Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2025: Exploring society, politics, and culture

Kozhikode: The 6th edition of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) is set to take place from February 6 to 9 at Kanakakunnu, Thiruvananthapuram. This year’s theme will focus on questions surrounding identity, roots, and existence, which are central to much sociological research. Renowned speakers such as Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of The Hindu Group, who authored The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community, and Salil Tripathi, who wrote The Gujaratis: A Portrait of a Community, will delve into the complexities of community identity.

The festival will feature a variety of discussions, starting with a session on the Surplus and Value of Communism, presented by MA Baby, Binoy Viswam, and B Rajeevan, moderated by MG Radhakrishnan. Another session, titled What Politicians Should Read? Is Reading a Form of Politics?, will be held across two parts, with participation from VD Satheesan, MV Govindan, K Suresh Kurup, KNA Khader, and M Liju.

RP Group Chairman Ravi Pillai will share insights on life lessons learned, while PV Anvar, AP Abdullakutty, and Sandeep Varier will discuss the current state of politics, particularly focusing on disagreements and departures. EP Jayarajan will provide a personal reflection on his political journey in The Real EP Jayarajan.

Amitabh Kant, Sherpa to the G-20 and former CEO of NITI Aayog, will speak on presenting India appropriately on the world stage in a rapidly changing global era. Former Navy Admiral Harikumar will address India’s maritime concerns and the surrounding seas.

Other thought-provoking discussions will include The Limits of Political Language, featuring speakers like AN Shamseer, PR Shivashankar, and Jebi Mather, and The Politics of Transformation, with Ramesh Chennithala. KC Venugopal will discuss the rising voice of the opposition in Indian politics.

Kerala’s rich musical heritage will be highlighted with performances and discussions by renowned musicians Porur Unnikrishnan, Ottappalam Hari, and lyricist BK Harinarayanan, adding a cultural dimension to the festival.

Business magnate TS Pattabhiraman, known for his travels and business acumen, will speak about the intersection of travel and business. Additionally, a debate on Is One Election Enough in a Country? will feature NK Premachandran, John Brittas, and JR Padmakumar, while Sreekandan Nair, R Rajagopal, and Dhanya Rajendran will discuss the changing media landscape.

With over 400 speakers and a diverse range of topics, the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters promises to be a vibrant and intellectually stimulating event, bringing together voices from various fields to engage in meaningful discourse on society, politics, and culture.

MBIFL 2025 is an event that brings together diverse ideas, making it a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of literature, culture, and society. Registration is required for entry. Visit https://www.mbifl.com/ to register.