Surat Literature Festival to be held at VNSGU

Surat: The Surat Literature Festival will return for its 4th edition from Jan 9 to 11, 2026, at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU). It aims to broaden the geography of India's intellectual life and foster serious public conversations beyond metropolitan areas.The 2026 edition promises to be larger and more ambitious, featuring a structured three-day programme of thematic sessions. Speakers include Swami Paramatmanand, Bhagyesh Jha, Major Gen Shashi Asthana, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Dr B K Das, Dr G K Goswami, Dushyanth Sridhar, Vishnu Shankar Jain, actor Pratik Gandhi and filmmaker Sudipto Sen.On the final day, sessions will focus on topics related to women, politics, and education. Actor Pratik Gandhi will perform in the play Hu Chandrakant Bakshi on January 10. Cultural performances, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Yakshagana, Kalaripayattu, and Tamasha by artists from across the country, will also be held.Five-day campus biodiversity workshop launchedIn a related event, the department of biosciences, in collaboration with the department of fine arts at VNSGU, inaugurated a five-day hands-on workshop titled "Capturing Campus Biodiversity: Hands-on Photography and Digitalisation Training" on Tuesday.Organized under the PM-USHA MERU Soft Component, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between scientific observation and digital artistry. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by VNSGU vice-chancellor Kishorsinh N Chavda and attended by event convener Kailash P Patel and co-convener Ankit M Changawala.The workshop is designed to enhance students' scientific temper and digital outreach skills. The first day featured expert-led technical sessions covering microscopy, bird photography, macro imaging and core aspects of camera composition, providing participants with a strong foundation for the remaining sessions.