Orange City Lit Fest unfolds with ideas & cultural buzz

Nagpur: The Orange City Literature Festival (OCLF) opened on Friday, marking the start of its seventh edition and drawing book lovers from across the region. The inauguration took place in the presence of RSS akhil bharatiya prachar pramukh Sunil Ambekar and OCLF patron guru Pawan Sinha, setting the tone for a weekend packed with discussions, debates and literary exploration.Raisoni Group chairman Sunil Raisoni reiterated OCLF's significance, calling it Central India's largest literature fest. "Literature helps us question, empathise and even disagree with grace," he said. "It reminds us to pause and reflect on the beauty of human thought."OCLF president Mrunal Naik reflected on the festival's growth, calling it a remarkable journey. She highlighted how the fest, which began as a modest gathering, has now evolved into a national platform for dialogue. "To date, we have hosted nearly 900 authors and speakers across 680 sessions," she said. This year, OCLF will feature over 100 authors, more than 140 events, and a packed schedule of 55 sessions on November 22 and 58 on November 23.OCLF organising member Dr Rajan Welukar highlighted the steady rise in participation every year. "People are coming not just from Nagpur but from outside the city as well. A lit fest is not just poetry and books, it is a think-tank," he said, underlining how such platforms help shape thought and encourage intellectual exchange.Sharing his goodwill message, Pawan Sinha urged the audience to rethink how they judge children growing up in a digital environment. "Phones are not enemies. We all use them. The challenge is to guide children, so their curiosity doesn't get compromised," he said, adding that reading builds imagination, empathy and deeper focus qualities essential for a strong society.A major highlight of the day was the launch of ‘Sugriva's Atlas' by researcher and author Nilesh Oak, who shared insights from his 35 years of research into the calendar of Hindu history. Oak argued that ancient Indian history is often misunderstood, and that his book uses logical and astronomical calculations to reinterpret timelines. "The Mahabharata took place 7,500 years ago, in 5,561 BC," he claimed, adding that the Ram-Ravana war can be dated to 12,209 BC based on over 600 astronomical clues in Valmiki Ramayana. The English edition of his book is now out, with the Marathi version 90% complete.OCLF & NBF A DOUBLE BONANZA FOR CITY: SANCHETIFormer Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti described the Orange City Literature Festival and the upcoming National Book Festival as a "double bonanza" for Nagpur. "Nagpur is Zero Mile, not just geographically, but a place where the river of thought begins," he remarked. Music and books, he added, remain lifelong companions, offering joy at every stage, Sancheti added.

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