanning over five decades. He emerged as one half of the legendary writer duo Salim–Javed, who redefined Hindi cinema in the 1970s with iconic screenplays such as Sholay, Deewar, Zanjeer, Don and many more. Later, he established himself as a celebrated poet and lyricist, penning memorable songs for films including Silsila, 1942: A Love Story, Border, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Jodhaa Akbar. A five-time National Award winner, he is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, and is widely respected for his strong voice on social and cultural issues.
Akhtar noted that in an era of fast-paced technology and shrinking attention spans, deep reading and intellectual inquiry were becoming rare but remained essential for personal and social growth. He reminded students that nations are built not only by scientific progress, but also by imagination, compassion and cultural awareness.
The festival, inaugurated by Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, carried the theme Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence. The Governor highlighted literature’s lasting moral influence and described it as a force that nurtures empathy, challenges injustice and shapes values.
“Artificial Intelligence may offer speed and precision, but culture gives direction and creativity gives purpose,” he said.
The event brought together distinguished writers, poets, scholars and artists from across the country. Former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi K. Sreenivasa Rao, SOA Vice-President Saswati Das and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda also addressed the gathering.
The session opened with a welcome address by Festival Director Gayatribala Panda, and Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean and Chief Coordinator of the festival, proposed the vote of thanks.
The three-day festival is set to host discussions, poetry readings, book launches and cultural performances, celebrating the enduring relationship between literature and society.