Bhubaneswar, Nov. 29: The 3rd SOA Literary Festival commenced on Saturday, featuring a galaxy of litterateurs and a key focus on the intersection of Culture, Creativity, and Artificial Intelligence.
Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati inaugurated the two-day event, emphasizing that while AI is reshaping communication, it "could not replace the depth of human experience." He asserted that the future influenced by technology will still depend on empathy and ethical judgment.
A major highlight was the presentation of the first SOA Sahitya Samman to legendary poet, writer, and thinker Javed Akhtar. The prestigious award includes a citation, a shawl, a silver idol of Goddess Saraswati, and a cash prize of Rs. seven lakh.
Governor Kambhampati hailed Akhtar's extraordinary contribution, stating his work has "shaped the cultural consciousness of India for more than five decades." Akhtar expressed his gratitude, describing the award as a great honour.
The festival, organized by SOA's PPRACHIN, brings together over 100 writers, poets, and media persons for 30 different sessions. Discussing AI, Akhtar later commented that technology "had no morality" and its outcome "depends on how you use it," but currently poses no challenge to human creativity.
The event also saw the release of several books, including the English translation of 'Dayanadi,' and parts of 'Saroladas Mahabharatha.'